Country Sound: the man who created the country and Irish genre

No Irish writer provided more hit songs for country artists than Johnny McCauley. He penned the numbers that touched the hearts and souls of rural folk in Ireland and across the Irish Sea. When he died in London in 2012 at the age of 87, he left a legacy of songs that will never be surpassed in the annals of the genre of music that he singlehandedly created in these islands.

The genre became known as “Country and Irish” and he was the first man to coin the phrase. He pioneered a lyrical format that tugged at the heart strings and incorporated melody styles that were very much at home in American country music and especially the music of Appalachia and the southern states.

While showing the utmost respect to the style of the traditional Irish ballad, he steered the music and lyrical connection towards the emotions and, in the case of those across the Irish Sea, in America and other places, towards the longing for home and childhood memories.

Last week saw the release of an 18-track album of songs penned and recorded by Johnny over the years. Johnny McCauley Memory Store has been issued by Four Roads Music in association with Crashed Records and showcases a selection of some of the many songs written by the legend.

Johnny was born in Fahan, Co Donegal, in 1925 and spent many of his early years in Derry city. Both places are celebrated by Johnny in classic songs like Destination Donegal, Hometown On The Foyle, My Donegal Shore and Rose of the Mountain.

Like so many of his generation he crossed the Irish Sea and made his home in London. It was there that he penned so many of his classics including one of the most recorded songs of all, Pretty Little Girl from Omagh. His wife Phyllis hails from Co Waterford and this accounts for the line in the song:

It was down in the south in old Tramore,

I recall the yellow dress she wore.

Johnny McCauley became synonymous with the career of the man who was later to become known as the undisputed “King of Irish Country” – Big Tom McBride from Castleblayney.

They became the best of friends and Johnny accompanied Tom and friends on their famous journey to Nashville when they crossed the Atlantic on the QE2.

Tom became the first Irish artist to record an entire album of 14 original songs in Nashville and all of them were penned by Johnny.

Kevin McCooey, who was manager of Big Tom and the band for many years, says Johnny McCauley can be credited entirely with creating the country and Irish genre.

“He was one of the few writers whom you would know by the style and lyric content that the song was penned by Johnny. That says a lot for what he brought to the music.

“I got to know him very well through his friendship with Big Tom. He was a very jovial man. Many of his songs had their origins after having a few jars.

“Ideas would come into his head and he would write them down on a cigarette box or some sheet of paper. He would find them in his pockets the next day or sometime later and he would work on some new songs.

“Back to Castleblayney became a huge song for Big Tom. I’ll Settle for the Shores of Ireland, My Own Washing, Where The Grass Grows The Greenest, Country Music’s Here to Stay, and of course, Four Country Roads were just some of the many songs written by Johnny that Tom recorded with great success over the years,” says Kevin.

Margo O’Donnell says many Irish country singers have a lot to be grateful for when it comes to Johnny McCauley. “He was not only a great songwriter but he wrote from the heart. There will never ever be another Johnny McCauley. So many Irish artists got songs from him down through the years. He was a genius.

“Larry Cunningham had songs like Among the Wicklow Hills and Brian Coll had Hometown On The Foyle.

“I recorded several of his songs such as Destination Donegal, Any Tipperary Town and I’ll Settle for Old Ireland. Daniel O’Donnell’s first song and hit was My Donegal Shore which was penned by Johnny and he still opens most of his shows with Pretty Little Girl from Omagh.

“Johnny was unreal when it came to understanding the heart of rural Ireland. He wrote as he was thinking and he connected with hearts like no one else. It is lovely to hear that this album has been made available so we can once again appreciate the greatness of this iconic songwriter.”

Further information on Johnny McCauley Country Store is available from Alan Hennessy on 01-888 1188 or alan@crashedmusic.com