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.

Contents

• Roy mcdonald poetry open mic october 1 2014
• Roy mcdonald sings elvis sideways
• Publishing efforts
• Publications
• Discography
• Filmography
• References

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 Mayor of Richmond Row, a colorful segment of Richmond Street located in downtown London. Contrary to what some believe, McDonald does live in a house.

Roy spent most of his life in London, but some time in Montreal where he developed a problem with alcohol. He had the will to stop and has been completely sober for years. Pocketman (Dorset Publishing 1979) by Don Bell, is a book of comedy loosely based on Roy's time in Montreal. Also there is a song called Pocketman that was written in 1977, two years prior to the book, by Jeff Rogers-Wardle that describes the first encounter Jeff had with Roy.