Album Notes

I was manufactured in Ireland just outside Dublin in the early sixties.Things at this time were very grim on the employment side but for some unknown reason things were absolutely blooming on the music and entertainment side. The Irish as a race have been known to turn to music and the arts in hard times.

In fact bands, then known as showbands were cropping up all over the country.These were made up of a four piece band with an added brass section, a piano/organist and usually a non-playing lead singer.The total line-up could comprise of eight or maybe nine people.

It was at this time that my mother begin her own music career.She was already an accomplished pianist and a qualified music teacher.But unfortunately her gigging career was cut short by the arrival of my older sister and later on by me.

We've always had music about our house,if it wasn't my father singing it would surely be some of my uncles,who were known to set up an entire band in our house at our family parties.The whole street would usually join in.

From an early age I would always be banging on whatever I could find,dustbins,paint cans and even on our washing machine.So they bought me a toy drum for peace sake.My sister began learning the accordion,and it wasn't long before I began to steak me claim to the instrument and began to attend lessons to coincide with the drum lessons I'd already been attending.With these two beauties of music I soon began to develop.

I was pretty accident prone growing up but one dark evening my world collapsed when I happened to be playing "Tig/Tag" with my mates,I was running and as it was pitch dark I could't see and fell headlong into a pile of broken glass and ripped my right hand open.I severed all the tendons which left the hand almost fully incapacitated.But the great surgeon who worked tirelessly on me,managed to reconstruct it.Though unfortunately I would never be able to bend all of my fingers again.Still half is better than none.I suppose you could say"the wrong thing happened to the right guy".

But I didn't give up there,I began to learn the keyboard/piano where I didn't have to bend my fingers, instead of the accordion,to my mothers delight and still kept up my drumming (even though I've been known to loose a drum stick from my right hand into the audience from time to time). Soon I began to play in bands either tickling the ivory's or beating the skins,I was game for either.My sister meantime had turned her attentions to drama and acting as well as to a new boyfriend who also played the guitar.This was what I liked about him best,at the time.So it wasn't long before he was showing me chords and riffs by the dozen, a real good teacher.I now had music versatility as well as rhythm.

The next step I took now that I had guitar as well as keys was into writing songs.This has always been my "forte". I could leave the "covers " to one side and actually have people come to see me in order to hear my material.I've always got a great buzz out of this.

During the late seventies I had been playing with different bands.Some were Rock,others Country,while others still were Traditional Irish.But most people I played with were happy enough to bash away in pubs,clubs and various functions.Which meant we had to do song covers to survive.While others at that time like,The Undertones,The Boomtown Rats and the mighty U2 all stuck to their guns and played originals.Just look what happened to all of them!!! So in the eighties I cut ties with everyone and started as a solo act playing keyboard and guitar in order to do my own thing.Only occasionally returning to my drum kit for a one night stand with a drummer-less band.

Since that I've worked extensively in the U.K. and through mainland Europe,as well doing a lot of ferry and cruise work.I've had my songs recorded by various artists as well as being featured on different compilation albums.These days the live show is divided into three main categories which can be adjusted particularly to suit the venue,they are"Classic Hits" show,"Celtic and Irish" show and last but not least my own songs in "The Original" show.

People have asked me in the past,why don't I do a tribute show,though I do enjoy watching a tribute act or two I don't think I'd ever do one.I believe totally in originality,that's where my heart lies!