Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,roger kirby Date: 10 Sep 05 - 11:05 AM hi there just to say what a great loss to the world of music.had the pleasure of seeing lon many times with my brother frank brown from wisbech he to sadly no longer with us saw him at nottingham his last show always gave 100% both dearly missed rest lon you deserve it ROGER KIRBY |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Tam the Bam (Nutter) Date: 09 Nov 03 - 09:25 AM I went to see Bill Whyman's rythmn kings and they sang a Lonnie Donnegan song as a tribute to him, because if it wasn't for him and people like him the british Rock and roll/pop would never got started. Like in Amreica, if it wasn't people like Bill Halley you never would of got Elvis, or even little Jimmy Osmond. Tom |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Mo, Australia Date: 09 Nov 03 - 12:46 AM Have only just found this site after talking to my brother about Lonnie and the "old days", and I wonder if anyone out there remembers how Lonnie, Monty Sunshine, Chris Barber, Ottilie Paterson plus others, used to give us the best concerts ever on a Friday lunchtime in about 1955/56 at what I think was called The Royal Scottish Corporation Hall near Fleet Street in London. We used to buy doughnuts and coffee and oh boy was it a treat, great music and memories that linger on and on thanks to our Lonn'! |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 05 Apr 03 - 02:37 AM After a lot of false leads I finally got a reply from Sanctuary Publishing via Macmillan & Co that the autobiography of Lonnie listed on Amazon as published in 1997 was in fact abandoned and never published. Shame.... RtS |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,JIM WHATLEY of NEEDHAM MARKET SUFFOLK Date: 14 Dec 02 - 07:31 AM Saw Lonnie last October 3 at Ipswich Regent. He was fantastic!! Last seen, in person, by myself in 1957 at Great Yarmouth, with Miki and Griff and a young Des O'Connor. He didn't seem to have aged since that time. A little bent and lighter hair but all the excitement was still there. Sadly, his last song was a prophetic one, 'This may be the last time' He assured the audience that it wouldn't be to accompanying cheers from a loving and faithful crowd. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: MikeofNorthumbria Date: 12 Nov 02 - 08:32 AM "The Dane" posted a song in tribute to Lonnie on this thread a few days ago. I read it, and some bits of it got stuck in my head. Then some more thoughts gathered around them. The version below eventually crystallised out - I hope The Dane doesn't take offence at having his song messed about with. One cold winter's day, at the start of November, Came the end of a story we'll always remember. When they gave out the news that a hero of mine Had taken his last ride down the Rock Island Line Chorus: And we sang all the old songs as we sat round the bar, On the night Lonnie Donegan laid down his guitar. Now can you recall the way things used to be? No place on the bandstand for you, or for me, Just guys in tuxedos, with brilliantined hair And songs about "Lurve" to a beat that was square. Ch. Then up jumped Lonnie, guitar in his hand, He went singing his folk songs all over the land. Soon thousands of youngsters found out it was true, That though he sang them best, they could all sing them too. Ch. With a washboard for a drum kit, and a tea-chest for a base, In a church hall, a coffee bar, or any old place, The kids gathered round, and all started to play Those three magic chords you could learn in a day. Ch. There were songs of the farmers whose crop got wiped out, The miner, the lumberjack, and the old roustabout, The hobo and the drifter in search of a meal, And all the good people who need a square deal. Ch. You told us about Woody, and Leadbelly too - We might never have heard them, if it wasn't for you. May your memory stay green, and your legend live on, And we'll tell 'em Lonnie Donegan done been here and gone. Ch Wassail! |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Allan Dennehy Date: 10 Nov 02 - 06:54 PM Thanks Lonnie. RIP |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Paul Griggs. Date: 10 Nov 02 - 10:01 AM A hero of mine since I was 12 and four years ago he recorded a song I wrote called "I Don't Wanna Lose You" on his "Muleskinner Blues" album. A true legend. Check out my own memories on my site www.paulgriggs.com R.I.P. Lonnie and thanks for the influence. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Sloop Date: 09 Nov 02 - 02:29 PM That's really sad: Lonnie gone so early.There were a lot of skifflers back in the 50's but LD stood head and shoulders above them all. Still electric after all these years. Thanks for introducing us to Woody, Cisco, Lead Belly and all, Lonnie. Sloop Does anyone recall a 78 of "East Virginia" (but called "Theme from the Passing - or Intimate - Stranger") with a harmonica piece by Tommy Reilly on the other side (similar title)? |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: KingBrilliant Date: 09 Nov 02 - 10:00 AM I'm listening to a minidisk I made at Guildford festival a couple of years ago. Lonnie was fantastic, the crowd were singing along & audibly SO happy. What a man! |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Strupag Date: 08 Nov 02 - 12:55 PM I remember being stunned by the singer when listening to the B side of a Monty Sunshine Quartet EP. I can't remember the song but I'm sure it was something like "Precious Lord". I was amazed to find that it was our beloved Lonnie who was singing. Would this be pre Skiffle Group and possible his first recording ? As they would say in his town of birth - Pure dead brilliant! |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Sonnet Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:48 AM When I was a little girl I didn't sleep very well. This was probably compounded by my Dad going through his bedside repertoire of "Putting on the Agony, Putting on the Style" "My old man's a dustman" etc! I hadn't thought about this in years...Maybe now they've both crossed over, my Dad'll get chance of a few backing vocals. :-) Jay |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Ard Mhacha Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:36 AM This weeks Irish Post has a tribute to Donegan, it stirred my memory, when it included the time Lonnie was banned from the BBC in the 1950s for singing Irish rebel songs. Ard Mhacha. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 08 Nov 02 - 09:24 AM Paul Jones spent the first half of his BBC Radio 2 Bluesprog last night paying tribute to Lonnie (and the second half to an interview & live session with Tommy Emmanuel) still available via BBC website until next Thursday. RtS |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,stuartbrown777@hotmail.com Date: 08 Nov 02 - 08:09 AM It was an experience working for Lonnie in the early 70's as keyboard player. Only sorry he replaced me with Elton J. Hard taskmaster but very nice guy. My mum and dad (now in their 80's) will never forget the bottles of champagne. Can I suggest listening to Lonnie's not-as-famous-now songs i.e. "It was a very good year", "Seven Golden Daffodils", "Without You" and his version (as the writer) of "Never gonna fall in love again" - beautiful. Were you fans out there aware that he was responsible for the release of "Nights in White Satin" - Moody Blues. He will be missed and I only wish I could have played one last time with the old wrinklies - Roger, Pete and Ray. ........"Porky" (my nickname from the man himself, but not telling you why!!!!!!!!) |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: ex-pat Date: 07 Nov 02 - 10:12 PM When I was 8 years old Lonnie Donegan was the man who sang the songs that I wanted to sing. He and my Dad were my earliest musical inspirations. "Bring me a little water, Sylvie", "Rock Island Line", "Lost John," all classics that helped define my musical path. Rest in Peace Lonnie, you certainly made your mark in musical history...... |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Fat B****rd Date: 07 Nov 02 - 03:32 AM Buying "Lost John" with my left over holiday pocket money was a turning point for me even as a 9 year-old. If nothing else for introducing me to Leadbelly a million thanks Mr. Donegan. RIP |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: BanjoRay Date: 06 Nov 02 - 07:03 PM The following was on Fiddle-L from Joseph Scott - a considerable expert on old American music. I'm sure he won't mind me quoting him here. In the U.S. in the '20s through '40s, "skiffle" or "scuffle" (two ways of pronouncing the same word) described scuffling, i.e. busking music, music made usually on inexpensive instruments or imitation instruments and played in order to raise some money on the street, especially, or (more towards the '40s, best I can tell) at a rent party. It could be jazzy or non-jazzy. Sometimes the tunes were blues but they very often weren't. Music made by "ordinary folk" at home or to accompany dancers in rural areas tended to sound fairly different from skiffle, which by its nature had a professional, commercial component to it, but of course only to a degree, on a scale that did not aspire to be "high class." Jug bands tended to be skiffle bands or at least close, as did "tramp bands" and washboard bands. Skifflers tended to know standards people might want to hear such as "St. Louis Blues" and "Tiger Rag" (even if they didn't know them all _that_ well!) -- whatever would get tips into hats. So Donegan and the other early (i.e. '50s) U.K. "skifflers" tapped into a real U.S. tradition. And presented it, imo, in a quite honest and straightforward way, all things considered, at a time when few people in the U.S. cared about skiffle any more. Joseph Scott Cheers Ray |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: greg stephens Date: 06 Nov 02 - 12:06 PM There are not enough superlatives for Lonnie, what can you say. He transformed British society deeply, and funnily his turning on a generation to American folk-song resulted in the explosion of distictively British music. The year before Rock Island line came out, 5000 guitars were sold in the UK. Five years later that was 250,000 a year. What more needs to be said? The only crticism I could make of Lonnie is dying on November 4: he was meant to be playing in my home-town, Stoke, that night. Now I call that downright inconsiderate! I'VE GOT PIG IRON I'VE GOT PIG IRON I'VE GOT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALL PIG IRON!!!! |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: The Dane Date: 06 Nov 02 - 04:10 AM We were sitting there just me and my friends playing folk music having some drinks We played the session at Mick Foley's bar the night Lonnie Donegan put down his guitar He grew up in Glasgow guitar in his hand he started playing jazz in Chris Barber's Band We played the session at Mick Foley's bar the night Lonnie Donegan put down his guitar He played skiffle he was Puttin' on the Style He put folk music on the charts for a while We played the session at Mick Foley's bar the night Lonnie Donegan put down his guitar When his heart gave in music was the cure He died in November in the middle of a tour We played the session at Mick Foley's bar the night Lonnie Donegan put down his guitar |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Leadfingers Date: 05 Nov 02 - 08:10 PM Saw him at Sidmouth and thoroughly enjoyed the show with all the high kicking and exuberance.My mate Woodie(the one man band)was busking the Market square and got 50p from Lonnie for doing My Old Man a Dustman. Anther legend gone |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Pete Appelby friend Date: 05 Nov 02 - 06:59 PM I spoke to Pete when I heard about Lonnies departure, Pete was the drummer with the original group, he was sad to hear that Lonnie had gone and was reminising the old group. "Not many left now" he said,"I was the baby of the band"."Lonnie will be missed by many and I was proud to have known him as a colleague and a friend" Pete still plays drums in North Yorkshire, teaching in schools, and the odd gig. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: mandomad Date: 05 Nov 02 - 05:57 PM Lonnie pointed me in the direction of Leadbelly, Woody, the Blues and then Folk music...I'll miss a great showman, his songs always made me smile. Don't you rock me, Daddy-O mandomad |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Eric, Ray,& Rodge Date: 05 Nov 02 - 11:23 AM Tell 'em Lonnie Donegans Been Here and Gone!! Rock Your Soul!! Many Thanks for Your Music. Condolences to his Family |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Roger Browne Date: 05 Nov 02 - 10:39 AM My earliest influence in music. A sad loss. Thanks for all the pleaure you have given me. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Bullfrog Jones Date: 05 Nov 02 - 08:51 AM I was lucky enough to see him twice -- once in the early sixties doing Panto at The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham, and a couple of years ago at the Fleadh. He still had just as much energy (if not more!). Funny. I've always thought of him as being one of the main conduits bringing American music into Britain --- I didn't realise that he meant anything in America. He'll be sadly missed. BJ |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Steve Parkes Date: 05 Nov 02 - 08:37 AM Who else could have given us what Lonnie did? See this thread. Steve |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,tam the bam frae Scotland Date: 05 Nov 02 - 07:53 AM I really liked Lonnie Donnnegan, The music world has lost one of it's giants. some people didn't like him, but if it wasn't for him, you would never have the beatles, or the Rolling stones etc. Lonnie will be sadly missed Tom |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Dave Bryant Date: 05 Nov 02 - 07:43 AM Ah well, I expect Lonnie and his old guitarist Dennie Wright have met up again and are having a wonderful session in one place or the other.... |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Boab Date: 05 Nov 02 - 03:04 AM The man who couldn't rest....Lonnie Donegan, not a personal friend, not even an acquaintance; but takes with him the options that might yet have been. Sad, sad---a forever-gap has come into our lives. Lonnie, you will sing on, and on. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Bugsy Date: 05 Nov 02 - 12:19 AM I've been patiently waiting for him to come to our neck of the woods for 30 years. He's always been a favourite of mine but never got to see him in the flesh. Alas, I never will. Vale Lonnie. Bugsy |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: catspaw49 Date: 04 Nov 02 - 09:14 PM I was on the wrong side of the pond to realize who he was at first, but from that first listen, you just knew who he was.....and he was easy to love. A great contributor to the river of Folk as well as a bridge across for many. Rest easy....and Thank You. Spaw |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Big Mick Date: 04 Nov 02 - 09:02 PM God be good to him. The celestial band is really shaping up to be a humdinger. This is a tough one to let go. He will be missed. Condolences to his family. Mick |
Subject: We have just lost Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Greycap Date: 04 Nov 02 - 05:31 PM Just heard on the 10 o'clock news that Lonnie died of a heart attack today - my earliest guitar hero, what can I say? Message transferred from a duplicate thread. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Will Bakker Date: 04 Nov 02 - 04:19 PM Lonnie dead... Last year our (Mudfield)skifflegroup travelled from Holland to England on a pilgrimage to see him appear live for the first time. And it was great! We were so lucky to be able to meet him and make some pictures together with him. It is sad that this energetic guy has died. We will miss him. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: alanabit Date: 04 Nov 02 - 03:45 PM I quite liked John Martyn's wonderful, smoky voiced version... If you go back to the number of people who first got interested in music by Lonnie Donnegan's contribution, the list is daunting. The other interesting thing is just how different they were - from folkies like Wally Whyton to the Beatles. That is some legacy. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST Date: 04 Nov 02 - 03:21 PM His version of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" was the only one I've heard that could stand up to Judy Garland's. With all due respect to the late, great Mr. Donegan, "Somewhere Over the Raibow" now, and forever, belongs to the late, great Eva Cassidy. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: boglion Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:34 PM I saw Lonnie at the London Fleadh a couple of years ago. He was Brilliant!! I'd hoped to catch him again. Oh well, another genius gone. Cheers, Lonnie. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Harry Basnett Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:31 PM We all owe him a lot! Rest in Peace. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Cobble Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:14 PM Another link lost with the past, at least we have the memory's. Rest in Peace Lonny. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Bert Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:10 PM Bummer, my chewing gum is really going to lose its flavor tonight. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 04 Nov 02 - 01:38 PM He could put over anything. His version of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" was the only one I've heard that could stand up to Judy Garland's. Last time I saw him was at Cambridge Folk Festival. In total command. Without Lonnie Donegan I wonder how many of us would be playing or singing or visiting here? Including some who might never even have heard of him. How often when a session goes well - any kind of session, Irish, Bluegrass, whatever, someone will mutter with satisfaction "It's all skiffle...", and there's a murmur of assent. God, they're dropping these last few weeks, aren't they? |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,stringman Date: 04 Nov 02 - 12:54 PM He will be a great loss to World of music. Bless him. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Giac Date: 04 Nov 02 - 12:31 PM When Rock Island Line became a hit in the U.S. in the 50s, a radio station in Tulsa, Oklahoma, played it at 9:18 each night. Whatever else was going on, my mother made sure we got home, or to the home of a friend by that time so I could listen to it. Money was very dear, so we couldn't afford the record, but I got my daily fix each evening from KRMG. Mary |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: MairSea Date: 04 Nov 02 - 12:04 PM Goodnight and God Bless Lonnie. Thanks for all the good you've done. Love and prayers for your family. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: MikeofNorthumbria Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:53 AM Lonnie was booked to play at Newcastle Opera House this coming Thursday. Last year, at the same venue, he nearly lifted the roof off, and only got away (after several encores) by promising to come back again real soon. Now we'll just have to stay home and play a few of his records instead. What a performer he was ... I never saw him give anything less than total commitment to his material, and to his audience. Moreover, because of him, tens of thousands of people discovered that music didn't have to be something that was done for them - it could be something they did for themselves, and for their friends. He started a revolution, of which we're all the beneficiaries. Rest in peace, Lonnie: your work lives on |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Schantieman Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:51 AM 'My Old Man's a Dustman' with a version of 'The Golden Vanity' on the B-side - this was one of the first records I bought - in about 1970? - and was one on my introductions to music. Another sad loss. Steve |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: Ballyholme Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:21 AM Thank goodness most of Lonnie's material is still available on CD, including, of course, his recent recordings which include "The Skiffle Sessions" with Van Morrison and Chris Barber. I don't recall much in the way of published interviews, etc,. but I would recommend Mo Foster's book "Play Like Elvis" which chronicles the slow and painful rise of rock music in the UK. The book includes Lonnie's recollections of the very early days of skiffle and the struggle to get a half decent guitar in Britain during the late 40s/early 50s. Even guitar strings were hard to come by. |
Subject: RIP Lonnie Donegan From: GUEST,Cool Beans Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:06 AM AP reports Lonnie Donegan died Sunday in England at 71. His American hits were "Rock Island Line'' nad "Does Your Chewing gum Lose Its Flavor (On the Bedpost Overnight)?'' Influenced John Lennon and other luminaries to take up the guitar. This message moved here from a duplicate thread. |
Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan From: GMT Date: 04 Nov 02 - 10:44 AM Goodbye Lonnie and thanks for the music. Condolences to his family. Gary |
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