I don't believe Bill Bramwell ever played with Lonnie.

Les Bennetts was in Les Hobeaux BEFORE his stint with Donegan.

Les IS the guitar player on the clip of 'The Battle of New Orleans'. He was also on the original recording.

I'd like to correct the 'Gibson 'semi' reference above. Jimmy Currie was playing a white Grimshaw thin-line semi-acoustic (a knock-off of the Gibson 'ES' series) when he joined Lonnie, but he soon had the wherewithal to acquire a new Gibson - a sunburst ES-175. He was still playing this guitar when I got to know him on a tour in 1962. I was with Eden Kane, and Currie was playing with Red Price's orchestra and accompanying Helen Shapiro.

The ES-175 isn't a 'semi', but a full-bodied arch-top.

Les Bennetts was playing a Hofner Committee when he first joined Lonnie (he's playing it in the clip), but he, like Currie before him, was able to upgrade to a new Gibson. He chose an L-4 with a deArmond floating pick-up. He can be seen playing this guitar in other 'Putting On The Donegan' excerpts (that's where the clip is from).

I do agree that Currie was a more rockabilly-influenced player. I'm not sure what influenced Bennetts, but he didn't do much for me.

Paul Henry played with Lonnie for the last 21 years of Donegan's life. He's a friend of mine, an excellent player, and shared many anecdotes with me!

I have no knowledge of any connection between Roy Guest and Lonnie.

Murray - thanks for the plug!!! I'm actually doing a 15-week gig in Medora, North Dakota, playing steel guitar, but I return to Naples, FL very soon for some well-earned golf and home-cooking.

Our bass-player, a 24-year old rockabilly fan, was absolutely floored when I played him some choice Donegan tracks - needless to say, he'd never heard of him, but now he's buying the CDs.

So - Lonnie makes another conquest from beyond the grave.....

Roger Rettig