Caroline Showband Story (1964-71?)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
We're not quite sure when the Caroline was formed, but former
member, Mel Dean tells us the band was put together by Ronan
O'Rahilly who owned the pirate radio station, Radio Caroline. Earl
Jordan was recruited from the Derek Joys Showband to front the new
act. Mel tells us that the band's program featured a lot of soul
music (James Brown) and they never quite hit it off with the punters
on the Irish dance circuit. The band lineup was: Earl Jordan
(vocals), Mel Dean (guitar) Tony Coffey (keyboards), Gerry Ryan
(bass), Kevin Brady (drums), Mike Burns (trumpet), Harry Burroughs
(sax), and Tony Kearns (sax). Earl Jordan was one of the first black
singers to tour Ireland, making the band a bit of a novelty act, but
to no avail.
In the late sixties the band
emigrated to England (minus Tony Coffey) and settled in Manchester
where their brand of pop, rock and soul was readily accepted. The
band stayed in England for five years, playing the clubs and
dancehalls. Earl Jordan eventually left the band and was replaced by
Tony Woods and the band changed it names to the Dunes. Eventually,
the boys became homesick and the band broke up with Mel Dean staying
in the UK, while the rest returned home.
More to come.....
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