Ken Colyer - He Knew

Billy Bragg profiles jazz trumpeter Ken Colyer, a musical evangelist who joined the Merchant Navy just to go to New Orleans. He immersed himself in the Big Easy's jazz scene and returned to spread the gospel in Britain. Amongst the musicians eager to pick up what the explorer had learnt was Lonnie Donegan, who recorded Rock Island Line in July 1954, a track which shook up the British music world and launched hundreds of new skiffle groups. Contributors include Richard Hawley, Pete Townshend, Martin Carthy, Colyner's nephew Martin, Donegan's son Peter, and jazz musicians Chris Barber and Bill Huntingdon.