Hamilton Bohannon
Person · male · United States · Newnan · born 1942 · died 2020 · recording since 1973
American drummer, band leader, percussionist, record producer and songwriter (1942–2020)
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Also known as Bohannon · Hamilton Bohannon · Hamilton Frederick Bohannon · ハミルトン・ボハノン
Timeline
1940s
1970s
· Debut release
Debut release: Stop & Go
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1980s
2010s
2020s
Biography
Biography
Hamilton Frederick Bohannon (March 7, 1942 – April 24, 2020), also credited mononymously as Bohannon, was an American drummer, percussionist, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, and record producer who was a leading figure in 1970s disco and funk music. He worked with Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Wah Wah Watson, Ray Parker Jr., the Counts and Carolyn Crawford.
Life and career
He was born in Newnan, Georgia, and learned the drums at school. He began playing in local bands, one of which featured guitarist Jimi Hendrix, before graduating from Clark College with a degree in music and secondary education. After a brief period as a schoolteacher, he was recruited in 1964 as drummer in 13-year-old Stevie Wonder's touring band. He moved to Detroit in 1967, where he was employed by Motown as the leader and arranger of Bohannon & The Motown Sound, who provided backing for many of the label's top acts on tour, including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops and others.
When Motown moved from Detroit to Los Angeles, Bohannon stayed behind to form his own ensemble, featuring members of local band The Fabulous Counts and including such musicians as Ray Parker Jr. and Dennis Coffey. He signed in 1972 with the Dakar label run by producer Carl Davis, and released his debut album Stop & Go
Stop & GoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1The Stop and Go3:32A2Getting to the Other Side3:15A3The Pimp Walk4:01A4Run It On Down Mr. D.J.6:39B1Save Their Souls4:51B2Singing a Song for My Mother6:24B3It’s Time for Peace2:21B4Happiness3:57 in early 1973. This was followed by five more albums for the label over the next two years, on which he "perfected his formula of heavy, thudding bass accents and aggressive rhythms". Although several of his tracks were club hits, he had limited chart success. His first hit single, in 1974, was "South African Man", which reached No. 78 on the Billboard R&B chart, but had more success in the UK, where it reached No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart. This was followed up in 1975 by "Foot Stompin Music" – his only record to reach the US Billboard Hot 100 – and "Disco Stomp", his biggest hit in the UK where it reached No. 6, and was later cited by Johnny Marr as a major influence on the Smiths’ song “How Soon Is Now?”
In 1976, Bohannon signed with Mercury Records and two years later had one of his biggest successes with "Let’s Start the Dance", which reached No. 9 on the R&B chart and No. 7 on the disco chart. "Let's Start the Dance" featured singer Carolyn Crawford, whose subsequent albums Bohannon went on to produce. In 1981, he released a new mix of "Let's Start the Dance" called "Let's Start II Dance (Rap Version)", featuring rap by Dr. Perri Johnson, a legendary Philadelphia R&B DJ. It was successful, peaking at #41 on the R&B charts and #49 on the UK Singles chart. In 1980, he established Phase II Records, and continued to have minor hits on the R&B chart for the next three years, using new vocalists Liz Lands and Altrinna Grayson. He signed with MCA Records in 1984 and released several more albums. His last album, It's Time to Jam, was issued on the South Bound label in 1990.
Much of his music has been widely sampled, most notably on Chicago DJ/producer Paul Johnson's 1999 hit "Get Get Down" which heavily sampled Bohannon's "Me and the Gang". Other musicians who have used samples of his music include Jay Z, Digable Planets, and Snoop Dogg. His name was also repeatedly invoked in the Tom Tom Club song "Genius of Love". His composition "Ooh!" was included on Mary J. Blige's album Love & Life in 2003.
In later years Bohannon produced a new singer, Governor, on Atlantic Records, as well as working on material with his son, Hamilton Bohannon II, and publishing an audiobook memoir of his early years in the music business, Bohannon Speaks from the Beginning.
Bohannon was a devout Christian and dedicated his album Dance Your Ass Off
Dance Your Ass OffSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1Dance Your Ass Off7:56A2Spread the Groove Around5:39A3The Groove I Feel7:33A4Bohannon’s Theme3:57B1Zulu5:24B2Trying to Be Slick6:14B3Party People4:45 to "God, my master, savior and Jesus Christ". The album also included a disclaimer that "Dance Your Ass Off is not used in the sense of profanity."
In 2017, Peachtree Street in Newnan was renamed Bohannon Drive by the city council in his honor.
He died on April 24, 2020, at his home in Atlanta at the age of 78.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 11 | 61.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 37 | 92.1th |
| Studio albums | 22 | 97th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 24 | 95.3th |
| Recording span (years) | 47 | 88th |
| Genres | 3 | 80.4th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (37 release groups · 22 studio albums)
Albums · 22
1973 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 35:00
A1The Stop and Go3:32A2Getting to the Other Side3:15A3The Pimp Walk4:01A4Run It On Down Mr. D.J.6:39B1Save Their Souls4:51B2Singing a Song for My Mother6:24B3It’s Time for Peace2:21B4Happiness3:571974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 40:42
A1Rap On Mr. DJ3:00A2Keep On Dancin’5:00A3Truck Stop7:34A4Dance With Your Parno3:57B1Have a Good Day8:30B2The Fat Man2:39B3Red Bone3:02B4South African Man7:001975 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 40:53
A1Foot‐Stompin Music7:15A2East Coast Groove5:33A3Disco Stomp5:14B1Love Is Fading7:10B2Thoughts and Wishes5:26B3Keep On Being My Girl3:27B4Happy Feeling6:481975 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 50:48
A1Bohannon’s Beat, Part I7:49A2The Funky Reggae6:08A3The Bohannon Walk4:49A4Can You Feel It8:25B1Gentle Breeze8:29B2Think of Me9:08B3The Day to Remember6:001976 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 39:25
A1Gittin’ Off4:44A2Feel Good at Midnight5:05A3Let’s Rock the Band6:36A4South Africa 765:31B1Come Winter7:13B2Don’t Be Mad at Me5:33B3I’m in Love4:431976 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 41:28
A1Dance Your Ass Off7:56A2Spread the Groove Around5:39A3The Groove I Feel7:33A4Bohannon’s Theme3:57B1Zulu5:24B2Trying to Be Slick6:14B3Party People4:451977 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 36:40
A1Andrea6:15A2But What Is a Dream5:16A3Daddy's Little Son5:42B1Bohannon's Disco Symphony6:39B2Isn't It a Beautiful Morning4:45B3Just Doing My Thing4:38B4Moving Fast3:251978 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 39:45
A1Come Dance With Me4:05A2Maybe You Can Dance12:42A3I Found My Love on a Saturday3:39B1Git on Up3:45B2You and I3:08B3I Got to Stay Funky8:36B4On the Weekend3:501978 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 35:52
A1Let’s Start the Dance5:52A2Listen to the Children Play4:21A3Me and the Gang5:17A4Let’s Start the Dance (Finals)0:53B1I Wonder Why3:18B2Summertime Groove8:13B3The Street Dance7:581979 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 35:23
A1Cut Loose7:44A2The Beat, Part 26:14A3Mighty Groovy4:31B1Let Me See How You Do It7:15B2At Night Fall4:23B3That’s the Way It Goes5:161979 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 36:21
A1The Groove Machine5:05A2The Boogie Train7:15A3Stop and Go5:03B1I'll Be Here for You5:42B2The Time Is Now5:18B3Andrea5:18B4Love Floats2:401980 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 44:00
A1Feel Like Dancin'7:22A2Baby I'm for Real5:10A3The Hammer7:05A4Turn the Record0:37B1Thoughts and Wishes5:40B2The Funk Walk6:02B3Spring Is in the Air6:15B4Hurry Mr. Sunshine5:491980 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 41:30
A1Dance, Dance, Dance All Night5:08A2Throw Down the Groove (Part I)3:59A3Is It Real6:24A4Thinking of You3:39B1April My Love (Part I)6:51B2April My Love (Part II)6:48B3Do What Cha Wanna Do5:08B4Throw Down the Groove (Part II)3:331981 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 35:53
A1The Happy Dance4:12A2Goin' for Another One5:51A3Do the Everybody Get Down5:23B1Don't Be Ashame to Call My Name5:02B2Symphonic March8:13B3Thank You for Lovin' Me7:121981 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 42:18
A1Let’s Start the Dance, Part II6:40A2Take the Country to New York City5:49A3Let’s Start II Dance Again7:34B1A Happy Song for You, Part I4:52B2You’re the One5:51B3Take the Country to New York City (instrumental)4:31B4A Happy Song for You, Part II4:46B5Start the Dance (Inserts)2:151982 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 33:00
A1The Party Train (Parts I, II, III)8:56A2She's a Boogie Woogie Freak7:55B1Thoughts and Wishes3:45B2What Is a Dream (Part II)5:14B3I've Got the Dance Fever7:101983 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 41:48
A1Make Your Body Move6:36A2Wrong Number4:16A3Don't Leave Me4:47A4B.T. Is Doing the Raggae5:10B1School Girl5:04B2Funkville4:10B3Come Back My Love7:54B4Make Your Body Move (instrumental)3:511983 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 40:51
A1Rock Your Body8:04A2Wake Up5:30A3Running From Your Love6:15B1Do It Good4:35B2Let's Start the Dance III7:09B3Tell Me You'll Wait4:30B4Enjoy Your Day4:481989 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 43:25
1House Train5:282Dance and Shout6:043The Gang's All Here5:104The House Over the Hill4:465One for Levi4:306Over the Rainbow5:117I Ain't Got No Money3:298Bring Back Yesterday4:499Fun and Play3:58Let’s Start II Dance Again (Remix)
2013 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 33:45
1Let’s Start Ii Dance Again (Jtv Corvette Mix)8:352Let’s Start Ii Dance Again (Jtv Traditional Remix)7:183Let’s Start Ii Dance Again (Jtv Corvette Single Radio Mix)4:364Let’s Start Ii Dance Again (Jtv Radio Traditional Mix)4:365Let’s Start Ii Dance Again (Jtv Corvette Dub)8:402020 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 41:44
1The Stop and Go3:372Getting to the Other Side3:233The Pimp Walk4:064Run It on Down Mr. D.J.6:445Save Their Souls4:566Singing a Song for My Mother6:297It’s Time for Peace2:188Happiness4:049Run It on Down Mr. D.J. Pt. 13:5110Run It on Down Mr. D.J. Pt. 22:16— · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:19:35
1Disco Symphony - Single Version6:402Just Doing My Thing - Single Version4:393Let's Start the Dance5:524Summertime Groove8:145Me and the Gang5:186Listen to the Children Play4:227Come Dance With Me4:068I Got to Stay Funky8:369Git on Up3:4510On the Weekend3:5111Mighty Groovy4:3412The Beat6:2313The Funk Walk6:0614The Hammer7:09
Album · 8
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Bohannon's BestSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 51:08A1The Stop And Go3:29 A2Keep On Dancing5:06 A3South African Man5:58 A4Disco Stomp5:10 A5Truck Stop6:35 B1Getting To The Other Side3:16 B2Foot Stompin' Music7:13 B3Happy Feeling6:53 B4The Pimp Walk4:00 B5Have Good Day3:28 | Compilation | 1975 | |
| 1975 | Bohannon’s Greatest Disco HitsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 35:58A1South African Man3:45 A2Foot Stompin Music3:44 A3The Stomp and Go3:32 A4The Pimp Walk4:01 A5Bohannon’s Beat, Part 13:46 B1Disco Stomp, Part 13:35 B2Disco Stomp, Part 23:00 B3Keep On Dancing, Part 13:45 B4Keep On Dancing, Part 23:30 B5Truck Stop3:20 | Compilation | 1975 | |
| 1990 | It’s Time to JamSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 7 tracks · 45:461Let’s Start II Dance Again6:50 2Foot Stompin’ Music5:30 3Throw Down the Groove (instrumental)3:34 4Let’s Start the Dance (remix)8:00 5Rock and Groove Your Soul8:40 6Throw Down the Groove (vocal)4:30 7Dance Fever8:42 | Compilation | 1990 | |
| 1994 | Essential Dancefloor Artists Volume 4Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 1:10:181Truck Stop (original Full album version)6:29 2South African Man (original Full album version)6:02 3Red Bone (original Full album version)3:04 4Bohannon's Beat (original Full album version)7:52 5Disco Stomp (original Full album version)5:14 6Keep on Dancing (original Full album version)5:09 7The Pimp Walk (original Full album version)4:06 8The Fat Man (original Full album version)2:41 9The Stop and Go (original Full album version)6:21 10Foot Stompin' Music (original Full album version)7:15 11Dance Your Ass Off (original Full album version)8:01 12Let's Start to Dance (original 12" club remix)8:04 | Compilation | 1994 | |
| 1995 | The Very Best OfSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 1:17:521Bohannon's Beat7:48 2The Funky Reggae5:10 3Foot Stompin Music6:22 4South African Man4:31 5Let's Start II Dance Again7:35 6Run It on Down Mr. DJ3:26 7Take the Country to N.Y. City5:56 8Thoughts and Wishes5:26 9You're the One5:49 10April My Love6:25 11Goin' for Another One5:52 12Have a Good Day6:03 13Let's Start the Dance3:40 14Bohannon Disco Symphony3:49 | Compilation | 21 November 1995 | |
| 1997 | A Bit of the PastSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 1:09:001The New Generation Fanfare (Bohannon Fanfare)1:17 2Let's Start II Dance Again, part II8:01 3What Is A Dream, Part. II5:15 4Thoughts And Wishes, Part. II5:23 5I'm Thinking Of You3:38 6Thank You For Loving Me Andrea7:14 7The Party Train7:34 8Let's Start II Dance Again (Rap Version)7:35 9Don't Be Ashamed To Call My Name5:07 10It's Time To Wake Up5:30 11I Wanna Dance All Night4:07 12The Symphonic March (Disco March)8:19 | Compilation | 1997 | |
| 1997 | Footstompin’ MusicSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 1:16:511South African Man6:04 2Footstompin’ Music7:17 3Keep on Dancin'5:10 4Truck Stop6:40 5Red Bone3:03 6Rap on Mr DJ3:12 7The Pimp Walk4:02 8Stop and Go3:33 9Disco Stomp5:12 10Bohannon’s Beat5:58 11The Bohannon Walk4:50 12Dance Your Ass Off7:59 13Can You Feel It8:25 14Zulu5:26 | Compilation | 29 September 1997 | |
| 2000 | The Best of Bohannon: The Rhythm Funk MasterSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 1:17:161Run It on Down Mr D.J.4:16 2Let's Start II Dance Again7:36 3Bohannon's Beat7:48 4The Party Train7:34 5Truck Stop6:24 6Keep on Dancin'5:05 7South African Man5:57 8Let's Start the Dance, Part I8:01 9Dance With Your Parno3:39 10Foot Stompin' Music7:12 11Disco Stomp5:09 12Have a Good Day8:35 | Compilation | 3 May 2000 |
Single · 3
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Foot Stompin' MusicSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 7:24AFoot Stompin Music3:44 BDance With Your Parno3:40 | June 1975 | ||
| 1981 | Let's Start II Dance AgainSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 15:41ALet's Start II Dance Again7:38 BLet's Start The Dance (Re-Mix)8:03 | 1981 | ||
| 1983 | Let's Start the Dance IIISearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 11:49ALet's Start the Dance III (long version)7:40 BLet's Start the Dance III (short version)4:09 | 1983 |
Other · 4
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Maybe You Can Dance / I Found My Love On A SaturdaySearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 16:21AMaybe You Can Dance12:42 BI Found My Love On A Saturday3:39 | 1977 | ||
| 1995 | I Wanna Dance All NiteSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 7 tracks · 45:17Disc 1 A1I Wanna Dance All Nite (Joe T. Vannelli Dubby Mix)9:06 B1I Wanna Dance All Nite (Joe T. Vannelli Light Mix)7:26 B2I Wanna Dance All Nite (Joe T. Vannelli Radio Light Mix)3:56 Disc 2C1I Wanna Dance All Nite (Joe T. Vannelli Tribal Dub)8:08 C2I Wanna Dance All Nite (Joe T. Vannelli Radio Dubby Mix)5:05 D1I Wanna Dance All Nite (Joe T. Vannelli Corvette Instrumental)5:40 D2I Wanna Dance All Nite (Joe T. Vannelli Corvette Mix)5:56 | 1995 | ||
| 1996 | StompSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracksA1Stomp (2 High's UK Club Mix) A2Stomp (Anorak Trax NYC Tunnel Dub) B1Stomp (2 High's UK Club Dub) B2Stomp (Anorak Trax NYC Tunnel Club Mix) | 1996 | ||
| 2008 | Lets Start The DanceSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 19:53AMe And The Gang Lets Start The Dance11:42 BLets Start The Dance8:11 | 2008 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Hamilton Bohannon head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 11 | 61.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 37 | 92.1th |
| Studio albums | 22 | 97th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 24 | 95.3th |
| Recording span (years) | 47 | 88th |
| Genres | 3 | 80.4th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
aliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9f794f0c-e66a-4fe4-bf7c-2e263b21abc5discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9f794f0c-e66a-4fe4-bf7c-2e263b21abc5core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q369517genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q369517seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Bohannonbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Bohannon
Why this artist is in the database
- List of disco artists
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: no portrait (not displayed: the licence credit is missing)
Wikidata: Q369517 · MusicBrainz: 9f794f0c-e66a-4fe4-bf7c-2e263b21abc5
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