April 17, 2018
Irelands King of Country passes
Big Tom McBride, one of the icons of Irish country music, who died today aged 81, will be laid to rest in his home county of Monaghan this Friday. The news follows that of Tom's wife Rose passing away in January. They had been married for more than 50 years.
Born near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, Tom McBride was one of four siblings. He left school in his teens to help out on the family farm and later worked in Scotland and England where he started playing music. He later returned to Ireland and continued to play with the band that was to become The Mainliners.
The band appeared on RTÉ's The Showband Show in 1966 with Gentle Mother and the song became a huge hit, establishing Big Tom and the Mainliners at the forefront of the Irish country scene.
They were huge stars in the 60s and 70s, packing out ballrooms around the country and Big Tom became known as "The King" of Irish country music.
In the late 1970s Big Tom had hits included Four Country Roads and Back to Castleblayney.
In 1980, he was presented with a Gold Award for sales of more than one million records.
He was the first inductee into the Irish Country Music Awards Hall of Fame on RTÉ One in June 2016.
President Michael D Higgins described Big Tom as "one of the most charismatic and influential artists in Irish country music".
Born near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, Tom McBride was one of four siblings. He left school in his teens to help out on the family farm and later worked in Scotland and England where he started playing music. He later returned to Ireland and continued to play with the band that was to become The Mainliners.
The band appeared on RTÉ's The Showband Show in 1966 with Gentle Mother and the song became a huge hit, establishing Big Tom and the Mainliners at the forefront of the Irish country scene.
They were huge stars in the 60s and 70s, packing out ballrooms around the country and Big Tom became known as "The King" of Irish country music.
In the late 1970s Big Tom had hits included Four Country Roads and Back to Castleblayney.
In 1980, he was presented with a Gold Award for sales of more than one million records.
He was the first inductee into the Irish Country Music Awards Hall of Fame on RTÉ One in June 2016.
President Michael D Higgins described Big Tom as "one of the most charismatic and influential artists in Irish country music".
Bridge Of Allan date for Austin based Barbara Nesbitt
Texas based singer-songwriter Barbara Nesbitt returns to Scotland next month, with a date at The Allan Brewhouse, Bridge Of Allan on Thursday May 3rd. Barbara will be supported on this gig by The John Hinshelwood Band.
April 11, 2018
Who I Am - Lisa McHugh
Glasgow born, Irish Country Queen, Lisa McHugh returns with a brand new single, "Who I Am", from her latest album. The song is the theme to "Sue Thomas F.B. Eye" , currenyly being aired on the Drama TV Channel on Saturday nights. The video for the single captures footage of Lisa's Scottish homeland, and her own early life.
Lisa returns to Scotland in September for concerts in Inverness, Oban, Dundee & Dumfries, anda dance at Glasgow's StLukes.
Lisa returns to Scotland in September for concerts in Inverness, Oban, Dundee & Dumfries, anda dance at Glasgow's StLukes.
Michael McMillan
Glasgow based singer, Michael McMillan, has launched his new album, "Cross Country", produced by Graham Duffin. Michaekl will be the guest on this Sunday's Celtic Country programme @ 12 Noon on Celtic Music Radio.
Freddie Fender Biography
'Wasted Days and Wasted Nights: A Meteoric Rise to Stardom' written by Tammy Lorraine Huerta Fender tells the true-life story of her famous father, the late Freddy Fender – The King of Tex-Mex. As only seen through the eyes of Freddy’s daughter, her book expresses in intimate detail his rise to success, heartbreaking fall and final redemption bringing to life the heartfelt memories of a man and family caught in the whirlwind of great fame, and conveys in a compassionate yet forthright manner the shattering addictions that accompanied this fame.
In his youth, in 1956, he was the first to record and sing Spanish rock and roll; he was known as the “Mexican Elvis” and called “El Bebop Kid.” In the mid-1970s, Fender would become famous literally overnight as a Country megastar with his first two monster hits “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” and “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.”
Instantaneously, his records crossed over the Billboard country charts into the rock and pop charts, each rising to No. 1. He was given a Country Music Association award for “Single of the Year” and an Academy of Country Music award as “Most Promising Male Artist” in 1975. His voice and charismatic personality also made him a nationwide television celebrity in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
'Wasted Days and Wasted Nights' takes the reader on a journey which covers Freddy’s early life of brutal poverty as a child migrant worker, his years as a U.S. Marine, the shocking arrest and imprisonment of his early 20s, his barrier-breaking singing career as he exploded into and crossed over different music genres, and the alcohol and drug addiction from which he suffered.
During his last 21 years of sobriety, Freddy sought spiritual redemption, practiced forgiveness and made amends in his daily life; he came to lead by example with the aid of his higher power Jesus Christ. Freddy Fender was known to millions of people across the world as “an ordinary man who had extraordinary God-given talents.”
"Wasted Days And Wasted Nights" is available as an ebook at Amazon @ £11.99
In his youth, in 1956, he was the first to record and sing Spanish rock and roll; he was known as the “Mexican Elvis” and called “El Bebop Kid.” In the mid-1970s, Fender would become famous literally overnight as a Country megastar with his first two monster hits “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” and “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.”
Instantaneously, his records crossed over the Billboard country charts into the rock and pop charts, each rising to No. 1. He was given a Country Music Association award for “Single of the Year” and an Academy of Country Music award as “Most Promising Male Artist” in 1975. His voice and charismatic personality also made him a nationwide television celebrity in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
'Wasted Days and Wasted Nights' takes the reader on a journey which covers Freddy’s early life of brutal poverty as a child migrant worker, his years as a U.S. Marine, the shocking arrest and imprisonment of his early 20s, his barrier-breaking singing career as he exploded into and crossed over different music genres, and the alcohol and drug addiction from which he suffered.
During his last 21 years of sobriety, Freddy sought spiritual redemption, practiced forgiveness and made amends in his daily life; he came to lead by example with the aid of his higher power Jesus Christ. Freddy Fender was known to millions of people across the world as “an ordinary man who had extraordinary God-given talents.”
"Wasted Days And Wasted Nights" is available as an ebook at Amazon @ £11.99
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
