Geordie busker Ronnie Lambert passes away

[Angelus71 4]

GEORDIE busker Ronnie Lambert has died.

 

The Toon-mad 58-year-old who found fame after penning Toon Army anthem, Home Newcastle, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep, yesterday morning.

 

Ronnie’s heartbroken daughter, Ashley, 25 today paid tribute to her talented dad, whose tune was regularly played at St James’s Park.

 

“He was the best dad anybody could wish for,” she said. “He was so down to earth and so approachable. You instantly warmed to him. He had a lot of friends and so many people loved his music. He was a big character in the North East.”

 

Ronnie lived in Biddick, Washington, with his wife Hazel, 53. He also has a son, Ronnie junior, 31.

 

Ronnie was known for writing songs about Newcastle United. When Kevin Keegan brought Toon hero Alan Shearer back to Newcastle for £15m in 1996, he released a tune called, Shearer’s Back.

 

But it was Home Newcastle for which he was best known.

 

Ronnie was a Newcastle United season ticket-holder and went to every home game.

 

He never made much money from his music, but hearing his own songs ringing around St James’ Park more than made-up for it, said Ashley.

 

“He didn’t do too well out of his music but I think the fact that people knew his songs was more important to him,” she said. “He was really proud that they were played at St James’s Park.”

 

And like every other Toon fan this season, Ronnie had been dreading the prospect of seeing his team relegated.

 

“He said he didn’t want to see Newcastle go down and whatever happens he won’t have to now,” said Ashley. “He also said if they stayed-up up he would die a happy man. Football and music were his main loves.”

 

Born, in Gateshead, Ronnie, also known as ‘Busker’, grew up in what he described as “a rat-infested hovel called 17, Wylam Street”, at the spot where Gateshead Metro Station now stands, before moving to the Leam Lane estate.

 

His love of music was discovered in local pubs and clubs like the Ship Inn, and the Felling Welfare, where Ronnie and pals would catch the local bands of the day. Ronnie wrote his famous anthem when he was in his late 20s, while working as a bricklayer. Home Newcastle tells the story of his return to Tyneside after spending six months working in London at the age of 18.

 

“One late Sunday morning as the wife was cooking Sunday dinner, I decided to write a song I'd planned for years,” he explained on his website. “It was inspired by a strong emotion I'd experienced 11 years earlier, returning home after six months in London at the tender age of 18. That feeling never left me, even after repeating it several times in life, so that morning I wrote Home Newcastle.”

 

The song sold tens of thousands of copies in the 1980s.

 

R.I.P

[Guest alex]

Also wrote the classic 'Going Up' according to .com. Never realised that and 'Home Newcastle' were by the same bloke. RIP.

[Kevin Carr's Gloves 3860]

Stevie will detest him as he lived in Washington.

 

Big RIP from me though.

[1892 0]

Stevie will detest him as he lived in Washington.

 

Big RIP from me though.

 

To be fair to Washington, it is 50/50, although I know it is classed as Sunderland nowadays (used to be Co. Durham).

 

But RIP Busker.

[acrossthepond 876]

My favorite Toon song. RIP Busker.

[Craig 6682]

"and I miss the old blink busker who plays at Fenwicks door..."

 

RIP fella

[peasepud 59]

RIP,

 

at least he didnt have to pen "going down" in honour of this glorious season

[JJ 0]

Great song. RIP.

[Tom 14011]

Also wrote the classic 'Going Up' according to .com. Never realised that and 'Home Newcastle' were by the same bloke. RIP.

 

To be fair one is a folk song and the other one is some kind of 80's pop/rap/folk/electro hybrid.

 

R.I.P