Long John Baldry's amazing musical legacy which if properly notated would fill a few pages in any rock encyclopedia. Long John's forty-five year career is a rich tapestry of recording, performing, great bands, discoverer of talent and actor. Long John is particularly known for his associations with former band members Rod Stewart and Elton John. Looking closely at LJB's musical tree you will discover that virtually every musician who came up in England during the 60's have some connection to LJB. Names like Ginger Baker, Jeff Beck, Brian Jones, Beatles, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and The Rolling Stones are cemented in LJB's musical history. In fact, Eric Clapton has stated many times that he was inspired to pick up a guitar after seeing Long John Baldry perform in the early 1960s.
Undeniably, Long John was one of the founding 'Fathers of British Blues' in the 60s, and without his presence the scene, particularly the Blues scene, may have been quite different. Other snippets of musical history to support this claim include Long John's presence on the seminal album 'R&B From The Marquee' released in 1962 and is considered the first British Blues album. Did you know that when The Rolling Stones played their first public performance under that moniker in London/July 1962 that they opened for LJB at the Marquee Club. In April /64 The Beatles in their first worldwide television special 'Around the World With The Beatles', invited Long John Baldry to perform 'I Got My Mojo Workin' for that landmark broadcast. Since 1964 Long John has released 17 albums which have explored a vast variety of musical styles from Pop to Blues to Folk to Rock. 'Long John's Blues' (1964) was followed by the jazzy 'Looking at Long John' in 1966. On the heels of his number one hit in November 1967 'Let The Heartaches Begin' an album of Pop standards was released in Britain. Then there was a dramatic and successful switch back to his Blues/Rock roots with the release of It Ain't Easy, (by far his most popular album) and Everything Stops For Tea. In 1973 Long John recorded his personal favorite, Good To Be Alive. This album along with the Stony Plain release Remembering Leadbelly is definitive John Baldry. His eclectic recording career has also seen jewels as Tom 'Powder Blues' Lavin produced It Still Ain't Easy and the Stony Plain Records/Juno Award winning recording Right to Sing the Blues. - Jeff Edmunds Guitar MySpace Layouts - Gibson Guitar MySpace Layouts Guitar MySpace Layouts
