SKIFFLE: The Definitive Inside Story

London: Robson Book Ltd. Near Fine/Fine Dust Jacket. 1997. First Edition. Hard Cover, Blue Boards . 1861051409 This rare book documents the rise and fall of the Skiffle craze that began in the 1950's, and influenced many important sixties musicians, including two who have contributed forwards to the work - Mark Knopfler and George Harrison. 294 pages, includes index, and A - Z Discography, and an extensive List of Skiffle Groups to rear. Illustrated throughout, with many historic photographs, plus reproductions of original Skiffle posters and Album covers. A near fine hardcover, showing some darkening to edges, but otherwise a bright, clean and solid copy with blue boards, in dust jacket which is price clipped at bottom of front flap but is otherwis a fine dust jacket. SKIFFLE / MUSIC / RARE The author, Chas McDevitt is a British musician, one of the leading lights of the skiffle genre which was highly influential and popular in the United Kingdom in the mid-to-late 1950s. A skilled banjo player, he began his musical career in the 1950s, playing with the Crane River Jazz Band. At the same time, he formed a small skiffle group, which performed in coffee bars and jazz clubs in London. In late 1956, he recorded Elizabeth Cotten's song "Freight Train", adding a female singer. Thus, folk singer Nancy Whiskey was invited to join the Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group, and the song with her vocals, became a hit in the UK in 1957 at the height of the skiffle boom, reaching Number 5 in the UK Singles Chart. McDevitt's group appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, their record became a million seller, and their success led them to tour with acts such as Slim Whitman and Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers. They also replaced Jerry Lee Lewis on his ill-fated 1958 tour of the UK. McDevitt's was the only British skiffle group, other than Lonnie Donegan's, to achieve international success. Both a student of Skiffle music, and a pioneer Skiffle performer in the UK, Chas McDevitt brings an insiders knowledge and depth to this definitive work. .