Stars honour skiffle man Donegan

Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler and Joe Brown (right) joined the tribute

Van Morrison, Billy Bragg and Roger Daltrey were among the stars who paid tribute to "King of Skiffle" Lonnie Donegan at a Royal Albert Hall concert.

Donegan, who helped transform British popular music in the era before The Beatles, died in 2002 aged 71.

Mark Knopfler, Joe Brown and Rolf Harris also played at Monday's show.

Rolling Stones star Bill Wyman said after Donegan's death: "He was the inspiration to all the bands of the 60s, and we owe it to him."

Born in Glasgow, Donegan was one of the most successful recording artists of the pre-Beatles era, with three UK number one hits and numerous top 10 entries in the 1950s and 60s.

Lonnie Donegan inspired a generation of musicians

His hits included My Old Man's a Dustman, Cumberland Gap and Rock Island Line.

Sir Paul McCartney once said of the Beatles: "When we were kids in Liverpool, the man who really started the craze for guitars was Lonnie Donegan.

"We all bought guitars to be in a skiffle group. He was the man."

London's Royal Albert Hall was the venue for Donegan's first solo performance, under his real name of Tony Donegan, in 1957.

Proceeds from last night's concert will go to the British Heart Foundation.