Gentle On My Mind - The Glen Campbell Story will debut in The Backstage Theatre in Longford next month. The newly scripted show sees Ciarán Rosney perform many of the classic songs made famous by Glen during a lifetime in music going back to his breakthrough decade in the 1960s.
Glen Campbell died in August 2017 at the age of 81. The Arkansas native had been living with a progressive form of Alzheimer’s in the final years of his life.
A documentary film in 2014, I’ll Be Me, showcased his struggles with Alzheimer’s against a backdrop of his long career in music. It was directed and produced by James Keach, who also produced the award winning Walk The Line (Johnny Cash) movie.
Glen was one of a family of 12 raised on a small farm near Delight, Arkansas. The main crops were cotton, corn, watermelons and potatoes. His father’s side had deep Scottish roots while his mother’s people had Tipperary connections.
Glen amassed nine Grammy awards and had estimated sales of around 45m records. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Apart from his musical career, he also featured in some films, notably alongside John Wayne in the great western movie, True Grit.
Ciarán Rosney, who hails from Offaly and resides near Latton in Co Monaghan, says the new stage show had its genesis in some comments from regular followers who have attended his shows in recent years.
“Some years ago a man said to me after a performance that ‘you sound a bit like Glen Campbell’. And strangely enough a few weeks later, another person made a similar comment. I felt that was a great compliment and I started to read more about Glen and his amazing life.
“When he died two years ago, he was very much in the news again and many people began to reconnect with the greatness of him as a singer and musician. I loved his style of guitar playing and the more I found out about him, the more I could connect with him.
“Glen was so versatile on the guitar and was so at home playing country and pop. My background is in classical guitar as well as country and folk and I just love the easy way in which Glen could cross over between the country, bluegrass and pop fields. I am very excited about this show,” says Ciarán.
The idea for the new show was pioneered by his manager Joe Finnegan from Shannonside-Northern Sound Radio, and the services of Cathal McCabe, former head of music at RTÉ, were enlisted for The Glen Campbell Story. Cathal has written the script for the show and is also on board as director for the upcoming tour. Narration will be delivered by Joe Finnegan.
“I am wrapped up in the Glen Campbell story over the last few weeks as this show takes shape at the rehearsals,” states Ciarán. “He truly was a genius of a man who led one extraordinary life. He had a passion for bluegrass music and we delve into that and include it in the new show as well.
“I think fans of Glen Campbell will love our show. We will be featuring such standards as Gentle On My Mind, Rhinestone Cowboy, Galveston, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, Country Boy, Bonaparte’s Retreat, and a whole host of other great songs.”
Joining Ciarán for this tour will be his accomplished band comprising of Denise Boyle from Glenties on fiddle and banjo, Eugene McMullen from Antrim on keyboards, Billy Burgoyne (former drummer with The Hillbillies) on drums and Stephen Gallagher from Ballyshannon on bass.
They will be joined for this tour by renowned steel guitar and dobro player, Richard Nelson, from Antrim. Ciarán, who has a Masters in Classical Guitar and who taught at Dundalk IT before embarking on his own musical career, will also play lead guitar as well as fronting the show.
Gentle On My Mind - The Glen Campbell Story, which also features some archive video clips of Glen, will have its premiere in Longford on the 19 September. Other dates are in Omagh, Sligo, Roscommon, Moate, Virginia, Birr, Castleblayney, Enniskillen, Claremorris and Cashel. Check Ciaran Rosney or J & C Promotions web pages for tour details.