Country and Western Band Photos (D through H) - 113 photosClick on letters for sorted photos A-C D-H I-L M-P Q-Z Big Tom On this page, we pay tribute to the hundreds of country bands that entertained Irish audiences back in the "good old days." After the steam ran out of the showband engine, bands generally disbanded or regrouped as either "pop" or "country." In the beginning, the bands played the same circuit as the ballrooms were large enough to accommodate alternating pop and country nights outfits without affecting attendance. However, as the ballroom crowds shrunk and more hotels got into the dance business, the gigs got more specialized, further increasing competition among the bands. "Country music" nights became a regular feature of hotels and clubs around the country. Country acts also found it easier to move into the cabaret scene. While discos appealed to the young crowds, in the end, it was the country segment of the industry that survived the longest. Most likely, this was because of the broader appeal of country music to an aging audience. One of the most unusual aspects of the Irish country scene was the "invention" of a new musical style particular to Ireland, dubbed "Country and Irish." With the success of artists like Big Tom, Margo, Larry Cunningham, Philomena Begley, and others, this new style of bastardized country music took the dancing public by storm, while also creating a divide between those that enjoyed the new music and those that preferred their country music on the "western" side. As American country music (on which the Irish model had been based) continued to morph through the seventies and eighties, the Irish version remain relatively unchanged, causing some critics to further deride the music as unoriginal and without merit. If anyone takes exception to having these photos exhibited on our website, please let us know and we'll remove them immediately. Thanks. By the way, if you know where any of these bands are today, please click here. Acknowledgements: Our special thanks to Shaun Magee, Dick Lynott, David Dwane, Anthony Grace, Francis Kennedy, Teddie Palmer, Jan Lynch, Kathleen Smith, Declan Colgan, Peter Kinsey, Joe Dodd, Brian "Shorty" O'Kane, Andy Monk, and Alan Carr for additional photos. All photos are identified with contributor's initials (see full details at bottom of page). Click on a thumbnail photo to see a full size image and additional information.
(AG) - Photos contributed by Anthony Grace |
