Published
Sat, Apr 25, 2020, 19:40
- He was responsible for hits like "South African Man" and "Disco Stomp."
Pioneering disco musician Hamilton Bohannon has died at the age of 78.
Bohannon died on Friday, according to the Newnan Times-Herald. His cause of death is unknown.
Starting out as a drummer in Stevie Wonder's touring band (and before that, with a then unknown Jimi Hendrix), Bohannon eventually became a Motown bandleader, providing live musical backing for groups like The Supremes, The Four Tops and more. In the early '70s he went solo and produced a string of hits that proved vital to the establishment of disco, including "South African Man," "Disco Stomp," "Foot Stompin' Music" and "Let's Start The Dance." His career in dance music and R&B continued through the '80s, and he largely stopped releasing music after 1990.
Bohannon's legacy also extends to hip-hop and house music, with artists like Paul Johnson, Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg all sampling his songs.
Listen to "South African Man."