Lonnie Donegan guitarist

[Billyboygretsch]

I used to like Lonnie Donegan's guitarist. Not sure if it was David George. It was his playing that grabbed my interest in playing guitar. The guitar I remember seemed to be an archtop with cutaway. I had to have one similar and got an Egmond with single cutaway and f holes in sunburst for my 13th birthday £12/19/6. Any info greatly appreciated

[Derek Mowbray]

Iv`e not heard of David George as a Lonnie Donegan guitarist the only ones I know are, Denny Wright, Jim Currie and Les Bennets .

[chronikman-ch]

Iv`e not heard of David George as a Lonnie Donegan guitarist the only ones I know are, Denny Wright, Jim Currie and Les Bennets .

9. September 1961 Saturday
The Shadows with Cliff Richard on 6-week Opera House Saison in Blackpool

(An enteritis epidemic-which has been causing havoc among many artists appearing in Blackpool Summer shows-lays low Bruce Welch. Lonnie Donegan’s lead guitarist Les Bennetts joins the Shadows to back Cliff for one Night only)

[garda123]

Lonnie original band are now backing Lonnie son Pete.

[Alan Prudhoe]

I was a big fan of Les Bennetts who sadly passed away in 1995.

[Uncleboko]

Lonnie original band are now backing Lonnie son Pete.

I don't understand - they must be in their 80s

[alanrisius]

I too was a great admirer of Les Bennetts and tried, usually, unsuccessfully to learn his solos in Tom Dooley, Rock 'o' My Soul, etc on a cheap acoustic guitar without a cutaway!

He started using a tremolo arm and studio echo in 1959 on song called You Pass Me By in 1959 (Lonnie Rides Again LP)- about the time Hank was making his name. Of course I then tried to learn Hank's solos and have been a Shadows fan ever since.

I went to see Lonnie Donegan at the Palace Theatre, London in March 1959 and afterwards waited outside the stage door to see them leave. Lonnie came out and was mobbed - Les Bennetts was sneaking away unnoticed, so I stopped him and asked if he would give me his autograph on the program and said I must be your only fan!

When I looked at his signature it said - "To my only fan, Les Bennetts"!

Great musician & great bloke.

I still have the program.