Musicians Directory: In Memory
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It is a sad fact that we are all getting older far too
quickly. Since the Showband Era started 45 years ago, many of the musicians who
made up it's ranks are advancing in age. We take this opportunity to pay tribute
to the many stars on whom the curtain has come down all too soon.
If you would like pay tribute to someone by adding them to
this list,
click here to
let us know.
If the last name is highlighted, click on it
for more info!
We are trying to get photos of all musicians here. Please let
us know if you have one, we especially would like photos from the showband era.
|
Photo |
Last, First |
Home Town |
Instrument(s) |
Bands |
 |
Ainscough,
Peter* |
Clondalkin,
Co. Dublin |
Drums |
Express Showband, Louis Stewart Trio
(passed away October 23, 2004) |
 |
Aylward,
Jim |
Carrick On Suir,
Co. Tipperary |
|
Cowboys Showband
(Jim sadly passed away March 6, 1991) |
 |
Barrett,
Noel |
Ballina,
Co. Mayo |
Guitar |
Abilene Showband, Fairways
(Noel sadly passed away) |
 |
Barton,
Johnny |
Drogheda,
Co. Louth |
Drums |
Dermot O'Brien's Clubmen, Tigermen
(Johnny sadly passed away Apr 5, 2007 - Liam Reilly)
Johnny started his career with the Flying Carlton
in Drogheda , joining Dermot O'Brien's Clubmen in 1963. The band and
Dermot parted company for a few years with Johnny , Eamonn Campbell ,
Timmy Regan and Willie Healy forming the Tigermen. They rejoined Dermot
a couple of years later and Johnny and the late Derek McCormack
remained with Dermot as the Dermot O'Brien Trio until Dermot moved to
the USA - Liam Reilly |
 |
Bates,
Syd |
|
|
Syd Bates Orchestra
(Syd sadly passed away in early March, 2008 - from his son,
Jim. )
Syd emigrated to New Zealand in 1985, but returned to Ireland in
2007 at the age of 84 |
 |
Berkenheier,
Ernie |
Rathfarnham,
Co. Dublin |
Bass |
Pat Lynch and the Airchords
(Ernie sadly passed away in July, 2004) |
 |
Birch,
Bo* |
Belfast,
Co. Antrim |
Vocals |
Grenadiers Showband
(Bo's daughter Jacqueline recently wrote us to let us know that
Bo sadly passed away on November 5th, 1996) |
 |
Bogle,
Martin |
|
Manager |
Memories
(sadly passed away in August 1995 - Ken Bogle) |
 |
Bourke,
Jeff |
Urlingford,
Co.
Tipperary |
Drums |
Tweed,
Kenny Ryder Band
(Jeff sadly passed away in Nov., 2006)
|
 |
Brennan,
Frankie |
Tubbercurry,
Co.
Sligo |
Guitar |
Clefonaires Showband, Montrose
(Frankie sadly passed away in Oct., 2003)
He was a guitar player and singer with the Clefonaires Showband
for some years and later joined the Montrose
Showband that featured in the Showband Show on RTE |
 |
Brown,
Billy |
Ballymena,
Co. Antrim |
Keyboards |
Billy McFarland, Freshmen, Brown & O'Brien, Billy Brown Band
(passed away in 1999)
Billy was one of the true pioneers of pop music in Ireland, guiding
the Freshmen in the late 60's when Irish pop was still very much
a part of the showband scene in the ballrooms and dancehalls.
Their album, Peace On Earth, still stands as one of the best Irish
pop records ever made. Billy went on to become one of Ireland's
top song
writers and record producers before his untimely
death. |
 |
Browne,
James |
Kiltimagh,
Co. Mayo |
|
Pete Browne's Band of Renown, Sundowners
(passed away in 2002) |
 |
Browne,
Pete |
Kiltimagh,
Co. Mayo |
|
Pete Browne's Band of Renown, Sundowners
(passed away on November 15, 2001) |
 |
Bryan,
Mike |
|
Guitar |
Classic Showband, Agents Showband,
Fairways
(Mike sadly passed way April 25, 1970) |
 |
Burns,
Billy |
Belfast,
Co. Antrim |
Guitar |
Teddie Palmer Trend, Teddie Palmer & The Rumble Band,
Confederates
(emigrated to Canada with Muriel Day, but returned and sadly
passed
away a few years later). |
 |
Cahill,
Joe |
|
Manager |
Paragon Seven Showband
(sadly passed away in 2000) |
 |
Cahill,
Micky |
Waterford,
Co. Waterford |
Drums |
Derek Joys Showband
(passed away March 16, 2002) |
 |
Cahill,
Theo |
Cork,
Co. Cork |
Sax/Clarinet |
Dixielanders,
Dixies Showband
(passed away July 24, 1988)
Theo, a founding member of the Dixies,
who formed the band
with Joe McCarthy and Sean Lucey in 1954 was with
the band
through its entire career. He tragically passed away after
collapsing during a gig in Achill, Co. Mayo. |
 |
Callaghan,
Colm* |
|
Drums |
Marines Showband
(Colm sadly passed away) |
 |
Campbell,
Eddie* |
|
Guitar/Vocals |
Federals, Stellas,
Greenbeats,
Real McCoy
(passed away in the 70's in Canada) |
 |
Campbell,
Joe* |
Belfast,
Antrim |
Trumpet/Drums |
Presidents Showband,
College Boys
(Joe sadly passed away in 1990 - oiur thanks to his daughter Ciara
for the information) |
 |
Campbell,
Pat* |
|
|
Pat
Campbell Showband, Manager - Dawn Knight & the Casuals
(Pat sadly passed away in late April, 2006) |
 |
Canning,
Aidan |
Co. Mayo |
Trombone |
Savoy Swing Seven, Jack Ruane Showband
(passed away June 26, 1992) |
 |
Cantillan,
Joe |
Limerick
Co. Limerick |
Sax |
Berwyn
Showband
(Brendan O'Loughlin wrote and told us Joe sadly passed away on
June 4, 2007) |
|
 |
Carroll,
Doc |
Ballinrobe,
Co. Mayo |
Vocals |
Band of Renown, Royal Blues
(Doc sadly passed away on May 1, 2005 at the age of 64)
Born in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, Doc came to prominence in Pete
Brown's
Band of Renown and later with the Royal Blues.
Doc was still performing
when he fell ill early in 2005.
He died
on Sunday, May 1 and
was buried in Athlone,
where he lived at
the time of his death.
|
 |
Carson,
Billy* |
|
Bass |
Swingtime Aces, Gerry & The Ohio
(sadly passed away Sept, 2002) |
 |
Carwood,
Mick |
|
Keyboards |
The Others
(Mick passed away in 2002) |
 |
Casey,
Johnny |
|
Keyboards |
Mick
Fogarty Showband
(Johnny sadly passed away - John Fennessy) |
 |
Chambers,
Tony |
Newport,
Co. Mayo |
Sax/band
leader |
Tony Chambers Orchestra
(Tony sadly passed away) |
|
 |
Clarke,
Joe* |
|
Drums |
Witnesses Showband,
Dave Glover Band
(Joe emigrated to Canada where he sadly passed
away in February, 2003 - Mike Arkins) |
 |
Cleary,
Jimmy |
Inchicore,
Co. Dublin |
Vocals |
Blue Clavons,
Melochords
(Jimmy's son Mark wrote us to say his Father sadly passed away
on September 28th, 2007 at the age of 72) |
 |
Cleary,
Johnny |
Rhonda Valley,
Wales |
Guitar |
Jack
Ruane Showband
(Noel O'Neill wrote to tell us Johnny sadly passed away) |
 |
Close,
Dick |
|
Bass |
Cossacks Showband Founder
(sadly passed away in 1998) |
 |
Cole,
Phil |
Dublin,
Co. Dublin |
Sax |
Crickets Showband
(Thomas Harrington wrote to tell us that Phil sadly passed away
a few years ago and we thank Thomas for the photo) |
 |
Coll,
Christy* |
Mullingar,
Co. Westmeath |
Guitar |
Classic Showband
(Patrick Hoye wrote to tell us that Christy sadly passed away in early
April, 2006) |
 |
Colley,
Harry* |
Dublin,
Co. Dublin |
Guitar |
Farmer's Sons
(sadly passed away) |
 |
Collins,
Donie |
Askeaton,
Co. Limerick |
Clarinet/Trmpt |
Donie Collins Band
(Donie sadly passed away in 1987) |
 |
Condon,
Tony* |
Waterford |
Trumpet |
Blue Aces Showband
(Tony sadly passed away) |
 |
Connolly,
St John |
Clontarf,
Co. Dublin |
Guitar |
Greenbeats, Aesop's Fables, Colm Wilkinson Band
(St John sadly passed away in Jan, 2007 - Marie Moore) |
 |
Conway,
Billy* |
Limerick,
Co. Limerick |
Sax/
Keyboards/
Clarinet |
Ascot Showband (our thanks to Billy's son, Brendan)
Billy Conway Band
(Billy sadly passed away in April, 2002) |
 |
Conway,
Mickey |
Magherafelt,
Co. Derry |
Sax |
Green Angels Showband
(Mickey sadly passed away November 17, 2006)
|
 |
Costello,
Philomena |
Tuam,
Co. Galway |
Vocals |
Johnny Flynn Dance Band,
(Phil sadly passed away, she wqas the wife of sax
player Johnny
Costello) |
 |
Coughlan,
Frank* |
Limerick,
Co. Limerick |
Guitar |
Berwyn Showband, Heuston Wells & Trident,
Gerry & The Ohio
(Frank sadly passed away) |
 |
Coughlan,
Pat* |
Cork,
Co. Cork |
Manager |
Manager - Hilton Club in Cork
(Pat sadly passed away in October, 2002 - from his daughter,
Tracy Holland) |
 |
Coyle,
David* |
|
Vocals |
Melody Aces Showband
(passed away November 17, 1983) |
 |
Creagh,
Seamus |
|
Trombone |
Crescent Showband, Coasters Showband, Barristers Showband,
Bankers Showband
(passed away suddenly July 11, 2003 - John Baird) |
 |
Crean,
Johnny |
Ballina,
Co. Mayo |
| |