Harrington: My name’s not Johnny but…

Friday, 7th October 2022

Daniel Jeanrenaud

NOT all tube and train passengers feel this way, but I always smile when I see guitar man Daniel Jeanrenaud step aboard.

He has been part of the busking fabric of central London for countless years and will always have a Johnny Cash song ready. I saw him for the first time in a while this week at Victoria as he took a train to the south coast, still serenading the carriages whether the late-night crowd wanted him to or not.

He has a bit more of a croak these days but his faithful guitar still seems to twang like no other.

Perhaps, those who get a jolt in their seats when he suddenly starts playing don’t always appreciate a life story that began in France, took him to San Francisco where he played in a band called The Kingsnakes and then to London.

He can certainly tell you of the times he shared late-night Elvis duets with Amy Winehouse in a kebab house in Camden Town.

If you still can’t quite place him, maybe listen out for his signature sign-off after every busk – which very often is a spirited rendition of Ring Of Fire.

He’ll always say: “My name’s not Johnny but I sure could do with a little cash…”

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