The largest digital showband archive in the world!
Based In Sligo, Ireland / email:
showbands@gmsproductions.com
With thanks to Irish Newspaper Archives:
https://www.irishnewsarchive.com
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Sad
news today that Robin Greer, formerly of the Snowdrifters Showband
has passed away in Canada. Originally from Moneymore, Co. Derry,
Robin started his career as a school teacher before joining the
Snowdrifters in the 1960's. His career on the Irish scene was short
as in 1972 he emigrated to Canada where he remained until his death.
Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends both
in Ireland and Canada.
Sad
news from community member John Harrold that Mick Moloney of the
Johnstons, has passed away at his home in Manhattan, New York at the
age of 77. Born in Limerick, Mick joined the Johnstons (which also
featured Adrienne and Lucy Johnston and eventually Paul Brady) in
1967. Mick replaced Michael Johnson and stayed with the group for
over five years. In 1973, he emigrated to the United States where he
lived until his death. He became an American citizen as well and
carried on playing Irish music across the USA. Mick spent his entire
life in the United States promoting Irish music and folklore and was
an instrumental proponent as well as author, teacher and performer.
Our sincere sympathies are extended to family members in Limerick
and Ireland as well as the United States
Sad
news from Teddie Palmer that Harry "Trixie" Hamilton passed away
after a "short, sudden" illness on July 25th in Belfast. He was 90
years old. Harry started his career in the late 1940s, we think with
the Fred Hanna band. Over the years he was bass player with Dave
Glover (one of the first "showbands" as well as Johnny Quigley and
the Witnesses. His son, Harry, said, "what I think my father’s chief
accomplishment is his work with the Northern Ireland Musicians’
Association, where he was general secretary for over 20 years."
Harry will be deeply missed by his wife Patricia McKeown, daughters
Elaine and Cecile, son Harry and grandchildren and great
grandchildren. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family,
friends and fans around the country. 
Sad
news today from community member John Harrold that Dave Traynor
passed away on July 18th. Dave started his career playing sax with
Dublin's Uncle Ham beat group. He soon joined the ranks of
the showbands with one of the earliest line-ups of Cahir O'Doherty's
Gentry in 1969. In January 1971, he was listed in the
Evening Herald as having joined Roly Daniels Green County,
but a month later he appears to have joined Margo's band, the
Country Folk. He remained with the band until they called it
quits sometime around 1976. He then moved over to become a part of
Jim Farley's Big Band in the late 1970s (we think). A check of our
newspaper archives suggests Dave might have been with Jim Farley
prior to joining the Gentry and was with Stage Two for a short time.
We will attempt to find out more. Our sincere sympathies are
extended to his family and friends in Dublin and around the country.
Sad
news from former bandmate Frank Mangan that Gerry Ryan has passed
away. Gerry started his life as an apprentice cabinet maker but soon
turned to music. He was an original member of Sean Dunphy's
Hoedowners on bass. He left the band in 1966 to join the Caroline
Showband which eft Ireland near the end of the 1960s and tour the
UK. Gerry returned to Dublin but in 1984 he emigrated the the USA,
returning to his original trade as a carpenter. Our sincere
sympathies are extended to his wife, Elizabeth and son Barry, as
well as family, fans and friends both in Ireland , the UK and United
States. 
Sad
news from several sources today including Teddie Palmer, that Willie
Loughrey, better known in the ballrooms as Rock Stewart has sadly
passed away. Although the history of Willie's early involvement with
the Plattermen is a little confusing, it appears he joined the band
after a stint with the Playboys in May, 1975. However, it was also
recorded that in 1977 after the band was off the road for a time, he
approached the Plattermen's former management and secured the rights
to use the famous band's name. So was born Rock Stewart who would
thrill audiences for the next few decades with his antics on stage
with characters such as Rasputin, Dracula, and others. He was often
carried onto the stage in a coffin. Although a late comer to the
scene, he endured until the recent past as one of the era's top
entertainers, especially in the northern half of the country. Our
sympathies are extended to his family, friends and fans across the
country.
Sad
news today from John Harrold of our community who wrote to tell us
Blarney's own Donal Ring, one of the legends of the Ceili world has
passed away. Starting his own band back in 1958, Donal, 86, might
have come a little later than many of the Ceili bands, coinciding
with the start of the showband era in the late 1950s. However, over
the next sixty years his name and that of the Ring family became
synonymous with the best in Ceili music. Over the years more than
sixty different musicians were part of the band, but in later years
he was joined by his children: Donal Jr., Dermot, Mary, and Breda
Ring making it truly a family affair. As late as 2018, the band was
playing a weekly gig in the Blarney Woolen Mills hotel. Our sincere
sympathies are extended to the Ring family, their many fans and
friends around the world.
Sad
news today from several members of our community that Joey Gilheaney
of the Drifters and the Times has passed away. Before his 16trh
birthday he joined his uncle's band, the Red Sunbeam on trombone.
Soon, he was an original members of the Drifter, featuring in Joe
Dolan's brass section. After seven years, along with most of the
band, Joey left to become a founding member of the Times Showband
which featured Tommy and Jimmy Swarbrigg.