Long John Baldry
| Long John Baldry | |
|---|---|
Baldry in 1972
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John William Baldry |
| Born |
12 January 1941 East Haddon, Northamptonshire, England |
| Died | 21 July 2005 (aged 64) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Genres | Blues, blues rock, folk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer – Voice actor |
| Years active | 1957–2003 (retired) |
| Labels | Warner |
| Associated acts |
Blues Incorporated, R&B All Stars, Hoochie Coochie Men, Steampacket, Bluesology, Elton John, Rod Stewart |
John William "Long John" Baldry (12 January 1941 – 21 July 2005) was an English blues singer and a voice actor. He sang with many British musicians, with Rod Stewart and Elton John appearing in bands led by Baldry in the 1960s. He enjoyed pop success in the UK where Let the Heartaches Begin reached No. 1 in 1967 and in Australia where his duet with Kathi McDonald You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' reached number two in 1980. Baldry lived in Canada from the late 1970s until his death; there he continued to make records and do voiceover work. Two of his best known roles in voice acting were as Dr. Robotnik in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, and as KOMPLEX in Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars.
Baldry's birth was registered in Brixworth Registration District in the first quarter of 1941. He was born to William James Baldry (1915-1990), a policeman and Margaret Louisa née Parker (1915-1989). His early life was spent in Edgware, Middlesex where he attended Camrose Primary School until the age of 11, after which he attended Downer Grammar School, now Canons High School. Just before his death, he attended the school's 40th anniversary celebrations.
Baldry grew to 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), resulting in the nickname "Long John". He was one of the first British vocalists to sing blues in clubs. Baldry appeared quite regularly in the early 1960s in the Gyre & Gimble coffee lounge, around the corner from Charing Cross railway station, and at the Brownsville R. & B. Club, Manor House, London, also "Klooks Kleek" (Railway Hotel, West Hampstead). He appeared weekly for some years at Eel Pie Island on the Thames at Twickenham and also appeared at the Station Hotel in Richmond, one of the Rolling Stones' earliest venues.
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