Obit: Lonnie Donegan (1931-2002)

Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 10:42 AM

Hard news. And you're right, Songs2Play... we were talking about him within the last week. Until I heard Mississippi John Hurt, Lonnie was my folk hero. It's strange to have such great admiration for two musicians as different in style as Mississippi John and Lonnie. Lonnie was Hell for leather, and Mississippi was a shy smile looking out from under an old hot all sweat stained from years of work. It wasn't Burl Ives who moved me, or Harry Belefonte, or the Kingston Trio. It was Lonnie, the minute I put on the album, An Englishman Sings American Folk Songs. If the Tasmanian Devil ever put out a cover album, it would have been of Lonnie Donegan But for all of my love of his music, which still sounds as fresh today, I never tried to sound like him (Although I still can recite the complete spoken introduction to Rock Island... and did so when we were driving through Rock Island a couple of years ago.) It wasn't until I started doing black gospel quartet music that I felt Lonnie in my music. I'm Alabamy Bound, Sally Don't You Grieve... so many of those songs formed my ear for harmony, with a strong bass singer. Maybe it was getting an electric guitar in my hands, where I could really drive the music that finally brought Lonnie out. I've been intending to get the Gospel Messengers to learn some of Lonnie's songs to sing at folk festivals... not just the gospel stuff he did. Maybe this will spur me on.

God rest you, crazy gentleman..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: C-flat
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 10:28 AM

He had a good career and was a household name to anyone over 40.(In the U.K. at least)
Everyone knows at least one Lonnie Donegan song!
I'd be proud to acheive that much in my lifetime.

Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 10:25 AM

From the BBC site referred to above:

Monday, 4 November, 2002, 14:56 GMT
'Skiffle king' Donegan dies


Musician Lonnie Donegan, known as the "king of skiffle", has died aged 71.
The Glasgow-born singer was midway through a UK tour after recovering from a heart operation earlier this year and was due to play a concert in Stoke, Staffordshire, on Monday.

One of the most successful recording artists of the pre-Beatles era, he had three number one hits and numerous top 10 entries in the UK chart.


Donegan received an MBE for services to pop music

The star was with his wife and son when he died in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, on Sunday. He had been complaining of back trouble shortly before he fell ill.

The skiffle king's hits included Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour, My Old Man's A Dustman, Cumberland Gap and Puttin' on the Style.

His more recent work with Van Morrison led to a resurgence in his career. His skiffle music was a mixture of folk, jazz, gospel and the blues.

Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler, who recently played with Donegan in London, called him one of his greatest musical influences.

Elvis recorded one of his songs, I'm Never Gonna Fall in Love Again, and in 1978 Sir Paul McCartney was the driving force behind a tribute album featuring appearances by Sir Elton John and Brian May.

Afterthought

Donegan has been described as Britain's first musical superstar and his skiffle music swept through the country in the 1950s.


His first single sold three million copies

His single Rock Island Line, released almost as an afterthought by Decca Records, sold three million copies after being played on BBC radio and gave him a hit in the UK and the US.

He quickly became a star in both countries although he had only ever wanted to be a jazz banjo player.

In May this year he had heart surgery in London and seemed to have been on the mend, although he had suffered from cardiac trouble since the 1970s.

Christened Anthony James Donegan, the star changed his name after a master of ceremonies confused him with the American guitarist Lonnie Johnson, and the name stuck.

He was married three times and has seven children.

(c)BBC 2002

RtS
("Poor Lonnie's dead and gone, left us here to sing this song.")

Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 10:19 AM

He's had a history of heart attacks over the years and never held back in performance. End of an era if true.
RtS

Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: Ballyholme
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 10:16 AM

Imagine what music (in general) in the UK would have been like without him. He showed the kids that you didn't have to be a genius to pick up a guitar and make some level of music. The influence of the skiffle "craze" is inestimable". Folk music, rock, jazz - his influence filtered down to everything.

Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: Mr Red
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 10:10 AM

A friend told me of his last concert in our area and was amazed at his energy and stamina.
His first number was prefaced with "OK we are taking no prisoners" and that is just how the gig progressed.
So now we will never know if our chewing gum looses it's flavour on the bedpost........

Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: rock chick
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 10:08 AM

Remember seeing him the first time as a youngster,made the first music impression on me, will be sadly missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 09:59 AM

My earliest influence! I used to perform (and I mean "perform"!) all his hits at school when I was oh, 5-7 years old. Thanks for the memory, Lonnie.

Steve

Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: songs2play
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 09:49 AM

A very sad loss.
A very underrated musician.
Jerry R , it's strange we were only chatting about him the other day in Muchat.
Our prayers are with his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: Fiolar
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 09:49 AM

God rest you Lonnie. I'll bet the "Rock Island Line" is thrumming tonight.

Subject: Obit: Lonnie Donegan
From: Ballyholme
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 09:44 AM

Just read on the BBC website that Lonnie Donegan - the "King of Skiffle" has died. Another legend gone.