Roly Daniels and Green County (1971-1975?)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Roly Daniels and Green County were
a band probably a few years in the making, but the logical
culmination of two of the era's superstars who had played together
five years earlier.
Jim Farley started his career as a
member of the Earl Gill Showband playing sax and clarinet. During his years with Earl, he
honed his showband skills and after eight years went out on his own
forming the highly ambitious Jim Farley Band Show around 1964. The eleven piece
band (which also included some additional dancers) was one of the largest bands on the road, but eventually
proved too large for the circuit. The lineup included:
Pat Farmer (trumpet), Des Moore (guitar) Jim Farley (sax), Seamus
McIntyre (trombone), Kevin Brady (drums), Kevin Gregan (bass), Terry Mahon (vocals), Joe McIntyre (RIP-trumpet), Tony
Kearns (sax), Tony Woods (RIP-vocals) and
Danny Pearse (RIP-guitar/vocals). Although it was difficult to manage such a
large outfit, Jim would return to this "big band" idea later in his
career.
Over Easter, 1965, the Band Show
imploded with Joe McIntyre, brother Shay, Tony Woods, and Des Moore
breaking away to from the Express Showband. They added Brendan
O'Loughlin on bass and Peter Ainscough on drums to fill out their
lineup. At the same time, Jim carried on with a smaller lineup,
changing the name of the band the the Jim Farley All Stars. Young
Dessie Reynolds was recruited on drums, Roly Daniels came on board
to sing and Danny Ellis joined on trombone (Danny had previously
been with Liam Hurley in the Airchords). Roly played with Jim for
two years before splitting to join the Nevada.
After about three years on the
road with one of the top showbands of the era, the split between pop
and country was in full swing. Although touted as Ireland's answer
to Tom Jones earlier in his career, Roly was always country at
heart. It was only natural that he should choose the country side of
the tracks and enlisted his old band mate, Jim, to put together a
top class country lineup.
The orignal lineup in 1971
included Francie Hughes (trombone), Paul Duffy
(trumpet/keyboards),
Roly Daniels (vocals),
Dermot Woodfull
(RIP-guitar), Jim Farley
(bandleader/sax), Martin Brannigan (drums) and Barry Scully (bass). The band was
an instant success based on Roly's six years playing with a couple
of the era's top bands. Their first single, Sunny Tennessee, went
straight into the Irish charts, rising to number 11, just outside
the top ten.
A report in Julie Boyd's column in
Spotlight dated March 7, 1974 reported that four members of the
band, Desi McDonnell, Tommy Flaherty, Billy Donaldson and Sean
Gallagher had quit the band. In 1974 Pascal Mooney reported former
Green County member, Sean Flanagan, joined Shelley and the Big
Valley. A report on August 15, 1974 said Maurice Cooney had
quit to join Red Hurley's new band.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
Discography
Singles:
Sunny Tennessee / Sing Me Back Home -
#11 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.577 - April, 1971
My Wild Mountain Rose - #14
Irish Charts
Release Records - October, 1971
Hello Darlin' - #2 Irish
Charts
Release Records - RL.609 - December, 1971
Don't Forget To Say I Love You -
#9 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.653 - September, 1972
Funny Face - #4 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.680 - May, 1973
The Most Beautiful Girl - #2
Irish Charts
Release Records - March, 1974
Albums:
Hello Darlin'
Release Records - SRL.3007 - 1972
Audio Clips
Coming Soon
Where Are They Now?
(More to come)
