Roy McDonald (poet)

Roy McDonald (born June 4, 1937) is a poet and busker (street performer) in London, Ontario, Canada. He is well known for singing and reciting poetry in front of Joe Kool's Restaurant and Jim-Bob Ray's Bar on Richmond Street. For many years he stood at the northwest corner of Richmond and Dundas (the old center of downtown London) and discussed the literary world with passersby. His long, grey beard, plastic bags filled with books and journals, tweed jacket, and habit of striking up friendly conversations with nearly everyone, make him a very recognizable and well-known figure around the city.

McDonald has been growing his beard for decades. He claims his was the longest at the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair. His clothes often fall into disrepair, and he occasionally mends his pants with duct tape. He decorates his jacket with buttons. He is often referred to as the unofficial president of Richmond Row, a colorful segment of Richmond Street located in downtown London. Contrary to what some believe, McDonald does live in a house.

Publishing efforts

Ergo Productions published both of McDonald's books. Living: A London Journal is a detailed account of a week in McDonald's life, and The Answer Questioned is one long pun-poem. They can be found in the London Public Library and the UWO library, and are carried in some bookstores, including the one at UWO.

Publications

Discography

Filmography

See also

Cited sources

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 3/18/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.