Artist Info: Chaino

Chaino, pronounced "CHA-EE-NO" was promoted by producer Kirby Allan as the last survivor of an African tribe brought to Philadelphia by missionaries. He practiced drumming 17 hours a day and played in fits akin to a religious experience or an orgy.

In actuality, he was Leon Johnson, born in Chicago in 1927. After taking up bongo playing and touring black night clubs, he ended up in Hollywood and went into the Gold Star studio with Allan to create an Americanized version of traditional Kenyan music. [read more...]