Lonnie Donegan, king of skiffle, was one of the most influential musicians in British rock and roll history. Editor Stuart Laundy spoke to his son Peter who, together with older brother Anthony, will bring an evening of stories and songs to The Witham next month
OVER the years, I’ve been to thousands of gigs. Many fade away but some special nights stick in the memory clear as day.
Queen and Status Quo in 1986 was one, David Bowie’s Glass Spider show at the old Roker Park another and right up there with them was the night Lonnie Donegan came to the Opera House in Newcastle.
My old dad is a huge fan and I grew up to the sounds of his crackly old 78s with titles such as Ham and Eggs, Rock Island Line and It Takes a Worried Man while being regaled with tales of nights out in Stockton to see the biggest star of the late 1950s live on stage.
Fast forward to the turn of the millennium and the chance to see Lonnie Donegan on stage – by then just turned 70 – with my dad was too good to pass up.
What a show. Lonnie Donegan raced onto the stage and rattled through all the hits displaying the energy of a man half his age, much to the delight of the sell-out crowd of die-hard fans like my dad and the younger generation like me.
I reminisce because playing keyboards in the band was Lonnie’s then 17-year-old son Peter.
A child of the 80s, Peter was born long after his dad’s days as a superstar. Even so, he was aware that his father held a special place in the music industry.
“Growing up I was always surrounded by his music and I loved listening to dad’s music,” he says.
“It wasn’t until I hit double digits and I got people such as Queen’s Brian May telling me to my face that they would not have the career they have if it wasn’t for my dad [that I realised his impact].
“I also realised it at school when I was invited to people’s houses and their parents and grandparents invited me to their houses just in case my dad turned up.”
Pursuing a career in music with such a famous father was never likely to be easy and so it proved.
“It’s been a struggle in some ways because I don’t do dad’s stuff. My dad told me that to have any chance of success is to write your own songs but agents and venues always ask if I am doing dad’s stuff.”
This was also the case after Peter appeared on TV’s The Voice with his dad’s old friend Tom Jones.
He says the show he and brother Anthony are bringing to The Witham, Barnard Castle, on Friday, May 16, is a way to address this.
“I love doing dad’s songs. The show came about as me and my older brother were trying to find a way of going out there and doing dad’s songs without being labelled as tribute artists.
“This way, with it being Peter and Anthony Donegan present Lonnie Donegan stories it is not a tribute show. It is us talking about us growing up with dad and playing some songs, including more obscure songs,” says Peter.
He adds that there are plenty of stories to tell given Lonnie Donegan was married three times.
Peter has sisters from the first marriage, Anthony was the product of the second marriage and he came along after Lonnie had married his third wife Sharon in the late 70s.
Peter was actually born in London while his dad was in panto, but grew up in California and Spain.
“There are plenty of different stories about and there will be slide shows. We wanted to show what it was like at home,” he says.
Foremost though, it will be a chance to celebrate Lonnie Donegan’s musical legacy.
“We want to pay homage to dad. I am immensely proud of dad. I play two or three of his songs in my shows and it’s great to see people light up when we do Rock Island Line or It Takes A Worried Man and sing along to them.”
l Tickets for the show are available from thewitham.org.uk or by calling the box office on 01833 631107.
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