David Longdon (17 June 1965 – 20 November 2021) was a British singer and multi-instrumentalist, who was best known as the lead vocalist and co-songwriter of the progressive rock band Big Big Train. Besides singing, Longdon played flute, keyboards, Acoustic guitar and electric 6 & 12 string guitars, bass, mandolin, lute, banjo, accordion, percussion, dulcimer, psaltry, vibraphone, theremin and glockenspiel.
Early life and career
Longdon was born in
Nottingham, England,
on 17 June 1965.
He began writing music at age nine after discovering
The Who.
He began his career as the lead singer of the band The Gift Horse.
Longdon was one of those who auditioned as lead singer of rock band Genesis in 1996, following the departure of
Phil Collins. He auditioned during the making of
Calling All Stations (1997), but the role was given to Scottish singer Ray Wilson.
He joined Big Big Train in 2009, and performed on numerous instruments in addition to his role as the lead singer beginning with the album
The Underfall Yard in 2009.
Personal life
Longdon had a partner, Sarah Ewing. He had two daughters, Amelia and Eloise. He died on 20 November 2021, aged 56, in a Nottingham hospital, following a traumatic fall at his home early in the previous morning.
described Longdon as "a lovely guy with a wonderful voice. He sounded fabulous singing on the vocal version of Hackett’s 'Spectral Mornings'."
and
Geoff Downes also paid respects following his death.
Peter Jones of the band Tiger Moth Tales, with whom Longdon had occasionally worked on stage, included a tribute song to Longdon entitled "We'll Remember" on the band's 2023 album
The Turning of the World.
Discography
With Big Big Train
- Albums
-
The Underfall Yard (2009)
-
English Electric Part One (2012)
-
English Electric Part Two (2013)
-
Folklore (2016)
-
Grimspound (2017)
-
The Second Brightest Star (2017)
-
Grand Tour (2019)
-
Common Ground (2021)
-
Welcome to the Planet (2022)
- EPs
-
Far Skies Deep Time (2010)
-
Make Some Noise (2013)
-
Wassail (2015)
Solo albums
-
Wild River (2004)
-
Door One (2022)
With Louis Philippe
-
Jackie Girl (1996)
-
Azure (1998)
-
A Kiss in the Funhouse (1999)
-
My Favourite Part of You (2003)
-
The Wonder of it All (2004)
-
Live (2007)
With Martin Orford
-
The Old Road (songs "Ray of Hope" "Endgame") (2008)
With The Tangent
-
Le Sacre du Travail (2013)
-
L'Etagère du Travail (2013)
With Dave Kerzner
-
New World (song "New World") (2014)
With The Charlatans
With Judy Dyble
-
Between a Breath and a Breath (2020)
With Downes Braide Association
-
Live in England (2019)
-
Halcyon Hymns (2021)
Other projects
External links
