John Franklin Duncan (September 7, 1932 – July 15, 2000) was an American bluegrass and skiffle musician. He became popular in Britain in 1957 with "Last Train to San Fernando", which reached number two in the UK Singles Chart.
Duncan was born in the Windrock coal-mining camp
overlooking the town of Oliver Springs, Tennessee. He sang with his local
church choir and later with a gospel quartet, In his teens he moved to Texas
where he learned guitar and mandolin, and played in a hillbilly trio. He served
in the US Air Force, and in 1952 was garrisoned in Cambridgeshire, England,
where he met and married Betty Gardner, a local girl. After a brief return to
the US, her illness and homesickness brought them back, and he briefly worked
on her father's market clothes stall in Huntingdon market while she recovered.
When performing for American servicemen at Bushey,
Hertfordshire, in 1956, he was seen by Dickie Bishop, banjoist in Chris
Barber's Dixieland jazz band. Barber was looking for a new vocalist to replace
Lonnie Donegan, who had started a solo career, and Duncan took over the role
for several months before leaving Barber's band in early 1957.
Guided by record producer Denis Preston, Duncan then
formed a new band, the Blue Grass Boys, comprising of bassist Jack Fallon,
drummer Lennie Hastings, and guitarist Bryan Daly, who was later replaced by
top-flight jazz player Denny Wright, a veteran of Donegan's band. The group was
christened the Blue Grass Boys, in "honour" of Bill Monroe's group.
Duncan soon gained a recording contract with Columbia and
the band began appearing regularly on a new BBC radio show, Saturday Skiffle
Club (later Saturday Club). Their first recording was a commercially
unsuccessful cover version of Hank Williams' "Kaw-Liga". In 1957 their
second release "Last Train To San
Fernando" perhaps fell into the same railroad category as the earlier skiffle classics "Rock Island Line" and "Freight Train". Despite, or possibly because of, this the British public loved it and sent it almost to the top. The track was arranged by Wright and Fallon, who gave the piece a strong "country" feel in the erroneous belief that San Fernando was in Texas rather than Trinidad.
Fernando" perhaps fell into the same railroad category as the earlier skiffle classics "Rock Island Line" and "Freight Train". Despite, or possibly because of, this the British public loved it and sent it almost to the top. The track was arranged by Wright and Fallon, who gave the piece a strong "country" feel in the erroneous belief that San Fernando was in Texas rather than Trinidad.
Duncan briefly became a star in Britain, touring with Wee
Willie Harris, Cliff Richard, and American singer Marvin Rainwater, and
appearing regularly on BBC radio and the TV show Six-Five Special, produced by
Jack Good.
Duncan had two other entries in the UK Singles Chart in 1957, with "Blue, Blue Heartaches" (#27) and "Footprints in the Snow" (#22). Unfortunately, Duncan was unable to find another substantial hit to consolidate himself as a long term recording artist. Also he never got much recognition in his native US. Despite this the group remained popular in the UK for a long time after interest in his big hit had waned.
Duncan had two other entries in the UK Singles Chart in 1957, with "Blue, Blue Heartaches" (#27) and "Footprints in the Snow" (#22). Unfortunately, Duncan was unable to find another substantial hit to consolidate himself as a long term recording artist. Also he never got much recognition in his native US. Despite this the group remained popular in the UK for a long time after interest in his big hit had waned.
Wee Willie Harris - Johnny Duncan - Cliff Richard
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Johnny Duncan and the Blue Grass Boys are now regularly
classified as participants in the skiffle craze that hit the UK at the end of
the 1950s. In fact Johnny Duncan had a much more distinctive sound than any
regular skiffler and his choice of material was closer to true 'Hillbilly'
country music than was being played in any of London's coffee bars of the day.
Duncan's style may have owed a lot to the fact that he was an American and could therefore carry a country and western style with more confidence than could most of his British contemporaries.
Duncan's style may have owed a lot to the fact that he was an American and could therefore carry a country and western style with more confidence than could most of his British contemporaries.
Duncan lived in the United States in the 1960s; at which
time he had separated from Betty before returning to England where he recorded
two albums in the 1970s. Following his divorce he toured Australia in 1972, and
subsequently emigrated to New South Wales. Later he met his new partner,
Heather Walls, and slipped back contentedly into country life. In the last
decade, a reassessment of skiffle renewed interest in his work.
By this time Duncan’s health was fading. Some of his recordings were re-released, and Duncan, enthusiasm rekindled, recorded a few more sides just before he died from cancer on July 15 2000.
By this time Duncan’s health was fading. Some of his recordings were re-released, and Duncan, enthusiasm rekindled, recorded a few more sides just before he died from cancer on July 15 2000.
(Edited from Wikipedia, www.45rpm & the Guardian)
1 comment:
Johnny Duncan - Last Train To San Fernando (1996)
This is the only collection of Johnny Duncan's material, and it is expensive, costing over $100 for four compact discs. Duncan did authentic American versions of country, calypso, bluegrass, and blues numbers, which were mainly of interest in England at a time when American stuff sold well in England. That would seem to make this collection irrelevant today, except that he was a good singer -- even if he wasn't the Southerner he claimed to be -- and he had a good band behind him, especially guitar legend Denny Wright, who had also played with Lonnie Donegan. The stuff is lively and suprisingly effective, and any British pop/rock completist will probably want to own this four-CD set, which contains every known recording by Johnny Duncan.
For a taster here is CD1
https://www.upload.ee/files/10454159/JohnnyDuncanCD1.rar.html
1. Last Train To San Fernando (2:29),
2. Rock - A - Billy Baby (2:10),
3. Footprints In The Snow (2:22),
4. Blue Blue Heartache (2:23),
5. Jig Along Home (2:06),
6. If You Love Me Baby (2:18),
7. Goodnight Irene (2:54),
8. Freight Train Blues (1:50),
9. Press On (2:24),
10. Johnny's Blue Yodel (2:44),
11. Out Of Business (2:21),
12. Get Along Home, Cindy (2:23),
13. Old Blue (2:51),
14. Calamity Mose (2:46),
15. Just A Little Lovin' (2:08),
16. Which Way Did He Go (2:15),
17. More And More (2:04),
18. Just A Closer Walk With Thee (3:55),
19. Travelin' Blues (2:09),
20. St. James Infirmary (3:18),
21. Mind Your Own Business (2:04),
22. Kaw - Liga (2:57),
23. Ella Speed (3:16),
24. Doin' My Time (3:29),
25. Where Could I Go (2:46),
26. Can't You Line 'Em (2:05),
27. Gipsy Davy (2:16),
28. Blue Yodel (3:26),
29. Blowin' Down This Old Dusty Road (3:16)
It took me ages to download this Box set from this wonderful blog, but if you want the complete set here is the active link with thanks to Polar Bear @ forward with the song blog
https://filejoker.net/kl19bcpkzjl8
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