Lonnie Donegan (Лонни Донеган)

Lonnie Donegan, whose pioneer skiffle music sound influenced a generation of British rock 'n' rollers, collapsed and died Sunday at age 71 while on tour in the UK, reports the Associated Press, the BBC and Sky News. He reportedly suffered a fall due to back pain, then died a short time later. Sky News reported his final performance was in Nottingham, also the first city he played when he first became famous in 1957. He was scheduled to perform on Monday in Stoke, Staffordshire on Monday, according to the BBC.

Donegan's best well-known songs were "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor on the Bed Post Overnight?" and "Rock Island Line," but it was his influence on British musicians that was more significant. His music inspired the Quarrymen, who played skiffle music, a sound developed from household items such as washboards and string bass, in their early days, and also inspired others from Pete Townshend to Van Morrison, who recorded an album with him in recent years. "I think he's probably the principal reason I picked up a guitar," Queen guitarist Brian May told BBC Radio Five Live.

Donegan was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2000.

На пике популярности, как уверяют очевидцы (Алексей Козлов, "Арсенал"), Лонни с группой побывал даже в СССР, на фестивале молодежи и студентов. Пресса тогда вякнула про скиффл, но сверху сказали: это народная музыка, а народная музыка - это святое! (Прямо как в шестиструнном самурае)
Очень грустно, когда уходят люди. Но это жизнь. Умереть в 71 во время тура - это, согласитесь, что-то.

Да блин жалко зараза конечно что такие великие люди уходят от нас но что поделать такова селави. Лучше было бы если бы чертовы терористы побольше бы да и по чаще туда уходили.

sergey ROLLING STONES, сейчас заклеймят как расиста, как меня недавно...

Ringo played on Donegan's 1977 album called "Puttin' on the Style." (It also has Elton John, Ronnie Wood, Rory Gallagher, Albert Lee, Leo Sayer, Brian May, Nicky Hopkins, Jim Keltner, and Klaus Voorman. Thanks to Philip Tinianov.)

A report on Archer&Valerie.com says Donegan was to appear at the Harrison tribute concert.

LONNIE DONEGAN Puttin' On The Style
(2007 'Expanded Edition' CD album [1st of 2 Lonnie albums previously unreleased on CD] - 'Puttin' On The Style' [1977] is widely acknowledged as one of Lonnie's finest albums where he found himself getting into 'heavy' territory in the company of Elton John, Brian May, Rory Gallagher, Ringo Starr, Ron Wood, Peter Banks, Gary Brooker, Nicky Hopkins, Klaus Voorman, Pete Wingfield, Henry Spinetti & many more, f eatures 6 Bonus Recordings).
[released 13 August 2007]

LONNIE DONEGAN Sundown
(2007 'Expanded Edition' CD album [2nd of 2 Lonnie albums previously unreleased on CD] - 'Sundown' [1978] was a rather more laid-back, Country-Rock set with guest appearances from Albert Lee, Doug Kershaw, Mick Ralphs, Emory Gordy, Jim Keltner, Ray Cooper & more, features 2 Bonus Recordings).
13 August 2007

Лонни Донеган использовал перерывы в джазовых концертах, чтобы исполнить ускоренные версии таких песен, как блюзовый номер Лидбелли "Rock Island Line". Песня разошлась тиражом в три миллиона копий и попала в английский Top 10. Она даже проникла в американские чарты: шотландец из Глазго начал экспортировать американскую мелодию в страну происхождения – и это в год, когда там царил Элвис! "Rock Island Line" вдохновила "Битлз", Вэна Моррисона и Пита Тауншенда и сделала своего создателя крестным отцом британского бита. За запись он заплатил всего три с половиной фунта.