A Term coined by the Jazz trumpeter KEN COLYER who brought back to London in the early 1950's from New Orleans, a form of Jazz music based on French/ African cajan influences. Combined with American folk music, blue grass and country mountain songs, this music was soon picked up by members of Colyer's trad jazz band and performed during the intervals of trad concerts. Tony'Lonnie' ( after Lonnie Jonson) Donegan,who played banjo in the band, switched to guitar, CHRIS BARBER the band's trombonist picked up slap double bass and Beryl Brydon, who sang with the band, played washboard. It became an instant success. In 1956 Lonnie Donegan had a number one hit with Rock island line and for the next 18 months skiffle was king, until Elvis!
Skiffle groups sprung up all over Britain.In a post war slump, the only expense in forming a skiffle group was a guitar ( then purchased for as little as £3 ), bass was supplied with a simple tea chest,string and broom handle. All you then needed was mum's washboard and off you went"
Hank Marvin,Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and many other influencial musicians, started out in skiffle bands.
THE BEST SKIFFLE RECORDINGS; ( those that have influenced Pete'Kiwi')
By far the best recordings were produced by CHRIS BARBER, who formed a skiffle group within his jazz band along with DICKIE BISHOP & LONNIE DONEGAN. ( Later when Donegan left, JONNIE DUNCAN ( Not the Country singer of the same name) joined the group.
EP 45rpm; 'The Chris Barber Skiffle group'
'Where could I go?' & 'Doin my time' 'midnight special' 'worried man blues'
EP 45rpm 'Lonnie Donegan skiffle session
Featuring L.Donegan, Dickie Bishop, Chris Barber & Ron Bowden
Old riley, Stackalee, Railroad bill, Jesse James.
( Though titled as above, It was in fact Dickie Bishop Who Pete 'Kiwi' met in 1957, who performed both Stackolee and Jesse James.)
NOTE; When both Lonnie Donegan , Dickie Bishop & Johnnie Duncan left Chris Barber to form their own bands, their recordings were not as authentic to the style of skiffle & its routes. Donegan, complete with bow tie, recorded with DENNY WRIGHT who played electric guitar and with songs like 'my old man's a dustman' & 'Does your chewing gum lose its flavour?' He became too 'pop' for any serious american folk music audience. Dickie Bishop likewise left Chris Barber & Lonnie Donegan and formed his own group, 'Dick Bishop & his sidekicks' They played on Saturday morning radio. Though Pete Kiwi met Dickie playing in a skiffle cellar in London and was booked to play with him in 2002 in Norwich, ( cancelled due to contractual problems), He has never been too keen on Dickie's choice of bass guitar player rather than double bass and feels his best times were with Chris Barber & Lonnie Donegan. Pete himself has always tried to maintain the original sounds that came from, Woody Guthrie, the Carter family and Chris Barber.
THE VIPERS SKIFFLE GROUP
Formed in 1950's and very popular on TV & Radio, lead by Wally Whyton and produced by GEORGE MARTIN, who later went on to produce Peter Sellars and the Beatles recordings. He introduced a measure of reverb in the recordings which are still available, vibrant and well recorded, not as good as Chris Barber but worth listening too.
CHAS McDEVITT
His popularity was largly due to the voculist NANCY WHISKEY who recorded 'Freight Train' which enjoyed considerable success in the charts. ( McDevitt's group was mostly guitars, the sound was a bit boring and McDevitt had annoying habit of whistling in the background rather than allowing Nancy's lovely voice dominate. Chas McDevitt is still performing, in his seventies.
For the best sound of skiffle, combining All the above influences, check out; the new CD titled SKIFFLE & BLUES byPETE 'KIWI' KEEGAN. ( See 'CD available' page)