Rock Island Line is an American folk song about a railway line. Lonnie Donegan's version turned it into an international hit in 1955 and was the catalyst for the Skiffle phenomenon in the UK. Skiffle was a genre blending Folk, Blues, and Jazz, played on simple instruments (like guitars, banjos, and washboards). Donegan, known as the "King of Skiffle", performed the track with characteristic speed, energy, and humor. The live performance in 1961 shows him maintaining this fiery appeal years later

228K views · 4.4K reactions | On this day in Music History - Jan. 6, 1956 Lonnie Donegan's cover of "Rock Island Line" enters the UK charts, eventually selling over three million copies and kicking off the national skiffle craze. The single reached the Top Ten in the US, peaking at #8. | Johnny Rock and Roll Radio | Facebook

507K views · 6.5K reactions | On This Day in Rock and Roll History - May 19 1956 Lonnie Donegan kicks off a tour of the US by appearing on The Perry Como Show, where he performs "Rock Island Line". | Johnny Rock and Roll Radio | Facebook