Leading Folk Musician Steve Benbow Dies

Brewery Tap regular recorded more than 25 LPs

Steve Benbow, the noted British folk guitarist who held regular Friday and Sunday night sessions at the Brewery Tap in Brentford, has died.

Benbow rose to prominence in the 1950s, playing alongside and influencing noted guitarists such as Davy Graham and Bert Jansch. He went on to appear alongside Ewan MacColl, Dominic Behan and Christy Moore, recorded extensively and became Spike Milligan's resident musician for one of the comedian's TV series.

Between 1957 and 1977, Steve recorded more than 25 LPs, a large number of EPs and broadcast on TV and radio in programmes such as `Guitar Club' with Ike Isaacs, `Sunday Skiffle Club', 'Easy Beat' and his own TV programme in Scotland, `Plectrum', where he demonstrated his style of guitar playing.

His huge knowledge of English folk songs became a staple of the Friday and Sunday sessions down the Brewery Tap, where other musicians and singers were always welcome to sit in and play. Whilst the famous Friday and Sunday sessions will continue, it will be hard to replace the man who led them for so many years.

Messages of condolence can be sent via e-mail.

November 23, 2006