Long John Baldry

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, and The Rolling Stones are cemented in LJB's incredible musical history. In fact Eric Clapton has stated many times that he was inspired to pick up a guitar after seeing LJB perform in the early sixties.



Undeniably, Long John was one of the founding Fathers of British Rock&Roll 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 to perform 'I Got My Mojo Workin' for that landmark broadcast.


Since 1964 Long John has released seventeen albums which have explored a vast variety of musical styles running the gamut from Pop to Blues to Folk to Rock. 'Long John's Blues' released 1964 was followed by the Jazz-pop album '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 recent Stony Plain release Remembering Leadbelly is definitive Baldry.