Originally written by Mark Taylor · 4 November 2002
The indisputable 'king of skiffle', Lonnie Donegan, passed away on Sunday morning (November 3rd) after a short illness. He was 71 and midway through a UK tour.
At it's best, Donegan's music was vital and energetic, a revelation in staid times. The British rock scene of the sixties was created by a generation of teenage skiffle fans, lured by the excitement Donegan's music was capable of arousing.
Donegan's first single, Rock Island Line sold over three million copies. He followed it with a long string of hits, including 'Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour and Puttin' On The Style.
He will rightly be missed.