If you saw him on stage six weeks ago, you'd think he was 29-years-old

Mel Roberts

The Glasgow-born singer underwent cardiac surgery on Wednesday morning, the day after his 71st birthday.

He is now recovering at the private London Bridge Hospital with his third wife Sharon at his bedside, friend and PR manager Mel Roberts said.

A hospital spokesman described Mr Donegan as "fit, well and comfortable".

The spokesman added that the singer was one of the first people in Europe to be treated with an "antimicrobial stent", designed to keep infection at bay in the wake of the surgery..

The stent has been inserted into Mr Donegan's blood vessel to help the flow of blood into his heart.

'Sitting up'

"Lonnie is sitting up in bed watching TV," the spokesman said Wednesday night.

It was Mr Donegan's third heart operation. His cardiac trouble began in the 1970s.

In 1992, he was flown to Britain from his home in Spain for emergency surgery.

Mr Donegan is one of the most successful recording artists of the pre-Beatles era, scoring three number one hits and numerous entries on the top ten list.

Donegan received an MBE for services to pop music

His more recent work with Van Morrison led to a resurgence in his career, and Mr Donegan went on to complete his first UK tour for many years.

"If you saw him on stage six weeks ago, you'd think he was 29-years-old," Mr Roberts said.

"He has never smoked a cigarette, does not drink, and he is a bit of a tough nut

"He had tests a couple of weeks ago and he knew he needed another operation."

Name change

Christened Anthony James, the star changed his name in honour of black American guitarist Lonnie Johnson.

His songs contain a mixture of folk, jazz, gospel and the blues.

The skiffle king's hits included Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour, My Old Man's A Dustman, Cumberland Gap and Puttin' On The Style.

He has been married three times and has seven children.