Hustlers Showband Story (1964-1968)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Editor's note: Every care
has been taken to present only factual information in this story
based on newspaper and photographic
archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story,
please email us and let us know.
The Hustlers Showband was formed in early 1964 by manager
Kevin Duffy and Dominick Waters. The
seven piece Dublin -based outfit was led by bandleader and guitarist
Tommy Deegan, along with Gerry Marry (vocals), Dominick Waters
(guitar), Peter Kelly (bass), John O'Reilly (drums), Brian Galvin
(keyboards) and Liam Moody (sax). Based on the newspaper adverts we
could find, in their early days they were playing mostly in and
around Dublin in placed like Lawlor's, Naas and Swords.
By mid 1965 we found adverts for
the band further afield in places like Waterford, Kilkenny and in
Northern Ireland so we know they were "spreading
their wings" at that stage. A few months later, the band was playing
across the four provinces of Ireland from Omagh to Cork and Dublin
to Galway. An article in November, 1965 (see below) reported that
the band had a new leader singer, named Mike Mullen, who was the son
of the Dublin Labour TD.
By late 1966, we know the band had
changed managers to J. Doyle and had a new lead singer, Brian Rock,
brother of top showband star Dickie Rock. Unfortunately we do not
know when these changes occurred. In August, 1967 it was reported
that Brian would be filling in for Dickie with the Miami for a short
time as Dickie travelled to a European festival to sing. We don't
know what the Hustlers did for a singer that week. The additional
Dickie Rock's brother seemed to help boost the band's status.
A short blurb in the Evening
Herald on November 16th, 1968 reported that the band had split
up and we could find no adverts for them after that. A band would
appear in the Kerry area in the late 1970's using the same name, but
we doubt very much that they had anything to do with the original
band.
Like so many band of the era, the
Hustlers came on the scene, played for a few years and then
disappeared.
click on thumbnails for full image
