Lonnie Donegan – Grand Coulee Dam
Skiffle King Lonnie Donegan and his group play the Woody Guthrie song Grand Coulee Dam in 1957. Who said that folk-rock began in the late-1960s? (With Jimmy Currie, lead guitar; Mickey Ashman, bass; Nick Nicholls, drums.)
Guthrie gave it guts, Donnigan gave it glitter.
A Fantastic showman, i saw live at one time, he did skiffle for only 10 minutes of a 2 hour show and he sang lots of songs he had written for others that were big hits. Mark Knophler was a friend, thought a lot of him and wrote a song in dedication.
imo the very best performance of this great guthrie tune
Yeah, that is what I was about to comment.
Lonnie was the King of skiffle in the UK.
@RhineStoneGaucho
Lonnie left Scotland when he was two years old…He’s hardly Billy Connolly
Lonnie was a hero to most of the 60’s musicians who went on to become megastars, so much so that years later McCartney Harrison Starr, Clapton and a host of others including Donegan himself produced and took part in an album of all the old Lonnie music. I was fortunate to have met him a few times and a nicer bloke you couldn’t wish to meet, totally grounded and not an ounce of ego in his body
A true gentleman.
amazing!
where was he from?
was skiffle something England?
I found this vid on Woody Guthrie’s website
My favorite version of this song.WG was ok but this one is more of a contemporary touch. Hats off to LG.
this is one of my all-time fave songs, i love it!
i was born in 1987 and my dad hated the music around at the time (and through the 90’s), so he played lonnie donegan and the spinners for me all the time, which meant that when i got old enough to actually choose what music i wanted to listen to (about 4 or 5), i only ever asked for lonnie donegan and the spinners, and cried when my dad told me they weren’t making any more tapes lol =3
Kenrew,
This unique singer was rhe inspiration for many of us youngsters in the late 50’s and I think this video shows Lonnie at his best. This song was used by Lonnie’s Sons as an introduction to their tribute show a few years back.
There has never been another artist who has influenced so many people as the great Lonnie Donegan.
Niflap I agree its the same tune (I don’t know who wrote it) The words are Woodies .He did use the occasional tune Union Maid uses Red Wing an earlier tune.
Sounds like the Wabbash Cannonball
Grew up with all of his 78’s, my dad was a skiffle freak. Met him just before he died, a lovely man and a very underated pioneer……I can’t see ‘Tom Dooley’ on the listings anywhere, the vocals and harmonies are so in your face they are hair on the back of your neck stuff….long live Lonnie
fantastic…….
He was lovely and had an amazing voice
Another fantastic performance from the pride of Scotland!
this is good- a son of scotland indeed
another example of scottish talent, nobody has came close to this boys vocals.
go yersel lonnie Scotland luvs ya
listen to that fabulous BBC female accent !! Today’s mandatory Geordie would have caused apoplexy among the suits (literally) who believed they kept the nation from harm
Lonnie Donegan was the first artist I saw live(Oxfords new theatre1959)the show really had the crowd buzzing…. Lonnie and his group were very funny with lots of playacting and quips… as well as great performers!
short hair makes a girl ugly
does ne1 remember Lonnie when he recorded with Elton Jonh?? I used to have the album but not now…..any help???
This is awesome!
That’s kinda wonderful.