Baldry, Long John

▪ 2006

John William Baldry 

      British-born Canadian blues musician (b. Jan. 12, 1941, Haddon, Derbyshire, Eng.—d. July 21, 2005, Vancouver, B.C.), was one of the founding fathers of the 1960s British blues scene and a mentor to many later stars, including members of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and Rod Stewart. In the late 1950s Baldry was one of the first British singers to perform folk and blues music, and in the early '60s he was the vocalist in two seminal blues bands, Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated and the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars, which became Long John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men. He later formed the groups Steampacket and Bluesology; the latter included an unknown young keyboard player who took the stage name Elton John in Baldry's honour. Although Baldry recorded more than 40 albums, he found little commercial success; his best-known songs were “Let the Heartaches Begin” and “Mexico” in Britain and “Don't Try to Lay No Boogie-Woogie on the King of Rock 'n' Roll” in the U.S.

* * *