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
	English, Jimmy*		Bass/Fiddle	Des Smith & The Collegemen (sadly passed away)
	Fahy, Jerry*	Tuam, Co. Galway	Vocals	Jerry Fahy & The Fleet (Jerry sadly passed away-John Baird) Jerry was also the drummer with the Niagra Showband. After the Fleet he emigrated to Canada where he formed a country band called Branded Man. He was tragically killed in a car accident while living in Canada. (From John Baird).
	Falahee, Mick	Limerick	Sax	Berwyn Showband, Donie Collins Band (Mick sadly passed away)
	Fallon, Bernie	Sligo, Co. Sligo	Drums	St. Mary's Ceili Bandshow, Smokey Mountain Ramblers, Rocky Tops (Bernie sadly passed away on 23rd October, 2007) Bernie was an original member and drummer with The Smokey Mountain Ramblers and The Rocky Tops. He started his career playing with the St. Mary's Ceili Bandshow before joining Pat Ely's band in the mid 1960's, along with long time band mate Tommy Higgins. After leaving the showband scene in the early 70's Bernie played the Sligo pub scene for many years before retiring from playing several years ago.
	Farrell, Paddy*	Laytown, Co. Westmeath	Guitar	Dermot O'Brien's Clubmen, Dee Jays Showband (sadly Paddy passed away)
	Faulkner, Jimmy	Dublin, Co. Dublin	Guitar	Floating Dublin Blues Band, Session musician (sadly Jimmy passed away March 4, 2008) Although never in  showband, Jimmy was one of Ireland's finest guitar players. He started out on the Dublin group scene in the late 1960's but soon gravitated towards jazz and traditional music. He played on albums and toured with a wide variety of artists including Paul Brady, Christy Moore, Ronnie Drew, Don Baker, and many more.
	Fay, Cel*	Belfast, Co. Antrim	Trumpet	Senators Showband (sadly Cel passed away - Mike McVicker)
	Fearon, Brian	Dungannon, Co. Tyrone	Bass	Brendan Hughes & The Huskeys (Brian sadly passed away - Colum McCaffrey)
	Finlay, Brian*	Co. Cavan	Drums	Mighty Avons (Brian sadly passed away in December, 2002)
	Fisher, Sammy*	Ramelton, Co. Donegal	Guitar	Envoys Showband (Sammy sadly passed away)
	Fitzgerald, Richie	Bundoran, Co. Donegal	Accordion	Richie Fitzgerald Ceili Band (Richie sadly passed away in February, 2007) Along with Dermot O'Brien, Richie was one of the true stars of the Irish entertainment scene before the domination of the showbands in the 1960's. Along with his sister Kathleen, he was also one of the top recording stars of the Ceili era in the 1950's. After leaving the road, Richie opened the popular Fitzgerald's Music Centres, of which there were nine across Ireland and England in the 1980's. He continued to perform with his brother Barney from time to time until his passing.
	Fitzpatrick, Paul	Newry, Co. Down	Keyboards	Dreams (20 year old Paul was killed in a motorcycle accident-Sept, 1979) Paul had been keyboard player and vocalist with the Newry based pop band, The Dreams for two and a half years and was a promising young talent on the music scene in the North. He was killed on his motorcycle at Meigh, Co. Armagh.
	Fleming, Victor		Trombone	Clipper Carlton Showband (Victor sadly passed away)
	Flynn, Brendan	Tuam, Co. Galway	Sax	Johnny Flynn Showband (John Baird tells us Brendan sadly passed away)
	Flynn, Johnny	Tuam, Co. Galway	Keyboards	Johnny Flynn Showband, Johnny Flynn Sound (Johnny sadly passed away)
	Fogarty, Mick	Cashel, Co. Tipperary	Trumpet - Band Leader	Mick Fogarty Showband, Southern Stars (Mick sadly passed away)
	Frawley, John*	Limerick, Co. Limerick	Vocals	Monarchs Showband (passed away June 27, 1989) John was a male nurse before joining the Monarchs in 1963. He was born in 1942 and grew up in Limerick and Dublin. He sang at his first concert when he was 11 and came from a very musical family. He sadly passed away in 1989 at the age of only 47. As far as we know, he only released one single with the Monarchs, Pearly Shells, in 1967.
	Fullard, Cyril	Tuam, Co. Galway	Sax	Galway Blazers, Raindrops, Philosophers, Olly Maloney Showband (Cyril sadly passed away February 27, 2008 - Sandra Clancy)
	Gallagher, Davy			Paddy Cole Superstars (Davy sadly passed away  - Eugene McColgan)
	Gallagher, Francie*	Stewartstown, Co. Tyrone	Drums	Malachy Doris Trio (Francie sadly passed away - Eddie Doris)
	Gallagher, Jimmy*	Derry, Co. Derry	Sax	Lakewood Swingtette, Mighty Rhythm Boys (Jimmy sadly passed away -John Baird)
	Gallagher, Johnny	Donegal		Margo and the Keynotes (Johnny passed away in early May, 2005)
	Gallagher, Rory	Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal	Guitar/Vocals	Fontana Showband, (became Impact Showband) (sadly passed away in 1995)
	Gavin, Seamus	Castlebar, Co. Mayo	Bass	Brose Walsh Orchestra (passed away in February, 1998)
	Geraghty, Tony*	Kimmage, Co. Dublin	Guitar	Miami Showband (killed by terrorists on July 31, 1975)
	Gilmore, Colm	Kircubbin, Co. Down	Vocals	Colm & the Sundowners (Colm's niece Aine, wrote to let us know that Colm sadly passed away August 19, 1997)
	Graham, Ernie*		Guitar/Vocals	Telstars, The People, Eire Apparent (sadly passed away in 2001 - M.Niblett)
	Griffin Liam		Drums	Johnny Quigley All Stars (Liam sadly passed away on the 26th of February, 1992 - Philip Walker)
	Gunner, Jim	Wexford, Co. Wexford	Guitar	Dave Glover Showband, Swingtime Aces (a.k.a. George Hesse - sadly passed away)
	Hafford, Tommy		Trumpet	Mick Delahunty Band (sadly passed away in May, 2002)
	Halferty, Jimmy	Lavey, Co. Derry	Trombone/ Guitar	Green Angels, Swingtime Aces (Jimmy's Granddaughter, Claire McLaughlin, wrote to tell us Jimmy sadly passed away April 9, 1991)
	Hamilton, Sean*		Bass	Plattermen (sadly passed away on July 19, 2003)
	Hand, Jim		Manager	Capitol Showband, Dermot O'Brien and the Clubmen, Cahir O'Doherty and the Dazzle band, Fureys. (sadly passed away June 16, 1975) Jim, died aged 64 following a long illness, was the guiding light behind many of the country's best known entertainers. He managed the Dubliners, the Capitol Show band and the Fureys. Originally from Drogheda, he was a twin brother of the late Sunday Independent editor Michael Hand.
	Hannon, Frankie	Tuam, Co. Galway	Drums	Johnny Flynn Showband (sadly passed away June 16, 1975)
	Harkin, Brian	Derry, Co. Derry	Vocals	Mighty Avons, Brian Harkin & The Plainsmen (Brian sadly passed away on January 28, 1991)
	Harper, Kevin		Sax	Avonairs Showband (Kevin sadly passed away - Liam O'Reilly)
	Harrington, Robert	Dublin, Co. Dublin	Guitar	Irish Travellers (Robert sadly passed away-Tom Greeley)
	Harrison, William	Derry, Co. Derry	Unknown	Statesiders Showband (William was sadly killed in an auto accident on the way home from a gig on November 21, 1964 with four other members of the band. The Statesiders band was devastated and never reformed-John Baird)
	Haussman, Benno*	Cork, Co. Cork	Drums	Regal Showband, Arrivals Showband (Benno was tragically killed in a boating accident)
	Haverty, Pascal	Dublin, Co. Dublin	Sax	Virginians, Billy Brown Superband, Chessmen (Pascal sadly passed away March 14, 2008)
	Healy, John*		Trumpet	Savoy Swing Seven (John sadly passed away)
	Henchel, Horst*			Odeon Showband (Horst sadly passed away)
	Higgins, Francie*	Tuam, Co. Galway	Sax	Swingtime Aces, Raindrops. Big Time Showband (sadly passed away)
	Higgins, Gerry	Co. Dublin	Vocals	Deep Set, Creoles, Chimes, Caroline Crew (passed away in 2002)
	Hutchinson, Brendan*	Omagh, Co. Tyrone	Vocals	Navak Showband, Lightning Express (Brendan, Shay's brother, sadly passed away - John Baird)
	Hutchinson, Shay*	Omagh, Co. Tyrone	Vocals	Melody Aces (Shay sadly passed away January 17, 2004)
	Inglesby, Gene	Trim, Co. Meath	Banjo/Guitar	Cotton Mill Boys, Nevada (Gene sadly passed away January 4, 1990)