beatlz
May 08, 2003, 02:06 PM
Friends, Stars Remember Skiffle Musician
Thu May 8,11:20 AM ET
LONDON - Family, friends and former colleagues of Lonnie Donegan gathered at a memorial service Thursday, to pay tribute to the musician whose "skiffle" sound inspired John Lennon (news) and Pete Townshend (news) to learn to play guitar.
Rock stars Brian May (news), Mark Knopfler (news) and Bill Wyman (news) were among the guests at St. Paul's Church in Covent Garden, central London, where Donegan, who died in November at age 71, was remembered.
"I was one of those kids who was totally inspired the first time I heard Lonnie Donegan," May, of the rock band Queen, told the congregation.
Dire Straits frontman Knopfler described Donegan as the "first British rock superstar."
"It was Lonnie who got me started. His were the first records that I bought, or got my mum to buy," he added.
Donegan died in Peterborough while on a tour of Britain. He had suffered several heart attacks. His hits included "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (on the Bedpost Overnight)," "My Old Man's A Dustman," and "Rock Island Line," but he may have been more important to British music for inspiring young talents to imitate and then eclipse his success.
The son of a symphony violinist, Donegan absorbed a wide range of popular music from across the Atlantic, including the Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong (news), Josh White, Bessie Smith and Leadbelly. A stint in the British Army took him to Vienna, Austria, where he was influenced by music on the American Forces Radio Network.
Skiffle music, which Donegan introduced to Britain in the 1950s, was a mixture of styles that traced its roots to 1920s America, blending acoustic, folk, blues, and country and western styles.
Skiffle was simple and cheap, apparently within the ability of anyone, regardless of musical talent. All that was needed was a guitar, a snare drum, a washboard or a standup bass made from a broom handle attached to an empty tea chest — and two chords.
Former Rolling Stones bassist Wyman said the service, which included a rendition of the song "Have A Drink On Me," was a wonderful tribute.
"He was the inspiration to all the bands of the 60s, and we owe it to him," he added.
Thu May 8,11:20 AM ET
LONDON - Family, friends and former colleagues of Lonnie Donegan gathered at a memorial service Thursday, to pay tribute to the musician whose "skiffle" sound inspired John Lennon (news) and Pete Townshend (news) to learn to play guitar.
Rock stars Brian May (news), Mark Knopfler (news) and Bill Wyman (news) were among the guests at St. Paul's Church in Covent Garden, central London, where Donegan, who died in November at age 71, was remembered.
"I was one of those kids who was totally inspired the first time I heard Lonnie Donegan," May, of the rock band Queen, told the congregation.
Dire Straits frontman Knopfler described Donegan as the "first British rock superstar."
"It was Lonnie who got me started. His were the first records that I bought, or got my mum to buy," he added.
Donegan died in Peterborough while on a tour of Britain. He had suffered several heart attacks. His hits included "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (on the Bedpost Overnight)," "My Old Man's A Dustman," and "Rock Island Line," but he may have been more important to British music for inspiring young talents to imitate and then eclipse his success.
The son of a symphony violinist, Donegan absorbed a wide range of popular music from across the Atlantic, including the Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong (news), Josh White, Bessie Smith and Leadbelly. A stint in the British Army took him to Vienna, Austria, where he was influenced by music on the American Forces Radio Network.
Skiffle music, which Donegan introduced to Britain in the 1950s, was a mixture of styles that traced its roots to 1920s America, blending acoustic, folk, blues, and country and western styles.
Skiffle was simple and cheap, apparently within the ability of anyone, regardless of musical talent. All that was needed was a guitar, a snare drum, a washboard or a standup bass made from a broom handle attached to an empty tea chest — and two chords.
Former Rolling Stones bassist Wyman said the service, which included a rendition of the song "Have A Drink On Me," was a wonderful tribute.
"He was the inspiration to all the bands of the 60s, and we owe it to him," he added.