Gentry Story (1966-1974)

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

The Story

Northern band, The Gentry, had been one of the best known groups on the Dublin beat scene for several years when in May 1968, they actually tried to change their name to The Nobility, but apparently it never really stuck, although it was still in use 6 months later. They also announced their new single, Sing Me A Sad Song was being released by CBS as well (however, we think this may have been delayed for up to a year). The original lineup of the band included: Cahir O'Doherty (vocals), Seamus Caulfield (drums), Ronny Souter (bass) and Norman Lindsay (guitar).

In September, 1968 Pat Egan reported in his Beat column that the band had split up. Manager Larry Mooney reported at the time that he hoped Cahir would be forming another group. There was also a fear that their re-recorded single, Sing Me A Sad Song, may not be released. At the time, they were one of the most popular groups in Dublin. However, news of their breakup was apparently not true as a short time later the band appeared on RTE's Like Now series. 

By early December, 1968 Pat Egan was reporting the band were "the only Northern group the young kids in Dublin really want to know about," adding, "Cahir is a great favourite with almost everybody." He also reported that the band was now being managed by Ollie Byrne. In early 1969. Pat reported that Gerry Neill, keyboard player with the band, was leaving. Charismatic lead singer Cahir O'Doherty had good looks and talent, but the group never quite made it out of the beat group scene.    

In April, 1969, Pat reported the group had split (yet again), but hinted that a new showband may be in the works. Bass player Billy Boyd went to join the Orange Machine. A month later they announced they were becoming a showband. Heralded as a new mod "super showband-group," they 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. At this point Jim Hand was managing the band.

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 Pharaoh in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. While still playing his role as Pharaoh, Cahir launched the Dazzle Band and like Teddie Palmer in the North, he joined the Garry Glitter set. We can find no adverts for the band playing dances after 1974. 

We are pretty sure that was the end of the band, however in December, 1979, The Gentry name started to pop up once again in dance adverts from around the country (see below). The name had been by a four piece pop/rock group from Drogheda called "Demented." The band had been on the road four years before deciding to try and make it on the ballroom scene using the Gentry name.

In an article by Con Downing we did uncover the fact that by 1980, Cahir O'Doherty had already emigrated to Florida where he was playing the pub scene.      

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Discography

Walk On Water
Unknown Label - Unknown - March., 1968
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 / Attempted Contact
Dolphin Records - DOS.71 - August, 1970
How Do You Do / Lonely But Free
Phillips Records - 6156-003 - June, 1972
Let It Shine / Keep Playing That Rock n' Roll
Phillips Records - 6156-004 - September, 1972

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?