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The Johnstons Story (1964-74)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

The Johnstons started life as a folk duo back in 1964 when sisters Adrienne and Lucy Johnston started singing. Lucy was just 14 or 15 when they started and Adrienne was 17 (we think). Talking to B.P. Fallon in the September 19, 1968 issue of Spotlight brother Michael said, "Adrienne and Lucy started off together as a duo with Aidey on piano." said Michael. "They did their own versions of current pops like Roses are Red and all the Del Shannon numbers like Searching and Swiss Maid." Michael joined a short time later around mid- 1965 playing guitar. Said Michael, "We used to do stuff like If I Had A Hammer and a country and western version of I Hear A Bluebird Sing."

In February, 1966 the group won the "Festival of Ireland" ballad award in Wexford, beating out the Emmet Folk Group which included future band member Mick Maloney, along with Brian Bolger and Donal Lunny. First prize was £100 while the runners-up received £50. 

The band released it's first single and scored a number one hit with Traveling People a few months later in July of 1966. The success of their first offering made the band a hit on the growing folk and ballad scene in Ireland at the time and they were well on their way. An interesting side note is that the record label itself from Pye said Going Home was the A-side.

In mid 1967 they expanded to a four piece by adding singer and multi instrumentalist from Limerick, Mick Maloney, to the lineup. Mick was a budding traditional player and was soon a dominant musical force in the band. The continued success of the band was assured when their third single, The Curragh of Kildare also made the charts, topping out at number 11.

Moloney also was beginning to become an Irish traditional music virtuoso and authority, an attractive asset to The Johnstons. Moloney quickly established himself as the dominant musical force within the Johnston guitarist Mick Maloney to the ranks to help fill out their on stage sound.  However, the advert for the record The Curragh of Kildare publish in Spotlight on May 24th, 1967 shows Mick Maloney with the band along with Michael and his sisters, not Paul Brady. 

One way or another, a short time later, it appears there were some disagreement between Michael and his sisters (as reported in Spotlight magazine by Shay Healy on January 11, 1969). Michael left the band and a story was released to help smooth over the change by saying Michael had left to return to life as a farmer. Paul Brady, who had been standing in with Sweeney's Men was offered the spot with the Johnstons. Although Paul would later become one of Ireland's top song writers, he was not writing material for the band. The group went from strength to strength and their music seemed to slowly shift from Irish folk to more soft pop as they released Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now in late 1968. 

An article in the November 30th issue of Spotlight suggested the band was considering emigrating as their success started to grow abroad. Their next single, Give A Damn, written by Americans Scharf and Dorough, failed to chart, only their second single not to do so.

The band announced their intention to move to Britain after the Christmas of 1968. Touted by many as Ireland's most talented vocal group, it was thought they would follow the Dubliners into the upper echelons of world wide folk. It was reported that they had been signed by Brian Epstein's company, NEMS.

The band finally relocated to London in early 1969, but Lucy did not make the trip, deciding to remain in Ireland. It was reported in Spotlight that they would be spending nine months of the years touring abroad, spending only short times at home in Ireland. They would stay in England for the next three years, but Lucy would eventually marry showband photographer Roy Esmonde. Later that year, the band released two albums on the same day: The Barleycorn, an album of traditional songs and instrumentals, and Give A Damn, a contemporary records featuring songs by Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and others.

In October, 1971, an article in Spotlight magazine announced that Mick Maloney was leaving the band as he was thinking of going back to college. This left Adrienne Johnston (who had become Mrs. Chris McCloud) and Paul Brady to carry on the group as a two piece, although an article at www.paulbrady.com reported that English musician Gavin Spencer joined the band for a year after Mick's departure, we think this may have been only for stage appearances as picture sleeves of their singles and album showed only Paul and Adrienne. 

Around the end of 1971 or early 1972, the band took off for the United States where they would stay for over two years. During this time they played regularly in the Northeast and were the first act to open the Bottom Line Club in New York City.

In late 1974 Paul left the group (now a duo) to replace Christy Moore in Planxty and, as such, the Johnstons were no more. This left Adrienne to carry on the Johnston's name alone. She released a single, So Long To Dublin, and planned to put together a new band, but this never happened.

Adrienne stayed in the United States with her husband, Chris McCloud. She released a solo album in 1975 and Chris not only produced the album, but had a hand in writing all the songs including several with Paul Brady. The Johnstons did get together for a reunion concert in 1976, but we are unsure what the lineup was, however, they never performed together again. 

Sadly, Adrienne died as a result of a fall in her home in the United States in 1981. She was only 35. Although the circumstances around her death were considered mysterious and there were rumours to the contrary, it was ruled accidental. She is buried in Slane, Co. Meath.    

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

The Johnstons - 1964 (LR) Johnstons - 1965

Johnstons - 1966

The Johnstons - 1966

Johnstons - 1966

The Johnstons - 1966 (LR) Johnstons - 1967

Johnstons - 1968

The Johnstons - 1967

Johnstons - 1969

Adrienne & Mick-67

Johnstons  - 1968

Adrienne Johnston - '66

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1969

Johnstons  - 1969

Johnstons  - 1969

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1969

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1969

Johnstons  - 1969

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1971

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1969

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons  - 1967

Johnstons  - 1968

Johnstons (RF) Johnstons (RF) Johnstons (RF)

Adrienne Johnston - '75

Adrienne Johnston - '75

   

Adrienne Johnston - '74

Johnstons - 1968

Johnstons - 1968

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Years Vocals Vocals Guitar Guitar
1966 Lucy
Johnston
Adrienne
Johnston
Michael
Johnston
 
1967 Lucy
Johnston
Adrienne
Johnston
Michael
Johnston
Paul
Brady
1967 Lucy
Johnston
Adrienne
Johnston
Mick
Maloney
Paul
Brady
Late
1969
  Adrienne
Johnston
Mick
Maloney
Paul
Brady
Oct
1971
  Adrienne
Johnston
  Paul
Brady
Oct
1974
  Adrienne
Johnston
   

Discography

Singles:

Going Home / Traveling People (some confusion over which was the official A-side) - #1 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.17144 - July, 1966
The Alamo / Life Of A Rover
Pye Records - 7N.17205 - late 1966
The Curragh of Kildare / Leaving London - #11 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.17315 - May, 1967
I Will Never Marry / Banks of Claudy - #8 Irish Charts
Pye Records - 7N.17430 - October, 1967
They'll Never Get Their Man / Dublin Jack of All Trades
Transatlantic Records - Unknown - May, 1968
Both Sides Now / Urge For Going - #12 Irish Charts
Transatlantic (Big T) Records - BIG 113 - June, 1968
Give A Damn / Walking Out On Foggy Mornings
Transatlantic (Big T) Records - BIG.116 - December, 1968
My House / The Wherefore and Why
Transatlantic (Big T) Records - BIG 121 - April, 1969
Gleanntain Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair / An Banbh
Gael Linn Records - CES 010 - June, 1969
Streets of London / Spanish Lady
Transatlantic (Big T) Records - BIG 132 - April, 1970
Continental Trailways Bus / The Morning of Our Love
Transatlantic (Big T) Records - BIG 501 - March, 1972
So Long To Dublin / If Poems Died Like Promises
EMI Records - IEMI 5011 - December, 1974

Albums:

Traveling People
Marble Arch Records - MAL 808 - 1968
The Johnstons
Transatlantic Records - TRA 169 - May, 1968
Give A Damn
Transatlantic Records - TRA 184 - 1969
The Barleycorn
Transatlantic Records - TRA 185 - 1969
Bitter Green
Transatlantic Records - TRA 211 - 1969
Colours of the Dawn
Transatlantic Records - TRA 231 - 1970
The Johnstons Sampler
Transatlantic Records - TRA SAM 16 - 1970
If I Sang My Song
Transatlantic Records - TRA 251 - April, 1972

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

Lucy Johnston: Married to photographer, Roy Esmonde and living in Dublin.
Adrienne Johnston - RIP: Sadly, Adrienne died after a fall in 1981 at the age of only 35, it was ruled accidental.
Michael Johnston: Unknown, if you know more, please email us.
Paul Brady: After leaving the Johnstons, Paul spent a brief spell in Planxty before breaking out on his own. His amazing solo career has put him in the International spotlight both as a songwriter and performer. With songs covered by artists as diverse as Santana, Dave Edmunds and Tina Turner, Paul continues to be one of Ireland's greatest artists, selling out tours and new albums around the world.    
Mick Maloney: As well as continuing to perform, Mick holds a Ph.D. in folklore and folk life from the University of Pennsylvania. He has taught ethnomusicology, folklore and Irish studies courses at the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, and Villanova Universities, and currently teaches at New York University in the Irish Studies program and leads the Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra. Half of the year, the Limerick-born Moloney lives in Thailand, where he helps support the Mercy Center, a home for abandoned and orphaned children. .

 


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In Loving Memory of Grant Gallagher: Sept. 21, 1990 - Nov. 18, 2006