Swingtime Aces Showband (1957-1972)

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

The Story

The first mention of the Swingtime Aces we have found was an advert in the Connaught Tribune from October 20th, 1957 announcing the first visit of "John Moore, Claregalway, and his Swingtime Aces." A month later they were back in the same hall and this time featuring "Jeff Vines and his trumpet." For the next few months, the band was playing local dances but all within a few miles of Claregalway in places like Cortoon and Corrandulla. By May of 1958, they had started to spread their wings playing the Savoy Ballroom in Claremorris, Co. Mayo and the Classic Ballroom in  Gort, Co. Clare. By the end of 1958, they were now featuring Derek Kennedy, vocalist.

By May, 1959 the band was being advertised a a "ten piece band," but had still not been able to break much outside of the far west of the country. This was a little strange as all the photos we have of them show a line-up of 6-7 members with only one showing 8 members. As far as we can tell, the band made its Dublin debut in the Top Hat, Dun Laoghaire on "guest night" in early January, 1960. After this, they started playing regularly in the capitol city. It appears from reports in newspapers that the band turned "professional" around this time (which meant they quit their day jobs to play music full time). During this period the band was always advertised as being from Galway (as opposed to Athenry which would be their official home). 

In January 1964, Jim Gunner and Jackie Flavelle left and joined up with the Dave Glover Showband which had undergone quite a few changes at that time.  It appears Grant Curran (real last name Curror) was brought in on lead guitar and Billy Carson switched from rhythm to bass guitar. 

In 1966, the band had new line-up with only Jimmy and Derek remaining. This included Norman Payne (vocals), Joe Bernie (sax), Pat Hoye (bass), Mick Guinnane (trumpet) and Bob Madden on guitar. In an interview with the Evening Herald on April 15th, 1967, Jim Reilly said the band were planning to release their first record, but this never happened.    

In October, 1966 new lead vocalist Norman Payne sang one of the entries in the Castlebar Song Contest.

Around October 1967 the band appeared to change its name to the Swingtimes (but it wouldn't stick for long) and Jerry O'Neill became the band's new manager.

November 1969 - disbanded

Band went off the road in 1972 and four of the lads formed The Works band which continued to play in local pubs and dancehalls.

Normal and P.J. O'Brien would end up together in the Jim Farley Band in late 1969.

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Martin Rea was playing kbds while I was there but left after about a year to join another band (The Bluebirds ???) up north where he originated from ( I think Cookstown). Naoise Judge was in the band for a while after Martin left (I think ???) on kbds. I don't know who replaced me but Cha Taylor came in on bass at some point as did Frank Donohue gtr, Gearoid O'Dowd on tpt He later went to the Philosophers. Pat Carroll was there for a while with me on kbds /sax he then went to the Apaches later on. Francie Higgins was another guy who passed through. I don't think that there was a mass exodus after I left I don't know when Norman Payne left but I think that I was at Berklee when he absconded . I don't know when the others left as I was either with The Drifters or in the U.S. and was out of touch. Another thought, a guy called Pat Joe O'Brien had been with us on a few gig's singing and playing guitar before I left.I hope that this helps solve the problem and if you need more info I will try to retrieve it. Regards Patrick. P.S Francis Kennedy also played gtr for a while .

Discography

Never released a record

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?