Singer and guitarist from Sierra Leone and one of the first artists to become successful while incorporating American funk into the growing West African Afrobeat scene of the mid to late 60s. To the sounds of the likes of James Brown, Pino infused strong African percussive elements and the revolutionary stance that permeated throughout Africa at the time. Also characteristic of Geraldo Pino's music were the distinctively funky sounds of the Hammond B-3 organ.
As Pino was selling-out shows in Nigeria he made a huge impression on Fela Kuti. Kuti then followed suit and incorporated similar funky elements into his live shows and recordings. It is said that Kuti then moved to America in order to promote his music because he didn't believe he could compete with Geraldo Pino's popularity in West Africa. The move proved beneficial for Kuti who immediately caught the ears of Western producers and audiences. Meanwhile, Geraldo Pino and his influence on the development of Afrobeat remained relatively unknown outside Africa until recently.