Soul singer Geno Washington scored major UK hits during the 1960s. Now he is returning to strut his funky stuff in Sheffield - one of the soul capitals from that era. He spoke to KATIE CAMPLING

GENO Washington remembers Sheffield as a hotbed for soul music.

Although he admits the scene is no longer what is was in the 1960s, he is hoping his visit to Sheffield with the Ram Jam Band will reignite people's passion for soul sounds.

He said: "I used to come to Sheffield all the time in the Sixties. It had the greatest soul club in Britain, Mojos. There was another club called Shades too. Sheffield was happening!

"Now it hasn't got the live action that is used to. But for my band there's still a scene.

"We are raw and real and people like that approach."

The Ram Jam Band touring the UK with Geno is a different line-up to the original 1960s group.

Geno, born in Indiana in the USA, met the original Ram Jam Band when he came to East Anglia with the US Air Force.

After leaving the forces, he went to London with the band.

The group's frantic, fast-paced stage shows won them an army of fans.

The shows also gave them two of the biggest selling albums of the 1960s - Hand Clappin', Foot Stompin' Funky Butt (1966) and Hipsters, Mipsters and Finger Poppin' Daddies (1967).

The band split in 1970 and Geno went back to the USA, where he recorded the occasional track but spent most of his time studying meditation and hypnosis.

However, his interest in the UK music scene was reawakened in 1980, when he heard that Dexy's Midnight Runners had immortalised him in a song called Geno.

What's more, the song had hit number one in the charts.

Geno released three albums in the 1980s and by the 1990s he had injected some blues into his soul style.

His most recent release is Return of The G, put out in 2003.

His current tour is part of a drive to relaunch the album, which is set to hit America in January.

Geno said: "Interest took a while but now people are going out and buying it and we are getting a good reaction. We're relaunching it and doing a DVD with loads of extras before we hit America.

"America is still into heavy duty live music, so the scene is looking good for us there."

Despite his American roots, Geno has spent most of his career in Britain and Europe.

He currently lives in London and is considered by many as a British soul artist.

Although he is best remembered for his work in the 1960s, Geno has constantly tried to create new material instead of relying on the old favourites.

So, what can audiences expect from his shows today?

He said: "The G has to have a good time and the audience have to have a good time. The music is soulful, let-yourself-go music.

"On stage you can't do it again, you have to bring your A game at all times. Everyone can come expecting to let it all hang out. We are funky as can be."

* Geno and The Ram Jam Band will perform at Sheffield University Foyer on November 27 from 8pm. Tickets are £14 from 0114 222 8909.

For further information, visit www.genowashington.com