Obit: Lonnie Donegan (1931-2002)

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: 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: 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: 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: Allan Dennehy
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 06:54 PM

Thanks Lonnie.
RIP

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: 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: 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,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: 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,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