Hi-Lows Band Feature (1961 - 1978)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

The story of the Hi-Lows showband starts around 1960. Brothers Des and John Tighe, from Rooskey, Co. Roscommon, were playing on the local scene, best known for their involvement in traditional music's Ceoltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. Around this same time, Carrick-On-Shannon's Savoy Swing Seven were enjoying regional success as one of the top showbands in the Northwest. However, a sudden split in the Savoy created a major headache for bandleader, John Healy, when he did not have a full line-up for a gig in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon.   

Knowing the reputation of the Tighe brothers who lived just up the road, John asked them to sit in with the band on the night. They did such a great job, they were invited to join the Savoy on a full time basis. Within a short time, the brothers had established themselves as "showband" musicians and were approached by Mickey Smith to join the Gowna, Co. Cavan-based Grafton Showband after the departure of Larry Cunningham to form the Mighty Avons in 1960. Des took up the offer, while John remained with the Savoy, although only for a short time and a few months later, he joined Des in the Grafton. 

In 1961, the Grafton showband under went some changes, reorganised and became The "New Grafton" and eventually changed their name to The Hi-Lows. The original line-up included John Tighe (RIP-guitar), Des Tighe (trombone), Pete Columb (vocals), Gerry Davis (RIP-bass), Joe Feeney (RIP-sax), Michael Smith (trumpet), Joe Hackett (RIP-drums) and Frank Melia (keyboards).

It was still the very early days of the showband era, so most of the band's gigs were limited to parochial halls and the older ballrooms which had been in service since the 40's and 50's. There were no single records being released by Irish bands at this point. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Des Tighe never gave up the "day job" but was a Primary School teacher for 40 years until his retirement in 2000. On the other hand, John was a professional musician as were many of the other lads in the band. 

In 1964, Ian Corrigan succeeded Pete Columb on vocals. Pete would go into the bakery business and did not sing with another showband. The next few years saw the band grow their reputation and travel further and further afield as the showband era finally took off and new halls and ballrooms were being built around the country. 

In early 1968, Ian Corrigan left the band and would eventually end up fronting the Casino Showband. The Casino would end up donning war paint and marched into showband history as the The Indians, still on the road today, approaching 45 years together. For a time, John, who had always sang a major portion of the band's programme, took over the lead vocal spot, switching from lead to rhythm guitar. 

In May, 1968, they ventured into the recording studio for the first time and released their first original single, Maureen Alanna (written by the Tighe brothers), which featured John on vocals. By a strange twist of fate, the record was released on King Records, the label managed at the time by Larry Cunningham, whom they had "replaced" in the Grafton Showband so many years earlier. Although none of their first three singles made the Irish charts, they helped establish the band as more than just a regional favourite and the band was now travelling the length and breadth of the country.

Other musicians who played with the band during the 1960's were Sean Kenny (RIP-guitar), Ernie McCarthy (sax), Frank McKenna (guitar) and Tony Tracey (RIP-guitar). In early 1969, Sean Kenny (RIP) was actually about to emigrate to Scotland when Mickey Smith and John Tighe tracked him down (at Dublin Airport we're told) and persuaded him to change his mind and join the band. 

1969 and 1970 saw the release of two more singles, The Green Dog (written by Jet Calders and Des Tighe) and Silver Threads Among The Gold, both featuring John. In late 1969, Gerry Reynolds came on board as the band's new lead singer. Around this time, the major split between pop and country music on the Irish scene was starting to take hold in a major way. Bands like the Cotton Mill Boys, Hoot'nanny's and Smokey Mountain Ramblers, combined with the growing success of "Country and Irish" stars like Big Tom, Margo and Larry Cunningham, meant most bands that had previously tried to play it "down the middle" had to make a choice and the Hi-Lows went with country.  

Des made the switch from playing trombone (a staple of the brass dominated showband era) to keyboards and fiddle (remember his traditional roots). With Gerry out front and the switch of genres, things started to happen for the band in the early 70's. In 1971, Michael Smith retired as manager of the band and for a short time, Des and John managed the band themselves. A few months later though, they were taken on by new manager, Frank Milton. The new country line-up featured Gerry Reynolds (RIP-vocals), Ronnie Creevy (guitar), Gerry Davis (RIP-bass), Jet Calders (drums), Des Tighe (keyboards, fiddle), John Tighe (RIP-guitar) and Michael Hughes (sax).

With Gerry making a name for himself as a front man, the band released One Hundred Children which entered the Irish Charts and became the band's only chart single, cracking the Irish Top Ten and reaching number eight in the summer of 1972. The Hi-Lows had managed something that had eluded many showbands, producing a chart single. 

In late 1974, Frank Milton would step down as manager and the Tighe brothers took over the management of the band. Gerry and the Hi-Lows continued to grow in popularity. In December, 1976, the band took the major step of adding a female vocalist to the lineup and Margaret O'Rourke joined Gerry fronting the band. A short time later, Vincent Gill, who had played with and been managing the Royal (and then New) Blues, took over the management of the band. New guitarist in the band was Declan Nerney, who would later break out on his own (after stints with Gene Stuart and Brian Coll) to become one of Ireland's top country stars today. Declan's website reports he was only 16 when he joined the Hi-Lows.    

1978 saw the release of the band's one and only album, The Perfect Match, which featured Gerry and Margaret. The release followed their single, Stranger In My Place, and was one of the few country albums released by Polydor records (Cotton Mill Country by the Cotton Mill Boys was the only other title we can find and that was in 1971). In conjunction with the release, the band was featured on the cover of the new publication Entertainment News which was published by the Top Rank organisation. During the 1970's, the Hi-Lows featured musicians like: Oliver Croghan (RIP-bass), Oliver Flaherty (drums), Tommy Kelly (guitar), Declan Nerney (guitar), Paddy Reilly (RIP-drums), Peter Reynolds (guitar), Tommy Shanley (guitar), Sean Sweeney (guitar) and PJ Ward (drums). Throughout it all, though, the Tighe brothers remained the glue that held the band together. 

After nearly 20 years, Des and John decided to pack in the showband life and stay a little closer to home. They formed a little group called Mixed Spice, with Paschal Flaherty on drums, and played the local pub scene. Drummer Dermot Gray arrived in 1979 and the band continued to gig until John’s untimely death in 2000.

Although not counted among the greatest bands that ever played in the showband era, the Hi-Lows were representative of so many bands that laboured in the shadows of names like Dickie Rock and the Miami, Brendan Bowyer and the Royal, and Big Tom and the Mainliners. They provided solid entertainment and dancing pleasure to thousands of Irish people across several generations. Although they may never receive the accolades of their more famous peers, they still provided the backbone (along with so many other bands) that made the era one of the greatest the country has ever seen.  

Our sincere thanks to Sharon Tighe-Mooney and Des Tighe for their help with this feature.

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Discography

Singles:
Maureen Alanna / Sweethearts in Heaven (featuring John Tighe)
King Records - KG 1075 - May, 1968
The Green Dog /  Just As Long As You Love Me (featuring John Tighe)
Release Records - RL.513 - May, 1969
Silver Threads Among The Gold / Turn Down The Starlight (featuring John Tighe)
Release Records - RL.559 - December, 1970
100 Children (Gerry Reynolds) / The Black Sheep (John Tighe) - #8 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.627 - June, 1972
I Wonder Could I Live Here Anymore / Pride of the West (featuring Gerry Reynolds)
Release Records - RL.654 - November, 1972
Set These Children Free (Gerry Reynolds) / Along the Shannon Side (John Tighe) / Love and Honour (Gerry Davis)
Release Records - RL.730 - May, 1974
Let's Get Together / Country Music In My Soul (featuring Gerry Reynolds)
Release Records - RL.791 - October, 1975
On The Rebound / Anything's Better Than Nothing (featuring Margaret O'Rourke and Gerry Reynolds)
Sharp Records - SHA 104 - January, 1977
Stranger In My Place / Let Me Be There (featuring Gerry Reynolds and Margaret O’Rourke)
Polydor Records - 2078 083 - September, 1977

Albums:

The Perfect Match
Polydor Records - 2908 037 - September, 1978

Our thanks to Sharon Tighe-Mooney for some of this info)

Audio Clips

Where Are They Now?