THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

626-Hamilton Bohannon-South African Man.

1974-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 4.31. If an alien came down to earth, and asked me what ‘FUNK’ is, I would tell them,’THIS IS.’

Hamilton Bohannon was born on March 7th, 1942, in Newnan, Georgia, United States, he died on April 24th, 2020, at the age of 78. Bohannon’s musical career began in 1964 when he was hired as a drummer in 13 year old Stevie Wonder’s touring band.In 1967 he moved to Detroit where he was employed by Motown as the leader, and arranger of ‘Bohannon & The Motown Sound,’ who were the touring backing band for Tamla Motown’s biggest names, including Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and The Temptations. When Motown moved from Detroit to Los Angeles in the early 1970’s Bohannon didn’t go with them, and embarked on a solo career, which started with the release of his first studio Album in 1973,’Stop & Go,’ in total between 1973-1989 Bohannon released 19 studio Albums. Unfortunately his music rarely crossed over in to the mainstream charts, and he never achieved a top 40 single on Billboard, although in the UK he did achieve three hits, with 1975’s ‘Disco Stomp’ the most successful, when peaking at Number 6.

Bohannon (see also best songs 48) was a devout Christian, and retired from the music business in 1989, but he did make a comeback, when touring, and making an appearance behind the drum kit in 2014, at the age of 72.’South African Man’ is taken from Bohannon’s second studio Album ‘Keep On Dancin’ from 1974, and is a call for peace, and the ending of apartheid.

‘South African man help me if you can.South African man, make it a better land.’