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Desmond Johnson

Contains 15 performances.

Jamaican expat  Desmond Johnson (a resident of London since the early '80s) is the dub poet at the front of PUCKO Music. That's People's United for the Cause of Knowledge and Overstanding.

Pucko Music is a series of poems infused with reggae music, written from a new and powerful poetic form called "Cuss Poems". The Album is charged with the intensity of language; Nation Language. Desmond Faada Johnson uses powerful patterns of rhyme and poetic forms to deliver an excellent album of poetry and music. Pucko Music is influence by the oratory and potency of the Pocomina Churches in Jamaica.

Most of the poems featured on Pucko Music were first published in Desmond FAADA Johnson's 1984 collection of Poetry – Deadly Ending Season and featured in The Story of English (Chapter 9) – BBC TV programme that Desmond FAADA Johnson presented. Pucko Poetry, was first broadcast on BBC TV "Here and Now" and published in PUCKO POETRY.

"My writing is a compulsion. A fight with forces and a fight against forces to produce language and poetry that relish in the depth and eternal soul of the African. In my world, music is dominant. It is the guttural chants of the Drums, passion and the potent sounds of the mighty singers wailing to vibes of love, struggle, courage and righteousness. The poems were conceived in the vestibule of a peoples yearning for sound and power, empowering us beyond politics and the folly of Post Colonial life, with its distress and servitude lifestyles."   Taken from http://www.desmondjohnson.co.uk/

 

  • Midsummer Poetry Day (1984)

    Midsummer Poetry Day (1984)

    24 June 1984 at 
    Covent Garden Market (2)
    The first outing for a long-running annual partnership event with Alternative Arts. We love the Bottom-themed artwork. PR Murry compere alongside Mark Miwurdz, although Emile Sercombe was supposed to be the second compere.
  • John Agard, Little Brother, Desmond Johnson, Fear of Falling

    John Agard, Little Brother, Desmond Johnson, Fear of Falling

    29 September 1984 at 
    Captain’s Cabin (27)
  • Community Centre Tour

    Community Centre Tour

    21 November 1984 at 
    Oxford House (London - Bethnal Green) (2)
  • Pulse, Desmond Johnson, Bob Cobbing & Clive Fencott, JD Douglas

    Pulse, Desmond Johnson, Bob Cobbing & Clive Fencott, JD Douglas

    19 January 1985 at 
    Captain’s Cabin (27)
  • GLC Giroshow

    GLC Giroshow

    02 February 1985 at 
    Chiswick Town Hall (1)
  • GLC Giroshow

    GLC Giroshow

    15 February 1985 at 
    Hornsey Town Hall (1)
    Topping tonight’s bill: Geno Washington, The Dave Kelly Band and Port Stanley Amateur Dramatic Society. The latter was a provocative comedy duo (banned from at least one venue for throwing meat around) that included the bloke who would later play Minty in EastEnders. From tiny acorns… Desmond Johnson is only mentioned ...
  • Poetry Carnival London

    Poetry Carnival London

    1 March 1985 at 
    St George's Theatre (1)
    Poetry Carnival UK was a nationwide festival organised by the poet James Sale. Spread over two days, it involved performances and workshops. Amongst the bigger names on the bill were Anne Stevenson, Gavin Ewart, George Macbeth and The Liverpool Poets. Ewart’s reading at Southampton Guildhall pulled in an audience of ...
  • Arts in Danger Week

    Arts in Danger Week

    07 March 1985 at 
    Diorama (1)
    Arts in Danger was a CAST New Variety initiative. This show does not occur in press adverts listing Arts in Danger Week events, but seems nevertheless to be in support of it. LKJ does not appear on the flyer, but is named (instead of Lioness Chant) in Time Out‘s listings.
  • Attila the Stockbroker, Desmond Johnson

    Attila the Stockbroker, Desmond Johnson

    03 May 1985 at 
    Gulbenkian Studio (Newcastle-upon_Tyne) (5)
  • The Popticians, Mark Steel, Desmond Johnson, PR Murry

    The Popticians, Mark Steel, Desmond Johnson, PR Murry

    08 June 1985 at 
    New Merlin's Cave (12)
  • Southwark Arts Festival: Akira Press Poets

    Southwark Arts Festival: Akira Press Poets

    22 June 1985 at 
    Bells Gardens Community Centre (London - Southwark) (1)
  • Desmond Johnson, Iyamidé Hazeley, Owen O'Neill, Danger Zone

    Desmond Johnson, Iyamidé Hazeley, Owen O'Neill, Danger Zone

    4 October 1986 at 
    Horseshoe (London - Islington) (52)
  • Jean 'Binta' Breeze, Desmond Johnson, Marc Matthews & Marc Ramphal, Ian Shaw & Andrew Philips

    Jean 'Binta' Breeze, Desmond Johnson, Marc Matthews & Marc Ramphal, Ian Shaw & Andrew Philips

    06 June 1987 at 
    Horseshoe (London - Islington) (52)
  • John Agard, Abdul Malik, Elean Thomas, Desmond Johnson

    John Agard, Abdul Malik, Elean Thomas, Desmond Johnson

    04 March 1988 at 
    Covent Garden Community Centre (182)
  • John Cooper Clarke, Henry Normal, Mr Nasty, Desmond Johnson

    John Cooper Clarke, Henry Normal, Mr Nasty, Desmond Johnson

    5 April 1991 at 
    Covent Garden Community Centre (182)
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