HIS dad was known as the King of Skiffle and became a household name in the 60s influencing hundreds of musicians including The Beatles, The Who and Led Zeppelin.

But despite Lonnie Donegan’s musical legacy, his son Peter has been snapping at his heels from an early age.

He learned much of his craft from his Bridgeton-born dad whose hits included ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’ and ‘Does your Chewing gum Lose Its Flavour’.

In later years he joined his father’s backing band as a keyboard player, but before that was his personal assistant.

It meant he was constantly surrounded by music and the influences of his father through performance, style or delivery, remain with him to this day.

Peter, who last month sang with Sir Tom Jones after he turned his chair in ITV show The Voice, is now following in his father’s footsteps and taking over his musical mantle.

He said: “My dad was born in Bridgeton and always used to say he had a voice like a wee Glasgow tea lady. I was on tour a lot of the time while I was growing up and moved around a lot but I have been here quite a few times before.

“My family were living in California and my dad had to do a tour in London called Mr Cinders, so I was actually born in the UK by default.”

The 36-year-old singer was brought up in Lake Tahoe, California, before periods living in Orlando, Florida and Malaga, Spain.

He considers himself “a British-American hybrid” and being raised in US clearly inspired his love of country music.

But he was constantly surrounded by musicians from an early age such as 60s teen idol Adam Faith, Van Morrison and Brian May, of Queen, who performed with his father.

His connections with pop royalty mean he was not afraid of performing in front of an audience and latterly played piano in his father’s band before the skiffle legend died of a heart attack in November 2002.

He said: “I was my dad’s piano player on the last two tours.

“He has influenced me, but mostly through performance and taught me how to connect and perform for audiences and always be appreciative of them.”

The singer picked up a guitar after his dad passed away and has since taught himself ukulele, banjo and mandolin and focused on songwriting. His new-country style and abilities went viral after appearing on The Voice where he performed Rascal Flatts song ‘Bless the Broken Road’.

It impressed judge Sir Tom Jones who was astonished to discover Peter was Lonnie’s son after he turned his chair.

The connection led to an emotional duet of his dad’s composition ‘I’ll Never Fall In Love Again’ which Sir Tom covered in 1967.

He scoffs at suggestions the performance on the show was “a fix” and says it was a spontaneous moment.

“I couldn’t plan what happened, the performance was 100 per cent genuine and I think you can see that.”

When Peter’s dad died at the age of 71, tributes were paid from pop legends such as Sir Elton John and the Rolling Stones, who he inspired throughout his career.

Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison were in early skiffle groups including Lennon’s The Quarrymen, mentioned his song ‘The Rock Island Line’ as an early influence. Before he died he was expected to perform at a tribute show for George Harrison.

Paul McCartney once said of him: “When we were kids in Liverpool, the man who really started the craze for guitars was Lonnie Donegan.”

The influence of his father, who collapsed at the home of friends in Peterborough, is never too far away.

They were picked up by Sir Tom who recognised the traits and nuances in his live audition.

Peter will be part of ‘Team Tom’ during the next round of The Voice where he will be mentored by the ‘It’s not unusual’ star. It involves him being paired against one of the other performers who will pit their talents against Peter’s in a live sing-off.

But he has also been doing a whistlestop promotional tour of radio stations and was recently been involved in the recording of Live Aid-style charity record in aid of Homeless Worldwide.

The single ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ was originally written by The Hollies and was released on Friday.

Peter will also pay a visit to Glasgow next month to play a live date at The Ferry as part of short UK tour.

It will showcase his EP ‘Superman’ which he recorded in Nashville and hopes will continue to take his career to a new audience.

Many of his ‘new fans’ have only just discovered his talents through The Voice or through live tours which have previously arranged dates.

He recalled previous visits to the city where he said it “it was always wet”, but paid tribute to audiences in the warmth of audiences in the city and their response to his performances. I’m looking forward to coming up to Scotland.

“I was last in Glasgow at Broadcast at the beginning of November, but I’ve played here a few times before.

“I’ve always thought that people in Glasgow remember a performance.

“I just wish it wouldn’t rain so much.”