Ginger Johnson

George Folunsho "Ginger" Johnson (1916 – July 15, 1975) was a Nigerian percussionist and bandleader who was a prominent musician in London from the 1950s to the early 1970s. He led Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers, and recorded and performed with Edmundo Ros, The Rolling Stones, Ronnie Scott and Quincy Jones among many others.

Biography Johnson was born in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria. His father was of Yoruba origin and his mother was from Brazil; he was nicknamed "Ginger" for his reddish hair and freckles. He was orphaned at a young age and brought up by his sister, developing an interest in both classical and traditional music. He joined the Navy in Nigeria in the mid-1930s, and in 1943 travelled to London to join the British Merchant Navy. After the end of World War II he decided to settle in London, and worked as a musician.

He performed and recorded as an African percussionist with Ronnie Scott from the late 1940s onwards. In 1950 he joined the Edmundo Ros Orchestra as its lead percussionist, and recorded several albums with the band.

During the 1960s he played with many leading jazz and rock music in what became known as "Swinging London", becoming a well-known figure in the city's counter-culture.

Johnson became ill during a visit to Lagos, Nigeria, in 1975, and died there from a heart attack.

Two of his 1950s recordings were issued on a compilation CD, London Is The Place For Me 4: African Dreams and the Piccadilly High Life, in 2006. The album African Party was re-released on Freestyle Records in London on 22 June 2015.