Lonnie Donegan
Father of Skiffle Lonnie Donegan died on November 3rd. Donegan, who had suffered a series of heart attacks, complained of feeling unwell while on tour in Nottingham. He died at the home of friends in Peterborough with his wife and son present. He was 71. Credited as the man who invented skiffle music - a blend of blues, folk, jug band and country-and-western styles - Donegan was the son of a Glasgow classical violinist. He bought his first guitar at 14, learning songs from BBC radio which led him to the music of Josh White, Bessie Smith and Leadbelly. Originally christened Tony, Donegan took the name Lonnie in homage to the black blues guitarist Lonnie Johnson, and was instrumental in popularising black music in this country. As a member of Ken Colyer's Jazzmen (later to become the Chris Barber Jazz Band) in the early fifties, Donegan performed American blues, country and folk songs on guitar or banjo between sets. In 1955 his single release Rock Island Line was a phenomenon, spending 22 weeks on the British chart and making him a star.
He went on to make many hits including Cumberland Gap, John Henry and novelty songs including My Old Man's A Dustman, and his music inspired whole generations of younger artists including the young Lennon and McCartney. Paul McCartney once said of him: "When we were kids in Liverpool, the man who really started the craze for guitars was Lonnie Donegan. We studied his records avidly. We all bought guitars to be in a skiffle group. He was the man." Elton John, Ringo Starr and Brian May paid tribute to his influence by playing on Donegan's 1978 album Puttin' on the Style, and Donegan teamed up with Van Morrison for a 1999 recording, Skiffle Sessions. Donegan enjoyed a fifty year career in the music business, moving into cabaret work and recently becoming a regular headliner at major UK folk events including Sidmouth International Folklore Festival. He was due to sing in a tribute concert for George Harrison in London later this month. In 1997 Donegan received a lifetime achievement award and in November 2000 was awarded the MBE.
©BBC 2002