Gary Gamble has crept quietly up on the inside track to overtake many on the Irish country circuit. The man from Letterkenny – who is unequalled when it comes to impersonations of Daniel O’Donnell – is enjoying a phenomenal surge in popularity. Almost all of it is based on talent, a huge respect for his audiences and being a naturally decent person who loves every minute on stage.

His father and mother were steeped in their love for country music and often took young Gary to gigs around the northern region. “Dad knew I had a fondness for the country songs and I recall one night he said to me as I looked up at the stage, ‘There is no reason why you shouldn’t be doing the same’. A year later, I was on stage with Jimmy Buckley in the Allingham Arms Hotel in Bundoran.”

It was during a show similar in nature to Stars in Their Eyes that Gary found a new appreciation for his blossoming stage talent. “Some were doing Elvis and other well-known acts and I decided to do a Daniel O’Donnell selection. It went down a treat and the audience loved it. People came up to me afterwards and said, ‘Fair play to you, that was amazing’.

“It really took off for me when Daniel came along one night to see me on stage after hearing about me impersonating him. He loved it and said to me, ‘You know what, Gary, you are more like Daniel than I am!’

“I think the main reason he took to it so well is because it is always a respectful impersonation. I never stray beyond that line. When Daniel gave it his blessing, it opened many doors for me.”

It was back in 2005 that Gary launched on the scene. Hugo Duncan was taking a back seat from performing on the dance circuit and his band was at loose end at the time. That is when Gary stepped into the breach.

“The members of the Tallmen were Eugene McColgan, Tom Gray, Ann Marie Blee and John Doherty. Our first date was on New Year’s Eve and things went well for us. I had really got the showbiz bug after that,” says Gary.

His growing reputation and popularity, especially up North, ensured a busy diary for young Gary. But in 2008 he got a rude awaking in relation to taking on too much work and burning the candle at both ends.

“I was on stage one night and started to feel dizzy. I had done 23 nights on the trot between band dates and solo guests spots. My brother took me into Derry Hospital and tests showed that I was seriously run down.

“I was passing blood as well and it was mentioned that I could have colitis. The passing of blood ended after I stopped eating bread and I have not eaten bread since. I was also on the verge of a mild form of meningitis at the time.

“I spent a whole month in Altnagelvin Hospital. I thought I was at death’s door. I had a room of my own and so many people came in to visit me. I was getting blood taken three times a day, the temperature was sky high and I was hallucinating.

“I was so far gone it was only a blur and I could not remember the people who came to visit me such as Hugo Duncan and Daniel and many others who told me afterwards they had called to see me. The word was out that I had gotten a heart attack and leukaemia. I got cards and letters from all over and my family had to take them home in boxes.”

Donegal singer Elaine Boyle covered dates for Gary for a few months at that time and again when he was off the road for another spell after breaking his leg in an accident.

“Life has its own way of teaching you that your health is your wealth and I was glad to have a second chance to take that on board.

“I was lucky to get a great chance on Highland Radio and for six years I presented the afternoon show from Monday to Friday. I loved it and made many friends during that time,” reflects Gary.

But a major surge in demand for Gary on the showbiz circuit again in more recent times led to him taking the decision to forego his radio career (at least for awhile) and concentrate on his stage career again. A new album, Irish Country Favourites, is proving a major success for him.

“I decided to go back in time and honour some of the legends like Bridie Gallagher, Eileen Donaghy, Larry Cunningham and John Kerr. We are sending copies of it to America, Scotland and Australia and it is my biggest album to date.”

The talented Donegal entertainer, who is in his mid-30s, has also written a comedy play, Sorry for Your Loss, which has sold out on all five shows in Coleraine, Derry, Omagh, Ballymena and Ballybofey. “Yes, I wrote it all myself and we have a great cast. It has gone down a storm and we look forward to bringing it to other venues in the months ahead.”

These times, Gary has the acclaimed Ryan Turner Band on stage for all his dates and they will undertake a Pride of Ireland tour in England and Scotland in the coming months. He also has several guest spots lined up for Spain in 2020.

As Daniel might say: “Sure wouldn’t you know it, Gary is surely going places these days!”

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