Lonnie Donegan..."The Rock Island Line"...
"Rock Island Line" is an American blues/folk song, which was performed and first recorded by Lead Belly in the 1930s. While the song is ostensibly about the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, from the lyrics there is evidence to suggest that the "railroad" referred-to is actually the Underground Railroad, a slave escape route.
Lonnie Donegan (April 29, 1931 - November 4, 2002 ), the King of Skiffle and 'first real British pop superstar' shot to fame in 1956, when "Rock Island Line" sold an unprecedented 3 million copies, shooting into the British and American top ten. Britain had never heard anything like it and youngsters were hooked.
I have posted this to an earlier message here in TLS...This is for those who missed it there!
Lonnie Donegan (April 29, 1931 - November 4, 2002 ), the King of Skiffle and 'first real British pop superstar' shot to fame in 1956, when "Rock Island Line" sold an unprecedented 3 million copies, shooting into the British and American top ten. Britain had never heard anything like it and youngsters were hooked.
I have posted this to an earlier message here in TLS...This is for those who missed it there!
