Baldry, LongJohn

Long John Baldry

Long John Baldry (born John William Baldry) was born on January 14, 1941 in Haddon, Derbyshire, England, UK.  His nick-name Long was given him due to his towering height, 6 ft  7 in.

Blues legend Leadbelly can be named responsible for a fourteen year old boy's fascination with the blues and jazz.

In the late fifties Baldry started out singing folk and jazz.  When he was twenty, 1961, he was singing with the band Blues Incorporated which was featured on the first blues album (in the UK), R&B at the Marquee which was released in 1962. 

Baldry continued to sing with bands and form his own all throughout the sixties and seventies: Blues Incorporated; 1963 Cyril Davies All-Stars - which became Long John Baldry's Hoochie Coochie Men after Davies' death in 1964 (Rod Stewart was a vocalist); 1964 Steam Packet (again with Rod Stewart); 1966 Bluesology (which featured Reginald Dwight as keyboardist - you might know him as Elton John*).  Shortly thereafter Baldry struck out on his own.

Baldry toured the UK/Europe, he had several hits on the UK play list including a #1 single 'Let the Heartaches Begin'; 'Mexico' (for the Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City 1968).  He continued to sing and perform throughout UK/Europe and then toured the US and Canada extensively, staying in New York and Los Angeles for short periods.

Baldry loved Canada, especially Vancouver, B.C., and in 1980 became a Canadian citizen where he traveled heavily on the club circuit and continued to make blues albums.  It was during his beginnings in Canada that he found a small niche in voice work.

Mr. Baldry died on July 21, 2005 in Vancouver, British Columbia, after a four month battle with a severe chest infection. 

Film
Dick Deadeye, or Duty Done~1975 - Singing Voices of The Major General/The Monarch of the Sea
Up the Chastity Belt~1971 (as John Baldry) -  Little John

TV
Ben Hur~2003 - Voices of Balthazar/Roman citizen/Roman Captain
The Snow Queen~2002 - Voice of  Rutger the Reindeer
The New Beachcombers~2002  -  JJ's Jugband
Toad Patrol~2002  - voice of Mistle Toad
Sabrina the Animated Series~1999 - Voice of Captain Jean Lafitte
Robocop: Alpha Commando~1998 - Administer of Amistad in Justice Reborn Part 1
Pocket Dragon Adventures~1998 - Voices
Sonic Christmas Blast~1996 - Voice of Dr. Ivo Robotnik
ReBoot~1994 - Voice of Captain Capacitor (1994, 1997-1998)/Old Man Pearson (1994-1996, 1997)
Nilus the Sandman~1994 - Voice of Nilus
Hurricanes~1993 - Voices
The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog~1993 - Voice of  Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Eggman)
Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars~1992 - Voice of Komplex/Air Marshall
Conan: The Adventurer~1992 - Voice of Wraith-Amon
Legend of the Hawaiian Slammers~1991 -
Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars~1991 - Voice of KOMPLEX
Nilus the Sandman~1991 - Voice of Nilus the Sandman
Captain Zed and the Zee Zone~1991
MacGyver~1991 - HIT Director in Strictly Business
New Adventures of He-Man, The~1990 - Voice of Treylus
Madeline~1990 - Voices
Captain N & the Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3~1990 - Voices
Dragon Quest~1989 (US version) - Abel
Captain N: The Game Master~1989 - Voices
Ewoks~1985 - Voice of The Stranger
Beat-Club~1965 - Himself in - Procol Harum / Dave Davies / Carla Thomas / Long John Baldry / Herd
Shindig~1964 - Himself in Shindig Goes to London Part 1: Animals; Moody Blues (1965)
The Glad Rag Ball~1964  -  Himself
Around the Beatles~1964  - Himself/performer (live concert)

Bands
Bluesology
Hoochie Coochie Men

Albums
Live - Iowa State University~1987 (released 2009)
Remembering Leadbelly~2001/2
Long John Baldry Trio~2000
Long John Baldry Trio-Live~1999
The Pye Anthology~1998
Right to Sing the Blues~1997
A Thrill's a Thrill: The Canadian Years~1995
Long John Baldry: On Stage Tonight~1993
Midnight In New Orleans (German release w/Baldy singing 'As Long as I Feel the Spirit')~1992
It Still Ain't Easy~1991
A Touch of Blues~1989
Long John Baldry and Friends~1987
Silent Treatment~1986
The Best of Long John Baldry~1983
Rock with the Best~1982
The Boys in the Band~1981
Long John Baldry~1980
Baldry's Out!~1979
Welcome to Club Casablanca~1976
Good To Be Alive~1973
Everything Stops for Tea~1972
It Ain't Easy~1971
Long John's blues~1971
Wait For Me~1969
Let the Heartaches Begin
Looking at Long John~1966
Long John's Blues~1964
R&B From the Marquee by Blues Incorporated~1962

Radio
The History of British Rock~1978 - (New York) - interviewer/radio personality

Miscellany
1975 - *Elton John received life saving advice from Mr. Baldry which spawned Elton's hit song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"

*Elton John took his stage name from two sources: Elton from Elton Dean (sax player) and John from Long John Baldry.

First to sing You've Lost That Loving Feeling (The Righteous Brothers sang it next)