Lonnie Donegan

Subject: Lonnie Donegan
From: Will Bakker
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 09:01 AM

I became interested in folkmusic in the late fifties because of a guy named Lonnie Donegan. I tried to find his name in the forum, but couln't find him. is he completely forgotten or did no one ever hear of him. Or was he only known in England, or in my case, Holla

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Wolfgang
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 09:11 AM

Hi Will,

look here for a biography.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 09:23 AM

Coincidntally, there was an item by him in the Travel Section of the Sunday Times last week! Obviously alive and kicking.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: AndyG
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 09:28 AM

Will,
I ran a forum search because I knew he'd been mentioned before. It came back with about 20 references including this thread.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Will Bakker
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 10:20 AM

Thank you all. Martin, is there a way to get this article in the Sunday Times

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Mike Billo
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 11:06 AM

There are a couple of terrific sites about skiffle music to visit(with plenty of Lonnie Donnegan refereneces). The Sunshine Skiffle band at Http://www.skiffle.com/ and Alan and Jenny Dailey's homepage at http://www.dailey.demon.co.uk/index.html

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: rick fielding
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 11:53 AM

One of the most brilliant comedy pieces I've ever heard was written and performed by Peter Sellers many years ago. It's called "Puttin' on the Style" and is a devastating satire on Lonnie Donegan. It's probably available on a Sellers comedy compilation somewhere and for anyone who appreciates absolutely top notch writing (and folk music) it's a must.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 01:37 PM

Hi - there are a number of Lonnie Donegan recordings available on CD through the merchants listed on our Help the Mudcat page. Click here to see what I found at CDNOW. I bought "Lonnie Donegan - the Collection," and found it to be a fairly generous assortment of songs. This may not be serious folk music, but it's fun.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Ian Kirk (inactive)
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 02:30 PM

Lonnie Donegan - not serious folk music - dear me Joe how I hate to hear those words - but you are of course absolutely right. Skiffle is fun I've played and sung such stuff for years and whenever me and a few like minds have done a skiffle gig the whole audience has enjoyed the music. Mind you we do take bag full of stuff they can bang, blow or scrape so they can join in. Did you ever play a comb and paper? And its good to see all the kids joining in.

It so happens I have just loaned a tape of some Donegan songs as a sampler for the son of a friend of mine He is 14yrs old and has an interest in what he calls "early music - yer know stuff from the fifties and all that".

Skiffle is still alive and well in the South East UK with the Southern Skiffle Society working hard to keep the music here in front of the punters ear as it were ( if anybody wants details of this organisation email me via the Mudcat). In fact they put on a show at the Royal Albert Hall and who was top of the bill - yup the incomparable Lonnie Donegan. 69 years old the survivor of 3 heart attacks and five wives or the other way round. He was absolutely outstanding! He was on for an hour and a half with an excellent band and he was singing better now than he was on that CD you've got. A copy of which is in my Donegan collection.

As a matter of interest when Skiffle took off in the UK in the mid 1950's over 250,000 guitars were imported in to the UK and there were literally 1000's of Skiffle bands playing coffee shops and cafes up and down the country. With 3 simple instruments you could have a band. 1 guitar, 1 T chest bass ( made out of a T chest with a broomstick - my wife played the one I made at a recent gig) and 1 washboard for the skiflly rhythmn.

Skiffle is where the Beatles started, the Rolling Stones were influenced by it and most of the early 60's bands would have started as simple skiffle bands. A bunch of folk with simple cheap instruments getting together to do their stuff and entertain the public - Great Stuff!.

I have read that Donegan and the skiffle craze encouraged more people in the UK than before or since to learn an instrument - principally guitar - and get to know something about performing skiffle, folk, blues and rock 'n roll. It certainly is where I started and scratch any folk or blues singer of a certain age and you'll find a skiffle influenced muso underneath.

That's me on that.

Have a drink on me Down the Rock Island Line coz I'm off with Long Gone Lost John.

Ian Ian

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Dr John
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 02:40 PM

Yes I found my way to Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly and all from hearing and seeing Lonnie Donegan in the 50's; then back here again years later to Nic Jones et al. Rather like LD's music in reverse. His whole catalogue in available as a boxed Bear Family CD set: a very expensive piece of nostalgia.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Will Bakker
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 03:09 PM

This is what I hoped that would happen with this thread. Of course I know a lot about Lonnie D., but living in Holland and being 14 years old at the time I have never seen him appearing live. But we have been playing a lot of skiffle in the early sixties, opening our horizons to where it all came from, people like Leadbelly. In Dordrecht, Holland we seem to have a revival of folkgroups from the sixties. We even have planned some hootenannies in April and June, where these greyhaired people get together. It will be great fun1 Hey Roger in Baltimore, where are you? Am I on my own now?

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Bert
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 05:01 PM

Joe, you just said that for devilment didn't you. "Not serious folk" indeed.

Let me think, what did he sing..
Diggin' my potatoes,
Rock Island Line,
Nobody Loves Like an Irishman,
John Henry,
John Hardy,
Tom Dooley,
Cumberland Gap,
Old 97,
Putting on the Style,
Grand Coolee Dam,
Bring a little water Sylvie,

There were loads more, I'll have to dig a little to recall them, but those should be SERIOUS enough for now:-)

Sure he put some life into them, but those bluegrass guys do that as well don't they?

Bert. (He got me started.)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 02:54 PM

In my search for "My Old Man's a Dustman," I came up with this link, which shouldn't be missed: http://www.skiffle.com/

This thread has the lyrics to "Spearmint" and "Dustman," arguably his two biggest hits.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Ian
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 03:07 PM

What the hell is SERIOUS folk music? I learned my first songs from my dad, orally transmitted from one generation to another. Many of them were Lonnie Donegan songs like "Does your chewing gum" and "My old man's a dustman" but also "Hang down your head Tom Dooley" and "Rock Island Line". Is serious folk music something you learned from a book and never sing?

To me, the only serious folk songs are ones people sing and the only serious tunes are ones people play.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Bert
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 03:21 PM

Joe,

Thanks, that's a great link to skiffle.com. Didn't know skiffle was still alive.

You're correct Ian, that's TRUE folk music, but I think Joe was only teasing.

Bert. (Who's not losing any flavor)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 04:07 PM

Yup. That Joe's always trying to provoke the Folk Police, who've been mighty quiet lately.
-Joe Offer (grinning somewhat nervously...)-

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 05:23 PM

Mr. Offer. My good friend Rick (a wonderful fellow) suggested I have a word with you.

My name is Sgt. T. R. Addie, and yes, I represent the "folk police", as you so sarcastically call us. In truth our organization, the society for Protection of Tunes, Unpopular and Incomprehensible (PTUI for short) has been keeping an eye on you for quite a while. Show more respect in the future for 16th century ballads, or you risk being sentenced to a year in prison (or the amount of time it takes to sing "Tam Lin". Whichever comes first.)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Brakn
Date: 27 Apr 99 - 07:50 PM

Did he ever live in Altrincham, Cheshire, UK?

Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Alan B
Date: 28 Apr 99 - 09:10 AM

There was a thread in the Mudcat last week about "Talkin Guitar Blues", which I remember as a b side for Lonnie Donegan. I provided half remembered lyrics, but does anyone here know the correct words? I've relearned the song from memoery a number of times, and I'm sure the words have meandered from the original.

As with others in this thread I grew up listening to Lonnie Donegan, my big brother's records, of which this was one of my favourites. LD led the way in letting us think we could make music for ourselves, and I will be forever thankful to him
Alan B

Subject: Puttin' on the style
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 09:46 AM

Just in case anyone missed it Lonnie Donegan picked up his MBE at the Palace today. Quote below from BBC Online
Friday, 27 October, 2000, 13:25 GMT 14:25 UK

Skiffle music pioneer Lonnie Donegan was honoured with an MBE Pioneer: Donegan paved the way for skiffle music

Donegan's first hit, Rock Island Line, was released in 1956 and sold millions of copies around the world.

He paved the way for a new sound that helped sweep away crooners like Max Bygraves who had dominated the charts.

He recently found himself in the spotlight again when he collaborated with Irish singer Van Morrison on an album.

"At last I've made it," he said on Friday.

"I feel perhaps I've got to stop now. Is that it?"

He said the Prince of Wales had known all about his music, which inspired a generation of British teenagers including former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.

He recalled that his biggest royal fan was Princess Margaret.

"I had tea with Princess Margaret once who was a raving fan. She told me she had all my 78s in her attic," he said.

"She said they must be worth a bob or two, and I replied: `You must be in trouble then if you're having to sell my records'."
RtS (who doesn't believe in the honours system but if someone has to get one, St Lonnie is top of the list, eh, Bert?)

Subject: RE: Puttin' on the style
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 10:38 AM

"Max Bygraves ... had dominated the charts" -- frightening, isn't it! Don't forget Des O'Connor, who appeared with those US upstarts Buddy Holly and the Crickets, and Archie Andrews (didn't Julie Andrews work with him for a time? Or am I mixing her up with Pet Clark?). One of the above was made out of wood -- anyone remember which?

Good old Lonnie! He was one of my early influences too: I could perform all his skiffle songs when I was about 8 or 9 (around 1957-8) ... I still do "Putting on the style" occasionally. Happy days!

Steve

Subject: RE: Puttin' on the style
From: John Routledge
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 09:26 PM

Those WERE the days. Skiffle groups used to get disqualified in talent contests because the audience used to whistle and shout at the end of the performance. You were only supposed to clap to register noise - The loudest noise won - very sophisticated.

Many a worse person has been given greater honours.

Geordie

Subject: RE: Puttin' on the style
From: Bugsy
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 11:57 PM

Glad to see that the old master has finally been recognised.

cheers

bugsy

Subject: RE: Puttin' on the style
From: Bert
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 03:00 PM

Yer right Skiff - "Top of the list"!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,carol L
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 03:48 PM

I have been told that Lonnie Donnegan lived in my house which is in Altrincham Cheshire when he was living with his grandparents during the war. He went to St Ambrose College in Hale. Does anyone have further infomation?

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 04:06 PM

Last year Lonnie supported Van Morrison at his gig in Liverpool, although most would have it the other way round! Van the man is back in April (I think) at Manchester Appollo but I dunno if Mr D is puttin' on his style there again...

One can only hope....

DtG

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: bill\sables
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 04:32 PM

About 12 years ago Lonnie appeared at the Leeds City Varieties where I went to hear him. The audience were mostly grey haired men probably reliving their youth like me but there were a lot of younger people there as well. He started with new songs but in the second half he played all of his old skiffle hits.
I first met him on a Yorkshire TV show called the Birthday Show hosted by Anne Diamond It was the 30th anniversary of his hit Cumberland Gap. He signed two LPs' which I had brought in. As Allan B said before Donegan there was nothing which could be done in the music world without great expence in buying instruments but he taught us we could make misic with one guitar and some old junk.
Bill

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Greyeyes
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 04:34 PM

Lonnie and Van produced an album together a couple of years ago, they have played together onstage a lot over the last few years. Lonnie Donnegan has also appeared at Glastonbury Festival and pretty much blown away all the under 30's who'd never heard of him. He's still a fantastic performer.

Not serious folk? A 50's pop star who still makes teenagers sit up & listen with his live playing. Surely this is how folk music is born?

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 02:37 AM

Mike Harding interviewed Lonnie for his BBC radio show, Lonnie's knowledge of folk music made Mike Harding look stupid. Cheers, Dave

Subject: Lyr Add: TALKING GUITAR BLUES
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 03:33 AM

Alan,

If you want to get in trouble let me tell you how to do it,
Get yourself a guitar and then you?re right into it,
You play all day and you play all night,
People say you? ll never learn to play the thing right,
Always groaning at you, moaning, won't let you get practice

So I bought myself a guitar about a year ago,
Man gave me a deal on my piano(?),
Gave me a little book, Pick of 2,
Bloke said I could learn it in a week or 2,
Dirty rotter,
cost me 14 nicker,
all the loot I had.
Good guitar though,
Called it a pluckit.

So I spent me doh and I couldn?t let it all go to waste you know,
So I took the book guitar and all,
And I went back home where the trees are tall,
Down in Woodford.
Good place to be if you got a guitar,
Pretty rotten if you ain?t.

So for weeks and weeks I worked hard,
Tried to learn a few main chords,
Stuck the guitar across my knee,
Cor my fingers was killing me.
Got sore on the ends,
Couldn't hold the strings down,
Wanted to pack up,
Cor I felt rough.

But I kept on playing with all me might,
I could see Mum's hair was turning white,
Her face was lined with discontent,
She said her patience was pretty near spent,
She was nervous,
Ears ringing wanted to scream,
Couldn't get no relief.

Sister she took it worst of all,
Cos she got married the following fall,
She said for love but I got me doubts,
I reckon the guitar drove her out.
She's a game girl,
Just couldn't take it,
You know, Limit to everything.

Dad he took it a different way,
He said U can turn your Mum's hair grey,
Drive your sister away from home,
But U and me boy's gonna start to roam,
And I ain?t going,
You figure it out,
so I did
Fast.

Anyway next day I had me clothes all packed,
Slung the guitar across me back,
Caught meself a great long train,
Searched the world for me share of fame.
Ain?t found none,
Just hardships,
messing about,
skiffle,
Tommy Steel.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 03:35 AM

Also The Battle of New Orleans, my first record purchase

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 03:40 AM

Correction. So I bought meself a guitar bout a year ago, Blloke sid I could learn it in a week or so, Gave me a little book ,Pick of 2, Said Ere y'are mate, it's up to you.....

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: bill\sables
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 06:14 AM

Keith , I always thought the line was " Gave me a book , pick a tune"

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: bill\sables
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 06:58 AM

I have just been thinking the line I mentioned earlied could be "a pick or two "

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 07:10 AM

Pretty serious when you headline Sidmouth as he did in 89' or 90' The arena was packed for him.

Spot

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Yorkie
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 10:50 AM

Lonnie also did "Joshua fit the battle of Jericho" The record he made with Van Morrison (and Chris Barber) was being played in the pubs at last year's Whitby festival. I think it was new out then; sorry , don't have the title. Lonnie is still very much on the circuit, but I don't know whether he has a website

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 11:09 AM

You'r probably right about the pick a tune book. But you missed "The book says they're easy as ABC" and not "stuck the guitar across my knee" Funny how the memory works. It must be over 30 years since I even thought about it. Has anyone mentioned Sloop John B yet? He abandoned skiffle for a violin backing.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 04:10 PM

Did anyone mention"Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?" Jeepman

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Yorkie
Date: 11 Feb 01 - 04:27 PM

Just remembered that I saw Lonnie on TV not too long ago; think it might have been on Jools Holland's programme

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 04:35 AM

Lonnie Donegan? Seems to me I've heard that name somewhere...
BTW Did anyone go to the skiffle session in Twickenham last weekend? Feedback needed by terminally curious who couldn't be there
RtS (tho' I was at the "final" "Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers" tour performance at Woking)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,King Street Smith
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 08:17 AM

Hi Roger Skiffler - The "Skiffle Madness" Session in Twickenham was a Fab success. A first class crowd of about 100 with 8 great bands, playing mostly genu-wine skiffle. Several wahboard players, one came down from Rugby, another from Basingstoke. It was, not exagerating,a brilliant afternoon of music and evidence

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Giac
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 09:12 AM

When I was a kid in the 50s, almost nobody had TV, and could only get a faint snowy image if they did. People still listened to the radio in the evenings. One of my favorite radio stations was KRMG from Tulsa, Oklahoma, because they played "hot" stuff on their late programs. That's where I first heard Lonnie Donegan's version of Rock Island Line. I was so blown away that I became obsessive about it and tried in vain to find the record.

But, back then, radio stations sometimes would schedule "hit" tunes around a specific time so people could hear their favorites. So it was with Rock Island Line. It was played each and every evening at about 9:18 p.m. and I was always hovering over the radio. My mom would tolerate top volume through the one song, but no longer, so I kept a sweaty hand on the volume knob to regulate my daily "fix".

Hadn't thought of that for years, thanks for the thread.

Mary (wandering off muttering "... if ya want to ride it, gotta ride it like you find it, get yer ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line...")

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 12:36 PM

Playing around with some friends Saturday night, we dug up about half a dozen Lonnie Donegan tunes. Small world isn't it. JohnB

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 12:49 PM

Thanx 4 the thread! Gre up with Lonnie's '45s--but learned Rock Island Line from Johnny Cash ... & my late brother's unprintable verses :)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,The Burren Ranger.
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 01:26 PM

Apologies if its been mentioned already...but Lonnie's 1999 'live'(Rec. in Belfast) 'Skiffle Sessions' album with Van the Man & Chris Barber, is terrific. Def. worth checking out....

The Burren Ranger.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Yorkie
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 02:03 PM

Burren Ranger, thanks for the name of the CD

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Doctor John
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 02:15 PM

Hi Roger,
I bought the book "The Skiffle Craze" by Mike Dewe that you recommended. I brought back a lot of memories and reminded me of things long forgotten. Those were the days...I think.
Regards Dr John

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Bazza
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 09:34 AM

Lonnie did a very haunting version of "No More Wine On The Brazzo" (see DT) way, way back. Anyone in the UK got a recording they might share? Regards Bazza

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Bazza
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 09:34 AM

Lonnie did a very haunting version of "No More Wine On The Brazzo" (see DT) way, way back. Anyone in the UK got a recording they might share? Regards Bazza

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Grey & Arthritic
Date: 28 Apr 01 - 01:14 PM

Saw the Albert Hall "Kings of Skiffle" Lonnie at his best, but great to see Chas McDevitt Nancy Whiskey still with voices to put the young ones in the shade! even Adam Faith going back to his roots, anybody know if its being done again or if any recordings were made