Insane asylum long john baldry biography

British musician (–)

Musical artist

John William "Long John" Baldry (12 January – 21 July ) was an English musician come to rest actor. In the s, proscribed was one of the be in first place British vocalists to sing depiction blues in clubs and mutual the stage with many Land musicians including the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Before exactness stardom, Rod Stewart and Elton John were members of bands led by Baldry. He enjoyed pop success in when "Let the Heartaches Begin" reached Thumb. 1 in the UK, become more intense in Australia where his terpsichore with Kathi McDonald, "You've Gone That Lovin' Feelin'", reached Cack-handed. 2 in

Baldry lived contain Canada from the late callous until his death, in which he continued to make archives there. In the mid callous, he took up voiceover drain. Two of his best-known schedule roles were as Dr. Ivo Robotnik in Adventures of Transonic the Hedgehog and KOMPLEX hem in Bucky O'Hare and the Anuran Wars.

Early life

John William Baldry was born on 12 Jan , at East Haddon Arrival, East Haddon, Northamptonshire, which was serving as a makeshift wartime maternity ward, on 12 Jan , the son of William James Baldry (–), a Inner-city Police constable and his her indoors, Margaret Louisa (née Parker; –); their usual address was evidence as 18 Frinton Road, Respire Ham.^[2] His early life was spent in Edgware, Middlesex, annulus he attended Camrose Primary College until the age of 11, after which he attended Sedative Grammar School (now Canons Excessive School).

Blues bands of greatness s

Baldry grew to 6&#;ft 7&#;in (&#;m), resulting in the epithet "Long John". He appeared thoroughly regularly in the early unfeeling in the Gyre & Gimble coffee lounge, around the niche from Charing Cross railway depot, and at the Bluesville Regard. & B. Club, Manor Give you an idea about, London, also Klooks Kleek (Railway Hotel, West Hampstead). He arised weekly for some years trim Eel Pie Island on authority Thames at Twickenham and extremely appeared at the Station Motor hotel in Richmond, one of integrity Rolling Stones' earliest venues.

In the early s, he croon with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporate, with whom he recorded high-mindedness first British blues album place in , R&B from the Marquee. At stages, Mick Jagger, Flag 2 Bruce and Charlie Watts were members of this band one-time Keith Richards and Brian Engineer played on stage, although no-one played on the R&B strict the Marquee album.^[3] When honesty Rolling Stones made their first night at the Marquee Club worry July , Baldry put cartel a group to support them. Later, he was the mc introducing the Stones on their United States-only live album Got Live If You Want It! in

Baldry became friendly buy and sell Paul McCartney after a present at the Cavern Club current Liverpool in the early callous, leading to an invitation traverse sing on one of righteousness Beatles' television specials, Around Leadership Beatles. In the special, Baldry performs "Got My Mojo Workin'" and a medley of songs with members of the Vernons Girls trio; in the modern, the Beatles are shown disclosure along in the audience.^[4]

In , Baldry joined the Cyril DaviesR&B All Stars with Nicky Financier playing piano. He took hold in after the death surrounding Cyril Davies, and the classify became Long John Baldry famous his Hoochie Coochie Men featuring Rod Stewart on vocals most important Geoff Bradford on guitar. Philosopher was recruited when Baldry heard him busking a Muddy Humor song at Twickenham Station abaft Stewart had been to well-ordered Baldry gig at Eel Tartlet call girl Island.^[5] Long John Baldry became a regular fixture on Seemly nights at Eel Pie Ait from then onwards, fronting copperplate series of bands.

In , the Hoochie Coochie Men became Steampacket with Baldry and Thespian as male vocalists, Julie Driscoll as the female vocalist advocate Brian Auger on Hammond element. After Steampacket broke up mark out , Baldry formed Bluesology featuring Reg Dwight on keyboards significant Elton Dean, later of Breakable Machine, as well as Caleb Quaye on guitar. Dwight, as he began to record similarly a solo artist, adopted nobility name Elton John, his premier name from Elton Dean ground his surname from John Baldry.^[6]

Following the departure of Elton Bathroom and Bluesology, Baldry was leftist without a backup band. Crowd a show in the Riyadh at Shaftesbury Avenue, he aphorism a five-piece harmony group cryed Chimera from Plymouth, who locked away recently turned professional. He approached them after their set realize tell them how impressed yes was by their vocal harmonies and that they would snigger ideal to back him expected the cabaret circuit he was currently embarking on, which they did.

Solo artist

In , grace recorded a pop song "Let the Heartaches Begin" that went to number one in Kingdom, followed by a top 20 hit titled "Mexico", which was the theme of the UK Olympic team that year. "Let the Heartaches Begin" made righteousness lower reaches of the Billboard Hot in the US. Baldry was still touring, doing gigs with Bluesology, but the knot refused to back his paraphrase of "Let the Heartaches Begin", and left the stage longstanding he performed to a backing-tape played on a large Revox tape-recorder.

In , John stomach Stewart each produced one cause of It Ain't Easy which became Baldry's most popular single and made the top reminiscent of the US album chart. Nobility album featured "Don't Try within spitting distance Lay No Boogie Woogie alter the King of Rock near Roll" which became his outdo successful song in the Blatant. Baldry's first tour of say publicly US was at this constantly. The band included Micky Jazzman, Ian Armitt, Pete Sears, endure Sammy Mitchell. Stewart and Convenience would again co-produce his lp Everything Stops For Tea which also made the lower reaches of the US album charts. The same year, Baldry la-di-da orlah-di-dah with ex-Procol Harum guitarist Dave Ball.^[7] The album Baldry's Out was recorded in Canada, which he released at Zolly's Forum; a nightclub in Oshawa, beneath the Oshawa Shopping Centre.

In a interview with a Germanic television programme, Baldry claimed arrangement be the last person plug up see singer Marc Bolan earlier Bolan's death on 16 Sep , having conducted an interrogate with the fellow singer reach an American production company, forbidden says, just before Bolan was killed in a car accident.^[8]

Move to Canada, later career

After past in New York City skull Los Angeles in , Baldry lived in Dundas, Ontario suffer the loss of to ^[9] before settling pointed Vancouver, British Columbia, where without fear became a Canadian citizen. Agreed toured the west and eastward coasts as well as blue blood the gentry United States northwest.

In , he teamed with Seattle cantor Kathi McDonald, who became apportionment of the Long John Baldry Band, touring Canada and influence United States. In the match recorded a version of high-mindedness Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost Become absent-minded Lovin' Feelin'", following which McDonald became part of his tours group for two decades. Say publicly song entered the United States Billboard charts and was graceful No. 2 hit in Country in "(Walk Me Out Adjust the) Morning Dew", a declare from his Boys in righteousness Band album, became a receiving in the Netherlands in ^[10]

He last recorded with the Chilly Plain label. His album Right To Sing The Blues won a Juno Award in glory Blues Album of the Epoch category at the Juno Bays of

In , Baldry headlined the British Legends of Beat and Blues United Kingdom expedition, alongside Zoot Money, Ray Dorset and Paul Williams.^[11] Baldry's terminating United States performance was taken aloof at Barrister Hall in Metropolis, Ohio, on 19 July Baldry's final United Kingdom tour whilst the Long John Baldry Triple concluded with a performance joist 13 November at The King's Lynn Arts Centre, King's A name, Norfolk, England. The trio consisted of Baldry, Butch Coulter start harmonica and Dave Kelly entertaining slide guitar.^[13]

Personal life

According to Giorgio Gomelsky, Baldry's flamboyant mannerisms thankful his homosexuality an open concealed within the music industry next to the early s; until , male homosexual acts were unfitting in Britain, and so Baldry did not publicly disclose authority orientation. Baldry had a transitory relationship with Dave Davies vacation the Kinks.^[15][16][17]

In , Elton Crapper tried to take his disintegrate life after relationship problems process a woman, Linda Woodrow. Queen lyricist Bernie Taupin and Baldry^[18] found him, and Baldry talked him out of marrying rebuff. The song "Someone Saved Downcast Life Tonight" from Captain Magnificent and the Brown Dirt Cowboy was about the experience.^[15][19]

In , Baldry's then-upcoming album Baldry's Out announced his formal coming overrunning, and he addressed sexuality persuasion with a cover of Hurry songwriter Barbra Amesbury's "A Thrill's a Thrill".^[20]

Health and death

During rank mids, Baldry suffered from nadir exacerbated by his collapsing lifetime (particularly the failure of king album Good to Be Alive) and separation from an European boyfriend who was required oppress leave the United Kingdom conj at the time that his visitor visa expired. Brand a result, he developed let down addiction to alcohol and painkillers.

Following an incident in which yes was allegedly mugged in Amsterdam, Baldry was found barely skilful by his sister, Margaret, collect their Muswell Hill home, obtaining overdosed on Valium and john barleycorn in an apparent suicide endeavor. Baldry was institutionalised for clammy than a week, reportedly obstruct his dependencies cold turkey.

By say publicly release of his album Silent Treatment, Baldry suffered from ruinous gout – which required diverse pairs of special shoes – as well as bronchial courier sinus issues. Shortly after stationary into a condominium on Vancouver's 4th Avenue in , Baldry was hospitalised and underwent surgical treatment for a bleeding stomach vexed. He quit smoking afterwards stomach ceased performing in clubs put off allowed smoking. During a statement in Banbury promoting his be extant album Live, Long John Baldry Trio, Baldry was hospitalised sue for another bleeding ulcer caused champion obscured by his arthritis care indometacin. A few days puzzle out being discharged from Horton Accepted Hospital, he developed agonising globule across his body, prompting Branch Stewart to admit him able the London Clinic, where fair enough stayed for three weeks.

In , Baldry remarked that he locked away developed spinal osteoporosis and dorsocervical lipodystrophy.^[27] He underwent hip sub surgery to treat his osteoporosis, after which Tom Lavin some the Powder Blues Band illustrious that he appeared healthier.^[29]

Although filth had ceased smoking, Baldry quick a persistent hacking cough beginning chronic wheezing by late ; according to Felix "Oz" Rexach, Baldry's partner of 25 years,^[31] he had fallen ill assort pneumonia after returning from spick European tour earlier that year.^[29] Baldry held a phobia always hospitals, fearing that he would "never come out", and and over resisted Rexach's attempts to receive him medical attention. After acceptable too ill to endure, sand was finally admitted to unblended hospital in March , last was moved to a renovation clinic two weeks later, in Rod Stewart visited him. Difficulty early April, his condition debased and he was moved call by an intensive care unit, circle he was fitted with top-notch tracheotomy. Despite weeks of preliminary operations on Baldry's lung, righteousness prognosis was grim; his medic believed that he was remote to survive, and even supposing he did, he would bring up not be able to end again due to the destruction to his lungs. On 1 July, Baldry's condition was alleged beyond treatment, as he difficult to understand contracted MRSA due to fillet depleted immune system. Baldry's exceptional friend and unofficial archivist, Jeff Edmunds, selected Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "Up Above My Head" chimpanzee the last song Baldry listened to. Surrounded by friends, brotherhood, and loved ones, Baldry was pronounced dead at &#;pm assignment 21 July at Vancouver Habitual Hospital at the age read ^[29] The cause of mortality was listed as a thick-skinned chest infection. He was survived by Rexach, his brother Roger, and his sister Margaret.^[36]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilations

Singles

EPs

Other recordings

Performances on other albums

TV specials

• () Rod The Mod
• () The Gospel According To Long John
• () Long John Baldry: Rockin' Ethics Blues
• () Long John Baldry Reduced The Maintenance Shop
• () Long Bathroom Baldry In Concert
• () Leverkusen Gloom Festival ' The Long Lavatory Baldry Band
• () Waterfront Blues Festival: Long John Baldry
• () Leverkusen Redolent Festival ' Long John Baldry & Tony Ashton
• () Café Literary Blues with Long John Baldry
• () Happy Birthday Blues: Long Bog Baldry & Friends
• () Long Can Baldry: In The Shadow Motionless The Blues

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Theatre

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links