Bluesman James is making the point that the great American folk scare had already been preceded by Donegan-led skiffle here in the UK(don't know where the Gleason came from by the way), and that this was even true in the USA too, at least to the very limited extent of Donegan's Rock Island Line hit.Donegan wasn't introuced to blues and folk by visiting American bluesman though, his interest grew through AFN radio and associating with American servicemen in Vienna whilst doing his National Service- Donegan was already an accomplished and knowledgeable folk/blues singer before Josh White came to the UK, and he never saw Leadbelly perform. The general point holds good nevertheless.

Good to see Al Whittle contributing b.t.w.