Woodchoppers Showband Story (1963-1966)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
(Our thanks to Pat Crossan
for information)
Although we have been able to discover the band went on the road in
early 1963 and was disbanded in September, 1966, we have been able
to find little else about the Woodchopper's history. We know that
Bill "Willie" Bradley was the leader and sax player and that he
joined the renamed Bankers Showband (formerly the Barristers) in
late 1966. We also know that when the Bankers disbanded two years
later, Bill mentioned getting the Woodchoppers back together but
this apparently never happened.
We have been able to cobble
together quite a few names of the of the band's line-ups, but are
unsure of when they joined and left the group. We understand that
lead singer Dickie McManus left the band in 1965 and was replaced by
Frankie Molloy (or possibly Johnny Patterson). Dickie then emigrated
to the United States and sadly passed away in Boston in 2003.
They also released at least one
single, Walk On Boy with Close Your Eyes in 1965, we
think after Frankie Molloy joined the band. We have also found
online information that Jim Toland, Johnny Patterson, Tommy Wright
and Joe McCool have all sadly passed away.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
