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The Drifters (1960-1985)

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

The Story

Although Brendan Bowyer and Dickie Rock fans may argue, Joe Dolan is generally regarded as the greatest international star produced by the showband era. He had numerous hits in Ireland and Europe, including the U.K. His career started in his native Mullingar with a band that would create two major musical forces in Irish music...The Drifters and The Times. 

The story of The Drifters started when the two Dolan brothers Joe and Ben, got together with some friends and entered a local talent contest which they won. The brothers knew they could make a go of music and quit their day jobs (Ben as a carpenter and Joe as a compositor) and formed The Drifters in 1960 with Ben on Sax and Joe as guitarist and lead singer. The original lineup also included Charlie McMorrow (keyboards/sax), Jimmy Horan (bass), Sean Connolly (trumpet) and Eddie Deehy (drums).  

Within a year, the band's first change took place when Sean left and the boys traveled to Cootehill to discover Tommy Swarbrigg (trumpet), who at 16 had already been playing with a band called the Jordanaires for two years. He joined the band and became their main songwriter. A year later, in 1962, Joe and Ben were on the search again, this time for a trombone player which they found in Swanlinbar's Joey Gilheaney. The final pieces to the puzzle came together when Sid Aughey joined on drums, replacing Eddie Deehy and Des Doherty replaced Charlie McMorrow on the keyboards we think around 1963. 

In 1964, the lineup of the band was set: Ben Dolan (sax), Joe Dolan (guitar), Sid Aughey (drums), Jimmy Horan (bass), Tommy Swarbrigg (trumpet), Joey Gilheaney (trombone), and Des Doherty (keyboards). The band's first record was an old Del Shannon song, "The Answer To Everything," which went to No. 4 in the Irish Charts and set the band on their way.

With a hit single under their belts, the boys took the dancehalls and ballrooms by storm. In the following years, Joe released a string of hits, including "I Love You More And More Everyday", "My Own Peculiar Way", "Aching Breaking Heart", "Pretty Brown Eyes", "Tar And Cement", "The House With The Whitewashed Gable", "Love Of The Common People", and "The Westmeath Bachelor".

In mid July, 1968, a crisis hit the band when Tommy Swarbrigg and the younger members of the band decided it was time for a change in direction and left to form The Times. In an article in Spotlight on the 27th of July, it was noted that the split had been a long time in the making. It became increasingly obvious that the five members who broke away wanted to move in the direction of new bands like the Sands and go strictly pop, while Joe and Ben wished to retain the variety of the showband era.

Tommy contacted his brother, Jimmy, who was living in London, and he returned to front the new pop band. In a July 17, 1968 interview in Spotlight, Ben Dolan was quoted as saying that the success of the Sands break from the Miami "may have precipitated the break in the Drifters." Manager Seamus Casey added that the band had been offered a contract in Las Vegas which Ben, Joe and he were not interested in pursuing.

This move left Joe and Ben alone, and they went about rebuilding a new band that would eventually go on to even greater success at home and abroad. The new band was on the road after less than a month in mid August. New members of the band included Clones man Frankie McDonald who had played trumpet with the Irish Army No. 4 band; Seamus Shannon from Elphin, Co. Roscommon who played trombone, but was also an All-Ireland accordion player; Maurice Walsh, who had previously been the lead singer with the Bye-Laws, but was also an accomplished drummer; Pat Hoye, from Mullingar, who had previously played bass with the Swingtime Aces; Kieran Mc Donnell on keyboards from Strabane and numerous local groups; and finally, Gordon Coleman on guitar from Youghal. After adding a guitarist, Joe set down his six string and focused all his energy on singing.   

Joe Dolan and the "New" Drifters' first international chart success came in July, 1969, when they reached no. 3 in the UK charts with "Make Me an Island." Joe appeared on the BBC's Top of The Pops, one of the few showband performers to do so. Around this time, there were strong rumours about Joe possibly going solo which were constantly denied. In a June issue of Spotlight magazine it was reported that Joe had signed a "loose agreement" with Colin Berlin, who was involved with Tom Jones, but Joe never went solo. Following this, the floodgates opened and Joe and the band continued to record hit after hit. During the Seventies, Joe continued to have hits in Ireland, Europe, South Africa and Australia.

In the early seventies, the band suffered a couple of minor setbacks when Seamus Shannon left to join Brendan Shine's Superband, and was replaced by Liam Meade and a year later, in July, 1973, Patrick Hoye left the band and journeyed to the United States to study at the Berklee School of Music, where he studied with the likes of Paul Ashford (who would return to form Stepaside) and John Farrell (of the Dazzle Band). Pat was replaced by Mick Bagnell (who also played with Margo for a spell).

In 1974, Joe and the band hit another high when "Sweet Little Rock n' Roller" won the European Pop Jury. In 1979, the song would be covered by English group, Showaddywaddy and would become one of their most famous songs and their last top twenty hit.

After Christmas, 1974, long time drummer Maurice Walsh left the band to study music and was replaced by Jimmy Walsh, who would in turn be replaced by Tony Newman. In 1977, the band was changing again. David Scott came in on bass along with Gerry Kelly on guitar. In early 1978, Patrick Hoye had returned from the States and Ben asked him to join the band for an eight week tour of South Africa. He ended up staying with the band for the next eight years. A few months later, in 1978, Joe and the band became the first Western based band to play in Russia. [Tony Newman, who would go on to play with Joe for many years, sadly passed away in 2000.]

The early eighties were a time of growth and transition for the band. Joe's fame was growing so quickly that it started to overshadow the importance of "The Drifters" as a separate entity. The band was touring constantly: Las Vegas, Russia, South Africa, Canada, Germany, etc. They even abandoned a tour of the Middle East (Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) because the Ayatollah came back to Iran and changed everything.

Joe Dolan's son, Ray, joined the band around this time and was added on percussion. Gerry Kelly, who had replaced Gordon Coleman on lead guitar headed off to the United States in the early 1980's and was replaced by Joe Meehan. By the time the mid 1980's rolled around the "Drifters" had more or less ceased to exist. What had started as The Drifters Showband, and then became "Joe Dolan and the Drifters," ended up as Joe Dolan (and his band). Pat Hoye left in 1985 to return to Boston. 

Sadly, in December, 2007 Joe Dolan passed away at the age of 68 on St. Stephen's Day (December 26th). He had been ill for some time and canceled several Irish tours earlier in the year. However, his story did not end with his passing. In 2008, Ben Dolan revived the Dolan band with Joe featured performing on video with the band playing live. They are still performing regularly and Joe's legacy appears set to go on indefinitely with reunion tours and further disc releases already planned.     

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Drifters Showband 1964 (JD) Drifters Showband - 1964 (BS) The Drifters - 1965 (DD) Joe Dolan - 1965 Drifters Showband - 1966
Joe Dolan and The Drifters - 1966 The Drifters - 1967 Joe Dolan & the "New" Drifters - 1970 Joe Dolan - 1975 Drifters - 1975 (DL)
Joe Dolan in Moscow - 1978 The Times (DD) The Drifters (KS)

Joe Dolan (KS)

Drifters - 1966 (LR)
Joe Dolan Live - 1966 (LR) Joe Dolan (LR) Joe Dolan (LR) Joe Dolan & The Drifters - 1974 (LR) Joe Dolan - 1975 (LR)
The New Drifters - 1968 (JB) Joe Dolan - 1972 (LR) Drifters - 1966 (LR) Drifters (PB) Drifters
Drifters Joe Dolan (PH) Drifters Drifters - 1971 Drifters - 1966
Drifters - 1966 (MY) Drifters  (LR) Joe Dolan - 1967 Live in 1967 Drifters - 1967
Joe Dolan - 1967 Drifters - 1967 Drifters - 1967 Joe Dolan - 1969 Drifters - 1969
Joe Dolan - 1969

Drifters

Drifters - 1968 Drifters - 1970 Drifters - 1968
Drifters - 1969 Drifters - 1970 Drifters - 1968 Drifters - 1969 Drifters - 1968
Drifters - 1969 Drifters - 1967 Drifters - 1969 Drifters - 1968 Drifters - 1969
Drifters - 1970 Drifters - 1969 Drifters - 1969 Drifters - 1968 Drifters - 1970
 
Drifters - 1969 Drifters - 1967 Drifters - 1968 Drifters - Early 60's Coming Soon
         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon

Lineup Changes
 

Years Vocals Guitar Bass Drums Keyboards Percussion Trumpet Sax Trombone
1960   Joe
Dolan
Jimmy
Horan
Eddie
Deehy
Charlie
McMorrow
  Sean
Connolly
Ben
Dolan
 
1961   Joe
Dolan
Jimmy
Horan
Eddie
Deehy
Charlie
McMorrow
  Tommy
Swarbrigg
Ben
Dolan
 
1962   Joe
Dolan
Jimmy
Horan
Eddie
Deehy
Charlie
McMorrow
  Tommy
Swarbrigg
Ben
Dolan
Joey
Gilheaney
1963   Joe
Dolan
Jimmy
Horan
Sid
Aughey
Des
Doherty
  Tommy
Swarbrigg
Ben
Dolan
Joey
Gilheaney
64-68   Joe
Dolan
Jimmy
Horan
Sid
Aughey
Des
Doherty
  Tommy
Swarbrigg
Ben
Dolan
Joey
Gilheaney
Swarbrigg, Doherty, Horan, Aughey, and Gilheaney left to form the Times
68-71 Joe
Dolan
Gordon
Coleman
Pat
Hoye
Maurice
Walsh
Kieran
McDonnell
  Frankie
McDonald
Ben
Dolan
Seamus
Shannon
1971 Joe
Dolan
Gordon
Coleman
Pat
Hoye
Maurice
Walsh
    Frankie
McDonald
Ben
Dolan
Seamus
Shannon
72-73 Joe
Dolan
Gordon
Coleman
Pat
Hoye
Maurice
Walsh
Kevin
Cowley
  Frankie
McDonald
Ben
Dolan
Liam
Meade
73-74 Joe
Dolan
Gordon
Coleman
Mick
Bagnell
Maurice
Walsh
Kevin
Cowley
  Frankie
McDonald
Ben
Dolan
Liam
Meade
Nov
1974*
Joe
Dolan
Jimmy
Murray*
Mick
Bagnell
Maurice
Walsh
Kevin
Cowley
  Frankie
McDonald
Ben
Dolan
Liam
Meade
75-77 Joe
Dolan
Gordon
Coleman
Mick
Bagnell
Jimmy
Walsh
Kevin
Cowley
  Frankie
McDonald
Ben
Dolan
Liam
Meade
1977 Joe
Dolan
Gerry
Kelly
David
Scott
Tony
Newman
Jim
Mullally
  Frankie
McDonald
Ben
Dolan
Liam
Meade
78-79 Joe
Dolan
Gerry
Kelly
Pat
Hoye
Tony
Newman
Jim
Mullally
  Frankie
McDonald
Ben
Dolan
Liam
Meade
83-85 Joe
Dolan
Joe
Meehan
Pat
Hoye
Tony
Newman
Jim
Mullally
Ray Dolan
(Ben's son)
Frankie
McDonald
Ben
Dolan
Liam
Meade
86-99 Joe
Dolan
Joe
Meehan
Adrian
Dolan
Tony
Newman
Jim
Mullally
Ray
Dolan
Frankie
McDonald
Ben
Dolan
 

*from Julie Boyd's column Nov 14th, 1974

Discography (partial list)

The Answer To Everything - #4 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.15681 - August, 1964
 
I Love You More And More Everyday
- #3 Irish Charts   
Pye Records - 7N.????? - February, 1965  

My Own Peculiar Way
- #2 Irish Charts   
Pye Records - 7N.????? - July, 1965  
Aching Breaking Heart
- #2 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.17003 - November, 1965  
Two of a Kind - #10 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.17??? - May, 1966  
Pretty Brown Eyes
- #1 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.17152 - July, 1966     
I'll Sit On Your Doorstep / The Jolly Tinker

Pye Records - 7N.????? - August, 1966    
The House With The Whitewashed Gable / Work Day Blues
- #1 Irish Charts  
Pye Records - 7N.????? - January, 1967    
Tar And Cement
/ The Time Of My Life - #3 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.????? - July, 1967    
Love Of The Common People
/ The World Is Going Mad
- #8 Irish Charts  
Pye Records - 7N.17484 - February 24, 1968    
The Westmeath Bachelor
 
Pye Records - 7N.????? - October, 1968    
Make Me An Island / If You Care A Little About Me
- #2 Irish Charts [#3 UK Charts]
Pye Records - 7N.17738 - April, 1969  
Teresa / My First Love
- #1 Irish Charts [#20 UK Charts]
Pye Records - 7N.17833 - September, 1969  
You're Such A Good Looking Woman / Something Happens
- #4 Irish Charts [#17 UK Charts]
Pye Records - 7N.17891 - January, 1970  
It Makes No Difference
- #11 Irish Charts  
Pye Records - 7N.17978 - August, 1970
The Boola Boola / Make Me Smile
Pye Records - 7N.????? - December, 1970
Sometimes A Man Just Has To Cry / Friend In A Bottle
Pye Records - 7N.45060 - 1971
Take The Money and Run
- #19 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.45145 - June, 1972
Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller - #14 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.45330 - December, 1973
16 Brothers
Pye Records - 7N.45412 - 1974   
The Most Wanted Man In The U.S.A.
- #12 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.45451 - November, 1974      
Lady In Blue / My Darling Michelle

Pye Records - 7N.45??? - June, 1975   
Crazy Woman

Pye Records - 7N.45??? - September, 1975  
Sister Mary
- #2 Irish Charts
Release Records - May, 1976     
You Belong To Me Baby
Pye Records - 7N.45??? - November, 1976  
I Need You / Caterina Ballerina
- #1 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.45702 - May, 1977  
Don't Ever Change Your Mind / Bonjour Madamoiselle
Pye Records - 7N.46111 - June, 1978     
My Love
- #27 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.46??? - May, 1979  
More And More
- #1 Irish Charts
Ritz Records - RITZ 19 - 1979  
Silent Night
- #2 Irish Charts
Release Records - December, 1979  
It's You, It's You, It's You - #3 Irish Charts
Release Records - August, 1981  
It's Only Make Believe
- #13 Irish Charts
Ritz Records - March, 1982  
Deeper and Deeper
- #10 Irish Charts
Ritz Records - October, 1983   

Audio Clips

       

Joe Dolan
You're Such a Good Looking Woman

Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?   (Coming Soon)

Joe Dolan - RIP: Sadly, Joe Dolan passed away on December 26, 2007 at the age of 68. As the era's most successful showband artist, Joe was performing until shortly before his death.
Ben Dolan: Ben continues to carry on the Joe Dolan legacy after Joe's death in 2007. He regularly tours with the Joe Dolan tribute show which includes the live band backing Joe on video and has been successfully touring the country over the past few years.   
Eddie Deehy:. Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Sean Connolly:. Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Charlie McMorrow:. Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Jimmy Horan: Jimmy, along with most of the band, left the Drifters in 1968 to form the Times which he stayed with until the early 80's when the band finally called it quits. Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Sid Aughey: Like the others, Sid left the Drifters in 1968 to form the Times which he stayed with until around 1971 when he left the stage to manage the band. He also managed the fortunes of the Swarbriggs Brothers through the late 1970's.  Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Des Doherty: Like the others, Des left the Drifters in 1968 to form the Times which he stayed with until they broke up in the early 80's. In 2008, we know that Des "Doc" was part of the Tennessee Country Breakdown Band, along with Vinnie Baker, which played regular gigs in the Midlands, although we are unsure whether they are still going today Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Tommy Swarbrigg: Tommy left the Drifters in 1968 to form the Times with brother Jimmy. After 7-8 years in the road, the Swarbrigg Brothers left the Times and formed their own band which was initially called Winter, a name which did not stick. In 1975 the Swarbriggs represented Ireland in Eurovision with "That's What Friends Are For." In 1976, they came 5th in the Irish contest with "The Way of Love." In 1977, they won the Irish national Song Contest again with "It's Nice To Be In Love Again" as The Swarbriggs plus Two (Alma Carroll and Nicola Kerr). Today, Tommy has become one of the top music promoters in Ireland, and runs a variety of events including the Ronan Collins Showband Show which features many of the top performers of the showband era. 
Joey Gilheaney: Like the others, Joel left the Drifters in 1968 to form the Times which he stayed with until around 1979 when the Times reduced their numbers from a six piece to five piece. Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Gordon Coleman: Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Pat Hoye: Pat now lives in Boston, MA.
Maurice Walsh: Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Ciaran McDonnell - RIP: We received an email in Feb, 2012 from Lisa Noble telling us Kieran was a priest at St Augustines Parish, Leam Lane. Gateshead. Sadly, however, Fr. McDonnell passed away May 20th, 2012.  
Frankie McDonald: After leaving the showband scene, he played with his family groups, ‘Route 101’ and ‘The Showband Show’, and very recently himself and his music colleague, Ricey Scully, have been playing many venues as part of a brass and singing duo, called the Entertainers. Recently the duo has been joined by Athlone trombone player, Chuck Daly. They play regularly as part of Brendan Grace's touring team when he is in Ireland.
Seamus Shannon: After leaving the Drifters, Seamus became one of the foremost trad musicians in Ireland. He spent five years hosting The Rambling House programme on Mid West Radio in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo. It was a live weekly session based around a fireplace, with conversation, songs and music from visiting guests. When Seamus moved to Athlone he began presenting a Sunday afternoon programme on Shannonside Radio, offering a wide variety of music and an occasional live guest. Today, he plays regularly with guitarist P.J. Murrihy..
Kevin Cowley: Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Mick Bagnell: We read online in a chat forum about Athlone that Mick had been in America for many years but in 2011 had returned to Athlone.  Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Liam Meade: Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Jimmy Walsh: Unknown - if you have info please email us 
David Scott: Dave recently sent us an email to say he is currently the Chief Information Officer with the Dublin Institute of Technology and he stills plays from time to time.   
Gerry Kelly: Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Tony Newman - RIP: Tony sadly passed away in 2000. 
Jim Mullaly: Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Joe Meehan: Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Ray Dolan: Unknown - if you have info please email us 

 

Click here to visit Joe's website at www.joedolan.com


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In Loving Memory of Grant Gallagher: Sept. 21, 1990 - Nov. 18, 2006