Fontana / Impact Showband Gallery (1963
- 1968)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Tracing the history of the Fontana Showband from Cork is made more
difficult by the fact that around the same time they appeared on the
scene (1963) the Fontana Showband from Ballymena had also hit the
road a few months earlier. The Cork band was the one which would feature
fifteen-year-old Rory Gallagher. Unfortunately, most Internet
searches about the band's history have been relegated to that of a
footnote in the story of Rory's career.
Formed in June, 1963, the band made its debut in Tallanstown, Co.
Louth on the 9th of June. The original article announcing the band's
formation called them the Fontana Seven Showband. The original
line-up was: Bernard Tobin (guitar and sax),
his brother, Oliver Tobin (bass), John O'Reilly (drums), John Lehane (sax),
Jimmy Flynn (guitar), Jerome Hodnett (trumpet) and Denis Kiely
(vocals and doubling on trombone). The band was being managed by
Vincent Lally of Dundalk who was reported to have over 20 years of
experience in "dance band and ballroom promotions."
Within a short
time, Jimmy was replaced by Rory Gallagher on guitar. As far as we
can tell, the line-up did not change over the next few years.
Changed name in May, 1965 to the
Impact due to the confusion with so many Fontana's. Used the
tagline, first of the new wave in their adverts.
Summer 1965 tour of American
bases in Spain and UK.
Band carried on and in 1968
featured singer David Laird after (we think) returning from London.
By 1972, John Lehane and Oliver
Tobin were part of local Cork group The Big Four after
spending several years on the east coast of America playing as the
Irish Freedom Fighters. In 1973 Bernard Tobin would take over
management of The Twilight Zone bar in Fermoy, Co. Cork. He was also
in the Irish Freedom Fighters.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
