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Monaco Showband (1964 - 1970?)

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

The Story

The first mention of the Monaco Showband we can find is an advert in the Irish Independent newspaper on September 18th, 1964 saying the band would be taking bookings from "October onwards." Based on the records in newspaper archives, it took the band quite a while to get off the ground as their were far more adverts trying to get the band bookings than for gigs they were playing for several months. The lead singer was Beatrice Reid, the 21-year-old sister of Eileen (the lead singer with the Cadets Showband.) The band was managed by Pat McLoughlin, a former bandleader himself.

The original lineup was: Beatrice Reid (vocals), Fred Byrne (guitar), Paul Keogh (guitar), John Hines (bass), Pat Black (trumpet), "Maxie" Liam McCann (sax), and Kevin Slattery (drums). It would be the summer of 1965 before the band really got going well and by then they were playing and and down the country and doing very well.

We think that around the end of 1966, Beatrice left the band and for a while was replaced by Sandie Jones, who was still at school and was only with the band for a while. She would eventually turn professional when she joined the Royal Earls around 1968.

For the next few years, the band did well as a middle of the road showband, although we can find no record of them releasing a record.  

In 1968, their advert said the band featured "John and Spin Around" as well as announcing a change in management to T.P. Gray of Santry, Co. Dublin.

It appears that by 1970, the band was no longer on the road as we can find no mention of them playing gigs after this time. 

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Monaco - 1964 Monaco - 1965 Monaco (RF) Monaco (RF) Monaco - 1965 (RF)
     
Monaco - 1965 Monaco - 1968 Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
         
Monaco - 1968 Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
Years Vocals Guitar Bass Drums Guitar Sax Trumpet Trombone
Oct
1964
Beatrice
Reid
Fred (Fran?)
Byrne
John
Hines
Kevin
Slattery
Paul
Keogh
Liam "Maxie"
McCann
Pat
Black
Pat
McLoughlin?
1967 Sandie
Jones
Fred (Fran?)
Byrne
John
Hines
Kevin
Slattery
Paul
Keogh
Liam "Maxie"
McCann
Pat
Black
Pat
McLoughlin?
                 
                 
                 

Discography

We don't think the band released any records.

Audio Clips

We don't think the band released any records.

Where Are They Now?  

Beatrice Reid: Unknown, please email us if you have any info about the band.
Fred (or Fran) Byrne: Unknown, please email us if you have any info about the band.
John Hines: Unknown, please email us if you have any info about the band.
Kevin Slattery: Unknown, please email us if you have any info about the band.
Paul Keogh: Unknown, please email us if you have any info about the band.
Liam McCann: Unknown, please email us if you have any info about the band.
Pat Black: Unknown, please email us if you have any info about the band.
Sandie Jones - RIP: Sandie would go on to join the Royal Earls for four years and then onto the Dixies in 1971 before starting her career as a solo artist following her success in the Irish National Song Contest. After leaving the Dixies, Sandie formed her own band, The Boyfriends. She later had the Jones Gang in the late seventies and into the early 80's and continued to enjoy a solo career until the dance scene ended. Sandie moved to the United States and she was featured on a 2012 TV special on the 1972 song contest. Sandie sadly passed away on September 19th, 2019.

 


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In Loving Memory of Grant Gallagher: Sept. 21, 1990 - Nov. 18, 2006