Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders

Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders was a US jazz and dance band, active from the late 1910s through the 1920s. The group was known simply as The Serenaders until Johnny Hamp became the band leader. Johnny Hamp was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and should not be confused with British television producer Johnnie Hamp. According to some sources, he became the leader by chance when the band was performing at the Hershey Ballroom in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The band leader at the time had an argument with the players and walked out. Hamp, who never played a musical instrument in spite of being a jazz fan and had no experience as a conductor (in addition, he only sang whenever the chorus was performed by a vocal ensemble or the whole band), volunteered to lead them for the rest of the evening and they accepted. After the performance, the band asked him to stay on as leader. The "Kentucky" in the name appears to be related to the band's use of "My Old Kentucky Home" as a theme song, rather than any connection to the U.S. state of Kentucky.
==Links to Peel==
Peel played their 'Blackbottom Charleston Foxtrot' tune on his shows in 1999, one for the Peelenium and the other on a Radio Eins programme.
==Shows Played==
;thumb|220x220px1999
*17 June 1999 (Radio Eins): 'Blackbottom Charleston Foxtrot'
*14 July 1999: 'Blackbottom Charleston Foxtrot' (Peelenium 1926)
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists