Gentry Story (1968-7?)

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

The Story

The five piece Gentry had been one of the best known groups on the Dublin beat scene for several years and in May 1968, they actually tried to change their name to The Nobility, but apparently it never stuck. Charismatic lead singer Cahir O'Doherty had good looks, but the group never quite made it out of the beat group scene until May, 1969 when they announced they were becoming a showband. The band took ex-members of Granny's Intentions and the Fire Brigade and became a seven piece. Managed by Aidan Hand, the band released its first single, Sing Me A Sad Song and took to the ballroom circuit. 

The original lineup of the band was (from Pat Egan's Beat column in Spotlight dated may 10th, 1969): Cahir O'Doherty (vocals), Norman Lindsay (guitar), Greg Donaghy (drums - Granny's Intentions and Blue), Ernie Durkin (bass - Orange Machine and Blue), Scott Mulvey (keyboards - The Movement), Davy Trainor (sax) and Donie Deveney (sax - Good Tymes). 

During the first year on the road as a showband, the lineup underwent a few changes adding Brian Harris (guitar), Shay Murphy (drums) and Gerry Mulryan (trumpet). In August, 1970, they headed to Majorca where they did a six week residency in the Club Jack y Negro which was becoming a more common practice, especially with the "pop" bands on the scene like the Arrows. As of February, 1971, the band's lineup had not changed.

In May, 1972 Kevin McAlea joined the band in place of Scott Mulvey on keyboards. This was just a couple of weeks after Liam McKenna replaced Billy Boyd on bass. A few months later, in October, Skid Row had broken up and drummer Noel Bridgeman had been drifting around London and decided it was time to come home and "join a showband." He spent a few weeks gigging with Sean Dunphy's Hoedowners when the opportunity to join the Gentry came along. Said Noel in a 1972 Spotlight interview, "I couldn't have got a better job than with the Gentry. There's no suit and no haircut and we're playing good music."

In late 1972, Cahir got the part in Jesus Christ Superstar and was heavily involved in the show, first in rehearsals and it's run in Dublin and later in 1973 when the show ran in Cork and again in Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. A few months later, in June, 1973, Brush Shiels announced the reforming of Skid Row and Noel left the band to join his old band mates and was replaced by Brian Donaghy, who at that point had been playing with bands like Alyce and the Crypt. 

An interview with Cahir in October, 1973 in Spotlight revealed that Collette Wilkinson had recently left the band and following her departure the band had undergone a major shakeup. Said Cahir, "Collette was a very individual singer. People would only compare all the time. That's why I changed the band completely, rather than just fill any gaps." At that time, the band became a six piece again.

In 1974 Cahir left the Gentry and for a time was a major player on the Irish stage, taking starring roles in both Jesus Christ Superstar and as Pharoah in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. While still playing his role as Pharoah, Cahir launched the Dazzle Band and like Teddie Palmer in the North, he joined the Garry Glitter set.      

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

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Discography

Sing Me A Sad Song / Attempted Contact
Dolphin Records - DOS.35 - May, 1969
Yellow River / Lonely But Free
Dolphin Records - DOS.56 - January, 1970
The Long Road / Sing Me A Sad Song
Dolphin Records - DOS.71 - August, 1970
How Do You Do
Phillips Records - 6156-003 - January, 1972

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?