Gene and the Gents
Story
(1964-70)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
The band was formed in 1964, when 4 members of the Enniskillen based
Skyrockets left to start a new band. The members were Paddy
McDermott (sax), Dermot Doherty (trombone), Peter Watson (drums)
and Henry McCullough (lead guitar). They were joined by Tony
Gallagher (rhythm guitar) and Barry Scully (bass guitar).
The Gents advertised for a lead singer. At that time, 21 year old Dushie Chetty had come to Dublin from
his home town of Durban, South Africa
to study law....or so he thought. He was always keen on music and
went regularly to the various dances in
Dublin to hear different showbands. He became
good friends with the members of the Sands who told him to watch the
showband ads for a spot as a lead singer. When he saw the ad for a
band in Enniskillen, he audition and landed the job.
Gene picks up the
story, "Henry suggested
we should be billed as Gene and the Gents, because at that
time bands were advertised as: "The Royal featuring Brendan Bowyer"
or "The Miami featuring Dickie Rock". I think we were the first band
in Ireland with the lead singer named before the band. Before long
most of the bands followed suit!"
The band's
manager, Fergus Sherlock, was the singer with the
Gallowglass Ceili Band, but gave up singing to concentrate on full
time management. Fergus left in 1968 and was replaced by Sam Smyth,
now a well known journalist and TV presenter in the North.
The new band made their debut in the County Hall, Monaghan on St
Patrick’s Day, 1964. Adds Gene, "Three
busloads from Enniskillen traveled to Monaghan to give us support."
Based in Enniskillen, they quickly built up an enormous
following, especially in the North. They were voted among the Top 10
attractions in the North by Spotlight magazine in 1966 and
the top 20 in all of
Ireland.
Henry McCullough left the band in 1966 and was replaced by Pete Cresswell. Henry went on to international fame appearing in bands
such as Wings, Joe Cocker's Grease Band and Dublin Group Eire
Apparent (which also featured
Freshman Tiger Taylor at one point).
Henry may also be the only former Irish "showband" musician to
have appeared at Woodstock.
In 1966, the band released its
first record Puppet On A String, which reached
the Ulster top 10. They followed this up with The Way You
Wrinkle Your Nose / I Came As A Stranger (penned by Barry
Scully) in 1967 and finally C’mon Everybody / Hound Dog
in 1968.
In 1968, Paddy McDermott left the
band to start his won business and he was replaced Malachy (Mal)
Kearns on sax. Mal had previously been with the Green Angels
and was also an excellent singer.
The band continued to do very
well, which Gene attributes to the fact that, "our attraction to the
dancers was our live performances, which was good rock n roll and
pop music."
Also in 1968, the band played
support (as many showbands did in those days) to a top English group
touring Ireland called
Love Affair who had a No 1 hit at the time with
Everlasting Love. Gene takes up the
story...."Unfortunately their live performance was poor, unlike
showbands who were used to playing live! The crowd booed and threw
coins at them and called for us to return to the stage."
The band split up early in 1970 and Gene returned to his studies,
completing a post grad in Business studies. Today he lives and works
in Letchworth(near
Cambridge), as a Management training
consultant. The Gents spoke about a reunion concert 3 years ago but
it did not materialise.
Finally in 2006, Henry McCullough, who has his own
band, invited Gene to guest at his concerts in May. They performed in Enniskillen and Coleraine to a rapturous reception. Gene said
“despite being away from the Irish music scene for nearly 35 years,
I was “truly moved”, by the reception in Enniskillen which was my
home for 6 years. I am now hoping to do 10/12 concerts in
Ireland next year. As Henry is busy
with his tour to Poland, Japan etc., I am trying to get a band
together or team up with an existing band!”
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
 |
Gene Chettty:
Gene
returned to his studies, completing a post grad in Business
studies. Today he lives and works in Letchworth (near
Cambridge) as a Management training
consultant. He recently returned to Ireland to do a few
concerts with Henry McCullough and the response was so good,
he plans to return with his own band in 2007. Gene recently
set up a website at http://www.myspace.com/geneandthegents. |
 |
Henry McCullough:
Henry went on to international fame joining Joe Cocker's
Grease Band and appearing at Woodstock, In the early 70's he
was a member of Paul McCartney's band, Wings. He is till
touring today with his own band. |
 |
Paddy McDermott:
Still living in Enniskillen where he now runs a healthy
living company. Information courtesy Gene Chetty. |
| |
Dermot Doherty: We
understand from Gene Chetty that Dermot now lives in Derry
where he runs a restaurant. |
 |
Peter Watson: Still
living in Enniskillen and Gene Chetty tells us that Pete is
still active teaching drumming in local schools. |
 |
Tony Gallagher: Gene
tells us that Tony is still living in Enniskillen and is
involved in the insurance industry. |
| |
Barry Scully:
Barry
Scully is based in Dublin and has his own band, Bee Bop
Gold, which is in great demand at weddings and corporate
functions. |
 |
Pete Cresswell: Gene
Chetty writes to say that Pete still lives in Enniskillen
and has recently put together his own band to play local
weddings and corporate gigs. |
| |
Malachy "Mal" Kearns:
Gene tells us that after the band broke up, Mal went on to
join Derek and the Sounds in 1970. Mal now lives in Canada
and plays with a local showband there. |
