186 Lonnie Donegan (1931-2002) “Rock Island Line” 1955

Raised in London, Donegan “was the undisputed king of skiffle—a jazz-tinged hybrid of American folk and blues.” He formed a band with his former army buddies and recorded the Leadbeally song, “Rock Island Line,” “which became a major hit in Britain and America.” Even though Donegan disliked rock music, his imitators such as the Beatles “discovered that their skiffle skills prepared them perfectly to play amplified blues-based American rock ‘n’ roll” (Contemporary Musicians). 

Lonnie Donegan “Rock Island Line”