Spirit Of Skiffle At The Assems
This autumn the musical world remembers the first anniversary of the death of the 'King of Skiffle' Lonnie Donegan.
And a sensational tribute in Tamworth this week to the father of modern pop looks set to take the town by storm.
Paul Leegan, friend and protégé of the great man, brings his show "Putting On The Style" to the Assembly Rooms tomorrow (Friday).
Well before the current trend for musical imitators took off, Paul was performing a tribute to his hero Lonnie, and over the years a mutual respect and friendship developed between the musicians. Lonnie even asked Paul to stand in the wings at his final show as he wasn't feeling well and told Paul he may have to take over - such was the mutual respect each had for one another.
"Putting On The Style" sees Paul and his band playing tribute to Lonnie Donegan with the songs and the stories from Lonnie's life.
As the undisputed 'King of Skiffle' in the mid-1950s, he was a pioneer of the British pop scene and his name has been synonymous with the world-class entertainment ever since.
He enjoyed an international reputation among musicians as exalted as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison.
Skiffle was the home-made music that inspired the '50s generation. It was in 1956 that Lonnie Donegan had a huge hit with "Rock Island Line", putting on the style that fused elements from blues, folk and jazz.
This show includes this landmark song and many others, including "Cumberland Gap" "Have a Drink on me" "Putting on the Style" "My old Man's a Dustman" "Grand Coulee Dam" "Pick a Bale of Cotton" "Lost John" "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" "Tom Dooley" "Chewing Gum" "Battle of New Orleans".
This is not just another 'Stars In Their Eyes' act - Paul in fact turned the show down when they tried to secure him.
He has been doing the tribute to his idol ever since he could pick up a guitar.
The show’s special guest vocalist in Gilly Darbey who came to prominence as part of 'Nothing By Chance' the group who received massive critical acclaim after the BBC TV Special and album "Ghosts Of Love".
And a sensational tribute in Tamworth this week to the father of modern pop looks set to take the town by storm.
Paul Leegan, friend and protégé of the great man, brings his show "Putting On The Style" to the Assembly Rooms tomorrow (Friday).
Well before the current trend for musical imitators took off, Paul was performing a tribute to his hero Lonnie, and over the years a mutual respect and friendship developed between the musicians. Lonnie even asked Paul to stand in the wings at his final show as he wasn't feeling well and told Paul he may have to take over - such was the mutual respect each had for one another.
"Putting On The Style" sees Paul and his band playing tribute to Lonnie Donegan with the songs and the stories from Lonnie's life.
As the undisputed 'King of Skiffle' in the mid-1950s, he was a pioneer of the British pop scene and his name has been synonymous with the world-class entertainment ever since.
He enjoyed an international reputation among musicians as exalted as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison.
Skiffle was the home-made music that inspired the '50s generation. It was in 1956 that Lonnie Donegan had a huge hit with "Rock Island Line", putting on the style that fused elements from blues, folk and jazz.
This show includes this landmark song and many others, including "Cumberland Gap" "Have a Drink on me" "Putting on the Style" "My old Man's a Dustman" "Grand Coulee Dam" "Pick a Bale of Cotton" "Lost John" "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" "Tom Dooley" "Chewing Gum" "Battle of New Orleans".
This is not just another 'Stars In Their Eyes' act - Paul in fact turned the show down when they tried to secure him.
He has been doing the tribute to his idol ever since he could pick up a guitar.
The show’s special guest vocalist in Gilly Darbey who came to prominence as part of 'Nothing By Chance' the group who received massive critical acclaim after the BBC TV Special and album "Ghosts Of Love".
Lindsey Smith - 20/10/03
