Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him

Subject: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Vinyl Junkie
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 02:01 PM

What does everyone think about Lonnie Donegan? I am of the opinion that if you have recordings by Leadbelly, then you don't need Lonnie. However, he was a major influence in the UK, maybe more so than Alexys Korner. Lonnie encouraged people to take up the guitar, including a young and impressionalble John Lennon, and he opened up people's ears to American roots music, the blues in particular. He may also have started up the folk revival. A major figure, undoubtedly. However, listening to a few things he has done, I find his delivery infuriatingly enthusiastic, rather like a blues equivelant of a happy-clappy born again Evangelical, which is often at odds with the tone of the lyrics. He upset a lot of his fans by recording novelty songs, although I quite like them as he was plugging into his Music Hall roots, an updated version of George Formby if you like.

Am I being unfair to Lonnie? Does his version of Rock Island Line bring something new to the song, or is his value to make people aware of something better than himself? So watcha all fink?

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,TheOldMole
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 02:15 PM

I love Lonnie Donegan. He had a delivery that was fervent and powerful. He had a deep love for the songs he sang. He may not have taken "Rock Island Line" away from Leadbelly, but I don't believe that's the only way to gauge a version of a song.

And he does own "Frankie and Johnny," which is no easy thing with a song that's had so many versions.

Also, Lonnie Donegan was, and is, beloved by the generation of British musicians who followed him, for his great generosity as well as for his musical example.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 02:21 PM

you said it all--I listened to him on some MP3s posted to Usenet recently, just because I had never heard him, and while his enthusiasm was evident and I am SURE he got a lot of people interested in music they would not otherwise have heard, his versions and 'feel' for most of the songs was less than authentic. Doesn't make him 'bad', just not to my taste.

There are youngish groups doing similar things to stuff like sea chanties these days, and while they have lots of fun and appeal to kids who seems to NEED music played too fast with scant attention to history and authentic lyrics, they are not for us old purist snobs..*grin*

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 02:31 PM

Lost John/Stewball was one of the very first (78 rpm) records I bought "with my own money" in 1956. I thought LD was wonderful and although I have heard and read some negative stuff about him I cannot deny that without him.....

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: maldenny
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 02:40 PM

Lonnie wasn't all just skiffle, I've got a lovely EP of his singing some Irish songs such as Kevin Barry, My Laggan Love etc. which were really good. He started me off on the Clancy Brothers.

Mal

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 02:53 PM

Like so many 'popular' performers, a lot of people run Lonnie Donegan down as not being 'true' to the real sense of the music. The same has been said of The Spinners, Acker Bilk, and Dave Brubeck who are all accused of devaluing the music they played. However, they ALL served as an introduction for people who had never met Blues, Folk or Jazz.
And a lot of the people who came into the various music forms have stayed long enough to be a major influence themselves.
Besides, I always liked Lon myself.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Vinyl Junkie
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 05:27 PM

Thanks for all the comments. They were interesting. I tend to side with my fellow purist snob, Bill D, and his comments; but it is interesting that some other people cite Lonnie as a launching pad to other artists, be it the Clancy Brothers, such as maldenny, or to Blues, Folk or Jazz, such as Leadfingers. No-one would cite Leadbelly as an introduction to anyone but Leadbelly: in other words, listening to Leadbelly is an end in itself. (As you can gather, I'm quite a fan.) I've nothing against Lonnie, in fact I respect him; but, I have to admit, he is not quite to my taste.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 05:43 PM

"I tend to side with my fellow purist snob, Bill D, and his comments..."

wow, a movement! *grin*...

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Metchosin
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 06:28 PM

Bill D, I have a Lonnie Donegan rendition of Rock Island Line, with Rory Gallagher on guitar, that needs neither qualification nor apology to anyone.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Chris Newman
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 06:45 PM

I last saw him at Buxton Opera House a few years ago at a Rory Gallagher Memorial concert. It was very long night, and he was on last. He came on with his (excellent) band and was utterly wonderful. An object lesson in 'how to do a gig.'

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Vinyl Junkie
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 07:52 PM

I'm not trying to be contentious here -really, I'm not- but I always thought that Rory Gallagher probably sounded what Elmore James sounded like if you were totally pissed and on the verge of passing out. Still, if listening to Rory Gallagher turns people on to Elmore James, then.......

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 08:05 PM

If Lonnie Donegan had sounded more like Leadbelly, rather than like himself, that would have been less "authentic" rather than more.

What he got across to people in Britain was the message that you don't have to get your music just from listening passively to records made in a previous time, you can stand up and make it yourself, and you can sing the old songs in your own voice.

And for a lot of us, that's where it all came from, and we're still doing that after all these years.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 11:56 PM

"...a Lonnie Donegan rendition of Rock Island Line"...no one needs to apologize for having different tastes, my friends. I certainly don't apologize for MY tastes. Although some of Lonnie's stuff is great fun, I tend to like others done a bit 'easier'...*smile*

It seems to be a delicate matter to say "it's not for me" and not sound like you're saying "it's wrong" or "it's bad"...The question was asked and answered...I see Lonnie is getting more 'yes' votes than 'no' votes, and I'm sure he means a great deal to many folks.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Bo Vandenberg
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 12:36 AM

Lonnie Donegan is an absolute treat. Its great to hear how one performer genuinely takes on a whole body of work. Folkies can be too stuffy believing that the sound they heard first, or the oldest sound, is the only way to do a song.

He gives it his all, he has his own style, he's a good musician, and he obviously is a hard workin so and so. What's not to like?

I'm in Canada and I really enjoyed the flavour of his performances that I've heard on CD. I'd love to see him live.

I think his style would go over real well any where people would give him a chance.

S

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Metchosin
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 01:28 AM

Sigurd, sadly he performs now with the choir invisible and Hugo the bearded collie that lived next door wonders where he went.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Vinyl Junkie
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 01:32 AM

I think my real problem with Lonnie Donegan is his relentless enthusiasim which just wears me down. If you are going to cover a song, then I think there is something to be said about capturing the mood. Ry Cooder had it down to a fine art whereas Lonnie Donegan would throw himself a little too much into the performance. Still, I bet he had a great record collection.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 01:32 AM

I loved Lonnie, and his music, his showmanship and his professionalism, his taste, his choice of music (pretty much everything) and thank heaven his longevity.
I cannot explain why I do, but I suspect that he was a MAJOR influence on my own musical tastes, i.e. everything.
And if that's the Chris Newman up there that I suspect it is, welcome to Mudcat, and I was just listening to your (and Máire's) CD Out Of Court this afternoon. Brilliant stuff.
Now back to the LD thread.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: fat B****rd
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 03:47 AM

I do believe, Vinyl Junkie, that Mr. Donegan possessed some rare 78s (Robert Johnson for instance) which he acquired in America. Please don't anybody get on my case for "speaking ill of the dead" 'cos a great many 'catters would love to "acquire" such gems.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 04:15 AM

Kevin's nailed it.
As for relentless enthusiasm...better than tired cynicism. Lonnie always gave it 100%. I didn't like everything he did but he gave hope to those of us who could never sound like Ledbelly but got by with a little (or in my case no) skill and a lot of enthusiasm.

RtS

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 08:54 AM

What do I think of Lonnie?

As a concert artist he was magnificent. He had a well-crafted stage act, and a superb rapport with his audience. He never gave less than 100% (usually more, if you count the encores). He continued doing this until the very end, winning massive applause from large crowds at Sidmouth, Cambridge and Glastonbury festivals in his final years.   

As an entertainer, he was a real old-time trouper. I still recall his performance in Aladdin at the Chiswick Empire. In those far-off days, chart-topping singers often made guest appearances in a Christmas pantomime. Normally they did a medley of their hits, and took walk-on parts in the rest of the production. Lonnie, however, played a leading comic role with his usual panache, delighting the audience, without upstaging the other actors.   A friend who saw the show on another night told me that at one moment, a large chunk of scenery crashed to the stage, missing Lonnie by inches. Totally unfazed, he sang and ad-libbed jokes in front of the stage curtains until emergency repairs were completed and the show could go on. A genuine professional!

As a recording artist he cut some tracks that were excellent, and many that were good. Others, though still competent, were (to my ears) rather less enjoyable - but even these sold well enough to prove that the public liked them. (And after all, he was doing this for a living, not trying to prove some academic point about the 'real' nature of folk song.)

As an influence, he was uniquely important - "The man without whom…".   He opened doors for many of us who were unaware till then that those doors even existed.   Above all, he showed a whole generation that music didn't always have to be a commodity that we purchased – it could also be an activity that we participated in. By doing this he launched a revolution, and we all owe him a great deal for it.

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 12:54 PM

In America, I don't think Lonnie Donegan was very relevant outside of the novelty song about the chewing gum losing it's flavor.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: greg stephens
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 02:41 PM

The King. Influenced everyone in Britain, and a lot in America.(Jack White, for example, to be seen strumming a mandoline in Cold Mountain).
   His records ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. But has there ever been a more eclectic artist? great range of songs: who else would have recorded all the following
Rock Island Line
Does your chewing gum lose it's flavour?
Love is strange
My Lagan Love
Miss Otis regrets
Nobody's Child
My old man's a dustman
The party's over
Beans in your ears
Frankie and Johnny
Aunty Maggie's Remedy
Tit Bits
Worl Cup Willie
As far as I know he recorded no bach or Moazart but there may well be tapes mouldering in a basement that may surface soon.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,DocH
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 03:17 PM

The most important thing about Lonnie Donegan was he introduced us to something entirely different and to Leadbelly, Woody and the rest and was more than happy to do so. And he got us playing - those who could, that is. His music still sounds fresh today which I think is not the case with some of the other skifflers of his time. It seems to be thought both a good thing and a bad thing that he went out of the skiffle tradition at times, if you can define that! However some of Leadbelly's material was hardly in the folk tradition.
DocH

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 03:22 PM

Jerry Rasmussen initiated a recent thread about (and entitled) "Influences," and cited LD as his single greatest influence. I was amazed, since Jerry is an American and Lonnie was almost completely unknown over here. I don't believe any of his recordings were released in the US until and except "Chewing Gum," which was not especially influential. If any others were released, they sure didn't make much of a splash.

Jerry responded that he had access to a motherlode of records intended for a jukebox business, including foreign releases, discovered Lonnie amongst the stacks of vinyl, and proceeded to become a fan and influencee (?).

But Jerry has to be the exception that proves the rule -- he sure didn't hear LD on the American airwaves, and very very few Americans, including those who became folksingers, blues artists, rock stars, etc., ever heard him AT ALL.

I have my doubts when I see some of you Brits posting your opinion that American artists could only have been influenced by Donegan. Regardless of how undeniably important he was to almost everything ever after over on y'all's side, he wasn't even a blip on radar screen over here. We only know about him at all because we've looked into the prehistory of the Beatles (to whom he was, of course, an important influence and even precursor.)

I mean, really -- Jack White on mandolin in that movie could only have come on a direct line from Lonnie? Gimme a break!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 03:42 PM

You checked with Jack White did you?

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 05:08 PM

Jack White is also a blip on the radar screen here.

He really isn't much of a singer.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 05:15 PM

I wasn't terribly impressed by Jack White in the movie, and know little else about him except that his band (duo actually) started getting a lot of press this past year.

Certainly don't know him well enough to have consulted him personally before posting on Mudcat, Kevin -- ;^)

The mere fact of being a rocker playing old-style music in a high-profile film undoubtedly gave him lots of extra instant credit/credibility.

At any rate, at his age (or the age I presume he is, anyway), and as an American, I really doubt he ever felt the effects of Lonnie's music, except maybe *very* indirectly (e.g., by way of John Lennon).

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 05:23 PM

"Singer Jack White of the White Stripes paid tribute to Donegan during the MTV Awards in Edinburgh last month.

White, whose band clinched the gong for Best Rock act said: "My sister and I are Scottish and we are glad to be back in our homeland and we'd like to thank Lonnie Donegan for everything he has done for rock 'n' roll."

(From this page about a tribute concert for Lonnie last year.)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Metchosin
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 05:48 PM

PoppaGator, but perhaps less credibility than Brian May or Bill Wyman would have afforded him. Both of who credit Donnegan as their major influence. Did Donegan have any influence in the US? Only to those who had any interest in the Stones, the Beatles, The Who and the Kinks (skiffle bands all, at their outset.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 05:58 PM

I am enjoying this thread about Lonnie Donegan and learning something more about him. I had heard of him through the years.

Who else beside him from England that an american might have heard of was also such an influence?

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 08:36 PM

Come on, PapaG!! First there were the Almanac Singers, the Weavers, Josh White, and Burl Ives back in the late '40's/'50's --- and that was it until 1956. Then Lonnie's version of "Rock Island Line" hit and climbed to number 3 on the hit parade! He was brought over and did a guest shot on the Perry Como TV show. He had a number of other releases that didn't chart as well---"Lost John", "Aunt Rhody" and a couple of others. "Chewing Gum" made a small but solid splash in the charts. "Rock Island Line" laid some of the ground work for a renewed interest and the Kingston Trio's "Tom Dooley reaped the benefits.
    The mere fact that he inspired Seamus Kennedy and Jerry Rasmussen is enough to credit him with some influence. Jerry is a friend and we have discussed Lonnie on several occsions. I don't know Seamus personally (darn it!), but I have collected some of his records and CD's and play them on my radio show, along with Lonnie's stuff, on a fairly regular basis.
    In my own case, I listened to Lonnie and was influenced by him. As he recorded stuff, I broadened my knowledge by finding out about who these people behind his songs were, as well as where the songs came from.
    Lonnie will be missed by me, and I'm sure I am not alone.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 10:41 AM

I owe him a musical debt, in fact I think all guitarists/ singers of folk/Americana from 1950's England couldn't fail to say he was an influence on them.
RIP

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: mooman
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 08:16 AM

Not really my cup of tea but I agree that he had a big influence in the UK in his early days and he is to be fully applauded for that.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,TheOldMole
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 08:09 PM

I heard "Rock Island Line" and loved it, knew that it wasn't the Leadbelly version, and that I wasn't supposed to love anything I heard on Top 40 radio, but I couldn't resist. So -- living in the USA -- I did go out and by the only Lonnie album available here -- the one that had "Frankie and Johnny," "Nobody's Child," "Lost John," etc. Since then, I've added the one with Rory Gallagher et al., the one with Chris Barber... and I go along with the idea that he'd be LESS authentic if he sounded more like Leadbelly. He's an original, and he's irresistible.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Gumbo Stu
Date: 02 Jul 05 - 09:10 AM

Great thread!

My dad had an old ten inch Chris Barber LP recorded live with Lonnie doing his two songs on each side. 1954? I haven't seen it for years. I think Rock Island Line was one of them. I found a 78 of Jack O'Diamonds as a tenager and was blown away - he could cut loose.

He claimed authorship of a fair few Leadbelly songs as I remember, but I think that was the way the music industry worked back then. Ask AJ Carter.

Anybody I've talked to who has seen him perform has raved about his showmanship, and his humour, and, yes, his enthusiasm. He'd 'ave a go, alright!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 02 Jul 05 - 10:00 AM

I think Donnegan was one of the most influential musicians of the past century, but past his sell-by date.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Lutz Eikelmann
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 01:05 AM

I love him, and without the inspiration of his records I would never have become a professional musician.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 07:14 AM

A very great man once said, if you don't like Bob Wills, you can kiss my ass.......

In my reticent and rather understated sort of way English way, I find myself feeling rather the same about Lonnie Donnegan.

Don't want to bad mouth the people here that he's been compared unfavourably to. And I'm not going to. But god knows Lonnie was a top man. A great artist, great interpreter of folksong, shit hot musician. If you don't get it, I feel sort of sorry for you - the fault wasn't with him or his efforts or lack of talent.

all the best - but say nice things about Lonnie

bi al whittle

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Tam the man
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 07:40 AM

If it wasn't for Lonnie Doegan, you would never have had the beatles or the Rolling Stones, and the same goes for Bill Hailey, if it wasn't for him you would never have had Elivs.

So Lonnie and Billy are both Kings, one of Skiffle and the other of Rock and Roll.

Elivis was just lucky that is all, don't get me wrong he was good at what he did, but as I say it was people like Bill Hailey and Fats Domino that intrudced the world to Rock and Roll before Elvis.

Tam

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Judge Mental
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 08:03 AM

Years ago, Dave Van Ronk told me a story about Lonnie Donegan's publisher suing Folkways for songwriting royalties for Lead Belly's versions of "Lonnie Donega songs" like Rock Island Line.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Alan Day
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 11:42 AM

Lonnie really started the Skiffle craze and many groups started because of him.Wasboard players,Base players playing a tea chest with a broom handle and a chord,guitarists all started their little groups and probably went on to form rock groups or even became Folk Artists.
I have somewhere some really old 8 inch diameter 78s of Lonnie,but my real favourites have already been mentioned.
I enjoyed his stage performances but I cannot say I liked his attitude off stage.He was a superb banjo player and was an X jazz musician, I think with Chris Barber in his band.
Al

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Frankham
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 10:44 AM

Apparently Donegan called Moe Asch at Folkways Records demanding royalty collections for Leadbelly songs. Moe said he would be happy for Donnegan to come by to collect them and he would cheerfully take extra Leadbelly recordings and one by one break each one over Lonnie's head. This is lieu of royalties.

Ego run amok.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Tam the man
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 10:59 AM

yes he was in Chris Barber's band

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: s&r
Date: 03 Aug 05 - 10:45 AM

According to this article Ken Colyer seems to be the one who started Donegan with skiffle, before the Chris Barber Jazz Band

Stu

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Flash Company
Date: 03 Aug 05 - 12:03 PM

Last saw the man on the Chris Barber Band 40 year Re-union Tour, with Chris, Pat Halcox, Monty Sunshine et al. Chris said later, 'We were worried about Lonnie, after all he had had two heart attacks. In the event, he had more energy than the rest of us!'
Quite a compliment from a man I have never seen stand still!
He led me to Woody and Leadbelly and just about everything else came from that. Great guy!

FC

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Aug 05 - 05:06 AM

by the way that should read Big Al Whittle - wouldn't want to you to think I had changed the nature of the act.

Lonnie was amazing. I saw his last performance at Nottingham - he was tremendous. People were walking away saying that is the best gig I have ever seen.

Like a lot of talented people - i don't suppose he was all that savvy and I don't suppose education was at the top of his list of ambitions when he was a young man. i remember an interview where he explained that he had lost all his best years earnings due to the bad advice of an accountant whom he had assumed was competent to handle his tax. As well as shame upon the Inland revenue for not offering to rectify and stealing much more than they were really entitled to - I think it may explain how he would be short of cash and floundering about looking for money everywhere - perhaps this excuses the business with Asch. Perhaps someone closer to him could say if this guess is right.

either way, he really did his damndest, he did very well for us on every level. when we came to folk music - we found we knew an amazing number of songs and writers through him.

what really can you argue with.... the talent, the style, the effort, the professionalism. Offstage I didn't know - some people have hinted he wasn't very nice. I'm sorry if this was so. All I can say is he gave a lot to me, and to me he stil sounds pretty good.

al

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,Frankham
Date: 05 Aug 05 - 05:56 PM

WLD,

This is all that's really important in the final scheme of things.
If he made your life richer, than that's the most important thing
you can say about him.

I feel that way about so many people whose music I revere but wouldn't care to know them or with some be in the same room with them.

What they do personally is not as important to me as the wonderful
music they make as long as I don't have to deal with their negative
idiosyncracies. That's the beauty of recordings and the separation
of performer/audience.

I prefer not to know certain "stars" for this reason. I like to keep
my picture of them through their art and not their character.

Frank Hamilton





what really can you argue with.... the talent, the style, the effort, the professionalism. Offstage I didn't know - some people have hinted he wasn't very nice. I'm sorry if this was so. All I can say is he gave a lot to me, and to me he stil sounds pretty good.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: GUEST,fidjit
Date: 06 Aug 05 - 01:40 PM

We are all seemingly as long in the tooth. Chris Barber called it skiffle, after a record he had got from the states. I came in to folk music via Mick Muligan's jazz band, and George Melly. (They played Sunday nights at the Ferry Boat, Edmonton in the fiffty's.) Then Lonnie Donegan, Chas McDevit, Martin Winsor, Red Sullivan and all the other skifflers. Proud of it.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan: Whatcha All Fink Of Him
From: Fidjit
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 03:52 PM

(Just got back home) Must add And I still enjoy 3 chord songs.