Meet Geno Washington
(Scroll down for his audio story)

Content warning: race-related issues and the Vietnam War.

"Geno Washington, Airman second, airman number 2299 1785."

As a young USAF airman, Geno was based at RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk in the early ‘60s. He was a PT instructor and also worked at other bases in the East of England and London.

Having discovered an incredible talent for singing and entertaining whilst enjoying the nightlife in Ipswich, he left the Air Force. It wasn't long before he became an icon in British music and the Mod scene.

Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band released five albums between 1966 and 1969, followed by Geno's eight solo albums from 1976.

Black and white 1960s photo of A young Black man is singing into a mic, he's wearing a satin shirt.

Old newspaper listing for Geno Washinginton at The Bluesville club at St Matthews Baths in Ipswich.

A group of young white men stand a seated young Black man.

Black and white Geno Washington promo poster

Black and white photo of a group of young white men and one Black man dressed in smart 1960s Mod sui

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We spoke to Geno about his time in the USAF, his journey from singing in Ipswich to becoming the UK's leading Black soul star.

We talked about the time his band smashed attendance records at an annual Mod festival (Jimi Hendrix had set the previous record), how he accidentally upstaged Rod Stewart, and how he got a band fired because the audience enjoyed the music so much they didn't spend money at the bar.

Geno also talks about the surprise felt by him and many Black airmen at the freedom to mingle with the local people in Suffolk, due to lack of racial segregation laws. Unlike in the USA at the time.

For more, the Geno's oral history and transcript is below. Plus, there's stunning photographic portraits, taken at Catford's The Broadway Theatre in April 2025, by John Ferguson. Book Geno here.