Steve Benbow

Published Friday 5 January 2007 at 15:15 by Graham Gurrin

Steve Benbow was a highly influential singer and guitarist of the sixties folk revival, the first folk musician to have his own show on Radio Luxembourg and in the 20 years from 1957 recorded more than 20 albums. But despite continuing to play regularly at a London pub until the week before his death, he remained largely unknown to the general public.

Benbow was born in Tooting, south west London, on November 29, 1931 but his family soon moved to Surrey. At 16 he left Reigate Grammar School, where he had shown promise with languages, to become a cowman in Axminster, Devon. He completed his National Service with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in Egypt and was able to play the guitar and sing in eight languages, having performed on forces radio.

His return in 1955 to England coincided with the rise of skiffle and by 1957 he had made television appearances on Guitar Club, Saturday Skiffle Club and Easy Beat, later presenting Radio Luxembourg’s Have Guitar, Will Travel. Benbow played with all the big names in folk music, from Ewan MacColl and Pete Seeger to Robin Hall and Jimmy McGregor, as well as mainstream entertainers such as Rolf Harris and Spike Milligan. He showed a distinct refusal to narrow himself down to one political or musical path, being equally at home playing folk, jazz or country and western songs, all played in a beautifully relaxed manner and with unashamed enjoyment. He continued to encourage newcomers at his club at the Brewery Tap in Brentford and released a widely praised CD in 2003.

Benbow died on November 17, aged 74, after a heart attack. He is survived by a son and daughter from his first marriage and by his wife, Sandie.