Paddy Cole has been an institution on the music scene in Ireland since the showband days of the 1960s. He first came to national prominence as a member of the hugely talented Capitol Showband, fronted by Butch Moore who was also Ireland’s first Eurovision representative.
Journalist and broadcaster Tom Gilmore from Sylane, Tuam, has just compiled a 230 page book entitled Paddy Cole – King of the Swingers. It provides a lovely insight into the life and times of one of the real characters of the showbiz circuit.
Born and raised in Castleblayney, Paddy’s love for Dixieland jazz soon came to the fore. After his days with the Capitol, he became bandleader with Brendan Bowyer and Tom Dunphy of The Royal Showband fame when they formed The Big 8 and spent a number of seasons in Las Vegas in the 1970s.
After returning home to Monaghan, he fronted the Paddy Cole Superstars for a few years playing shows all over the country and across in England.
Paddy and his good friend Big Tom were presented with the Freedom of Castleblayney at a civic reception in the town in 2014.
It was a beautiful occasion full of stories, humour, appreciation and gratitude as ‘Blayney honoured two of its favourite sons.
He remained an integral part of the scene all down the years, doing regular shows and guest spots while also presenting a weekly Sunday morning show on Sunshine Radio in Dublin where he and his wife Helen (from Limerick) have resided for many years.
“When O’Brien Press got on to me a while ago about doing the book, I was not at all keen at the start. Tim Ryan, who was a journalist with The Irish Press, had done a book about me called Tell Roy Rogers I’m Not In around 35 years ago.
“When I heard they had Tom Gilmore lined up to do it, I was genuinely swayed by that. I knew Tom was one of our own, as we say. He did Big Tom’s book which I thought was great as I knew Tom McBride all my life,” says Paddy.
“We did all the interviews over Skype during the early weeks of the lockdown. I have to say I am delighted with how it has turned out and Tom (Gilmore) has played a huge role in that. He is a great warrior.”
John McColgan of Riverdance writes in a foreword: “Paddy has had a stellar career. His exceptional musical talent across all genres has entertained generations nationally and internationally.”
This book is a real page turner, full of delightful memories from the early showband years to more recent times, and sprinkled with Paddy’s natural and infectious style of storytelling. From carnival dances in Turloughmore to the Las Vegas Strip to sharing time with some of the best known American legends, interspersed with typical ‘Blayney humour and banter, the book looks set to race up the charts this December.
Paddy Cole – King of the Swingers is now in bookshops all over the country and can also be purchased from obrien.ie and eason.ie.
Brian Coll was a class act and true country legend
Brian Coll, who died suddenly in his native Omagh a number of weeks ago, was one of the true legends of the Irish country music scene. He was the first Irish singer to record a double album in Nashville and turned down offers by Charley Pride and Slim Whitman to move to the USA in the 1970s.
During the showband days of the 1960s, Brian sang country with pop band, The Plattermen, before going on to front his own band, The Buckaroos, in the 1970s.
It was a class outfit that also featured the legendary guitarist Arty McGlynn who later became synonymous with traditional groups like De Danann and Planxty, as well as featuring with the Van Morrison Band.
Brian Coll in his younger years.
In any country hall of fame in Ireland, Brian Coll will always be regarded in the top 10 singers ever to grace the stage and the recording scene. Thousands of tributes have been paid to the Tyrone man who epitomised everything good about real country music.
Brian (79) had a close friendship with American country legend Charley Pride stretching back 45 years. Respect is the word that comes to the surface when these two legends got together.
The yodelling style of Brian, especially in his early years, owed much to the influence of the great Slim Whitman, born in Florida, and who died in 2013 at the age of 90. Slim spent 11 weeks at number one in the UK charts in 1955 with his song, Rose Marie, and also toured with Elvis Presley.
The period from 1970 to 1976 was truly special in the life of Brian Coll. Give An Irish Girl To Me saw him reach number seven in the Irish top 10 in 1970. A year later, These Are My Mountains went to number three.
Brian Coll.
Other chart successes from that era included When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again, She’s Mine, Cover Mama’s Flowers, Mail Call, The Farmer, and, of course, the Johnny McCauley classic that he made his own, Hometown On The Foyle.
Brian’s passion for motorbikes was well known to all his fans. He attended numerous Isle of Man TT Races down the years and he raced himself, often with near misses.
His special hero and friend was Joey Dunlop from Antrim, one of the best loved riders ever in the sport. The world champion motorcyclist died in an accident in Estonia back in 2000. Brian’s friendship with the Dunlop family went back a long way.
Brian was a noted raconteur and was a nephew of the late novelist and writer Benedict Kiely whose musings entertained generations of listeners to Sunday Miscellany on RTÉ Radio over the years.
Brian remained true to the spirit of the genre that he fell in love with all those years ago. No question hangs over that loyalty, that dedication and that absolute love for the music that shaped his life, the music that made Brian so special to so many followers.
Brian Coll covered his country music journey with panache and style. Thanks for the memories, Brian, and the legacy of great songs we can still enjoy. You truly were a class act. CL
Read more
Nashville memories and a near miss on the Opry
Country Sound: farm life helping pass the time for PJ
Paddy Cole has been an institution on the music scene in Ireland since the showband days of the 1960s. He first came to national prominence as a member of the hugely talented Capitol Showband, fronted by Butch Moore who was also Ireland’s first Eurovision representative.
Journalist and broadcaster Tom Gilmore from Sylane, Tuam, has just compiled a 230 page book entitled Paddy Cole – King of the Swingers. It provides a lovely insight into the life and times of one of the real characters of the showbiz circuit.
Born and raised in Castleblayney, Paddy’s love for Dixieland jazz soon came to the fore. After his days with the Capitol, he became bandleader with Brendan Bowyer and Tom Dunphy of The Royal Showband fame when they formed The Big 8 and spent a number of seasons in Las Vegas in the 1970s.
After returning home to Monaghan, he fronted the Paddy Cole Superstars for a few years playing shows all over the country and across in England.
Paddy and his good friend Big Tom were presented with the Freedom of Castleblayney at a civic reception in the town in 2014.
It was a beautiful occasion full of stories, humour, appreciation and gratitude as ‘Blayney honoured two of its favourite sons.
He remained an integral part of the scene all down the years, doing regular shows and guest spots while also presenting a weekly Sunday morning show on Sunshine Radio in Dublin where he and his wife Helen (from Limerick) have resided for many years.
“When O’Brien Press got on to me a while ago about doing the book, I was not at all keen at the start. Tim Ryan, who was a journalist with The Irish Press, had done a book about me called Tell Roy Rogers I’m Not In around 35 years ago.
“When I heard they had Tom Gilmore lined up to do it, I was genuinely swayed by that. I knew Tom was one of our own, as we say. He did Big Tom’s book which I thought was great as I knew Tom McBride all my life,” says Paddy.
“We did all the interviews over Skype during the early weeks of the lockdown. I have to say I am delighted with how it has turned out and Tom (Gilmore) has played a huge role in that. He is a great warrior.”
John McColgan of Riverdance writes in a foreword: “Paddy has had a stellar career. His exceptional musical talent across all genres has entertained generations nationally and internationally.”
This book is a real page turner, full of delightful memories from the early showband years to more recent times, and sprinkled with Paddy’s natural and infectious style of storytelling. From carnival dances in Turloughmore to the Las Vegas Strip to sharing time with some of the best known American legends, interspersed with typical ‘Blayney humour and banter, the book looks set to race up the charts this December.
Paddy Cole – King of the Swingers is now in bookshops all over the country and can also be purchased from obrien.ie and eason.ie.
Brian Coll was a class act and true country legend
Brian Coll, who died suddenly in his native Omagh a number of weeks ago, was one of the true legends of the Irish country music scene. He was the first Irish singer to record a double album in Nashville and turned down offers by Charley Pride and Slim Whitman to move to the USA in the 1970s.
During the showband days of the 1960s, Brian sang country with pop band, The Plattermen, before going on to front his own band, The Buckaroos, in the 1970s.
It was a class outfit that also featured the legendary guitarist Arty McGlynn who later became synonymous with traditional groups like De Danann and Planxty, as well as featuring with the Van Morrison Band.
Brian Coll in his younger years.
In any country hall of fame in Ireland, Brian Coll will always be regarded in the top 10 singers ever to grace the stage and the recording scene. Thousands of tributes have been paid to the Tyrone man who epitomised everything good about real country music.
Brian (79) had a close friendship with American country legend Charley Pride stretching back 45 years. Respect is the word that comes to the surface when these two legends got together.
The yodelling style of Brian, especially in his early years, owed much to the influence of the great Slim Whitman, born in Florida, and who died in 2013 at the age of 90. Slim spent 11 weeks at number one in the UK charts in 1955 with his song, Rose Marie, and also toured with Elvis Presley.
The period from 1970 to 1976 was truly special in the life of Brian Coll. Give An Irish Girl To Me saw him reach number seven in the Irish top 10 in 1970. A year later, These Are My Mountains went to number three.
Brian Coll.
Other chart successes from that era included When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again, She’s Mine, Cover Mama’s Flowers, Mail Call, The Farmer, and, of course, the Johnny McCauley classic that he made his own, Hometown On The Foyle.
Brian’s passion for motorbikes was well known to all his fans. He attended numerous Isle of Man TT Races down the years and he raced himself, often with near misses.
His special hero and friend was Joey Dunlop from Antrim, one of the best loved riders ever in the sport. The world champion motorcyclist died in an accident in Estonia back in 2000. Brian’s friendship with the Dunlop family went back a long way.
Brian was a noted raconteur and was a nephew of the late novelist and writer Benedict Kiely whose musings entertained generations of listeners to Sunday Miscellany on RTÉ Radio over the years.
Brian remained true to the spirit of the genre that he fell in love with all those years ago. No question hangs over that loyalty, that dedication and that absolute love for the music that shaped his life, the music that made Brian so special to so many followers.
Brian Coll covered his country music journey with panache and style. Thanks for the memories, Brian, and the legacy of great songs we can still enjoy. You truly were a class act. CL
Read more
Nashville memories and a near miss on the Opry
Country Sound: farm life helping pass the time for PJ
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