Long John Baldry born 12 January 1941 (d. 2005)John 'Long John' William Baldry was an English blues singer and later a voice actor. He was a great discoverer of talent and is a connective figure linking many of the key figures in British 60s pop music, many of whom went on to achieve major international success, making clear the blues roots of British rock and pop music.
Baldry 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 No 2 in 1980.
Born John William Baldry in England, he grew to 6ft 7in that resulted in the nickname 'Long' John.
In the early 1960s, he sang with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, with whom he recorded the first British blues album in 1962, R&B from the Marquee. At stages, Mick Jagger, Jack Bruce and Charlie Watts were members of this band while Keith Richards and Brian Jones played on stage, although none played on the R&B at the Marquee album. The Rolling Stones supported Baldry in their first concert at the Marquee Club. Later, Baldry was the announcer introducing The Stones on their US-only live album, Got Live if You Want It!, in 1966.
Baldry became friends with Paul McCartney after a show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in the early 1960s, leading to an invitation to play on one of The Beatles 1964 TV specials.
In 1963, Baldry joined the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars with Jimmy Page on guitar and Nicky Hopkins playing piano. He took over in 1964 after the death of Cyril Davies. It became Long John Baldry and his Hoochie Coochie Men featuring Rod Stewart on vocals and Geoff Bradford on guitar. Stewart was recruited after Baldry heard him busking a Muddy Waters song at Twickenham station after Stewart had been to a gig at Eel Pie Island.
In 1965, the Hoochie Coochie Men became Steampacket with Baldry and Stewart as male vocalists, Julie Driscoll as the female vocalist and Brian Auger on Hammond organ. After Steampacket broke up in 1966, Baldry formed Bluesology featuring Reg Dwight on keyboards and Elton Dean, later of Soft Machine, as well as Caleb Quaye on guitar. Dwight adopted the name Elton John, his first name from Dean and his surname from Baldry.
Baldry was openly gay during the early 1960s when homosexuality was still criminalised and medicalised. Baldry supported Elton John in coming to terms with his own sexuality. In 1978 his album Baldry's Out announced his formal coming out, and he addressed sexuality issues on A Thrill's a Thrill, a song on the LP.
In 1967, he recorded a pop song Let the Heartaches Begin that went to number one in Britain, followed by a 1968 top 20 hit titled Mexico, which was the theme of the UK Olympic team that year. Let the Heartaches Begin made the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
Bluesology broke up in 1968, with Baldry continuing his solo career and Elton John forming a songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. In 1969, Elton John tried to commit suicide after relationship problems with a woman. Taupin, who is straight, and Baldry, who was openly gay, found him, and Baldry talked him out of marrying the woman, helping make Elton John comfortable with his sexuality. The song Someone Saved My Life Tonight from Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy was about the experience.
In 1971, John and Stewart each produced one side of It Ain't Easy which became Baldry's most popular album and made the top 100 of the US album charts. The album featured Don't Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll which became his most successful song in the US. John's first tour of the US was this time. Baldry's follow-up album also reached the lower end of the US album charts.Baldry lived in Canada from the late 1970s until his death. There he continued to make records and do voiceover work. He was the voice of Dr Robotnik in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as providing the voice for many other animated characters.
Baldry had mental health problems and was institutionalised. The 1979 album Baldry's Out was recorded after his release. Baldry continued to tour and played his final live shows in the UK after a busy year's touring in 2002.
Baldry died on 21 July 2005, in a Vancouver hospital of a chest infection.