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Tony Bagnall’s book on Irish Showbands ‘Do You Come Here Often?’ is proving to be a big hit with those who frequented dancehalls in the sixties and seventies.
The Newry journalist/photographer, who played with The Clippertones Showband and various other groups and bands, spent the last 12 months interviewing and writing stories about the Golden Years of the showbands. And his recently released book brings readers back to those halcyon days when a tenor saxophone introduced Brendan Bowyer and the Royal Showband.
The book is liberally sprinkled with humorous anecdotes and original stories from the bands on the road, such as the aforementioned Royal Showband, Dickie Rock and the Miami Showband, Brendan O’Brien and the Dixies, Joe Dolan and the Drifters, Derek Dean and the Freshmen and of course Hugo Quinn and the Clipper Carlton (the band that started it all).
But as well as national and international bands stars, ‘Do You Come Here Often? features a
host of stories on Newry bands and singers. Included are features on Susan McCann, The Hilton Showband, Deirdre and the Defenders, The Epic Showband, LuvBug, Flash, Atlantis, The Clippertones, Leon, Jackie Hearst, Dick Barton etc.
The writer also travelled to Enniskillen to meet with Father Brian D’Arcy, the chaplain of Showbands, to Downtown Radio to speak with George Jones, Mr Showband himself, and to Dublin to interview arguably the finest instrumentalist of them all Castleblayney man Paddy Cole.
All in all it’s a riveting read, sure to rekindle long-lost memories, and it’s colourfully illustrated with hundreds of photographs, many that have never been seen before.
The book, a great Christmas present for parents or your favourite uncle or aunt, can be bought at many shops in the Newry and Mourne area or you can contact Tony at 07815787874 (tonybagnall@mac.com). You can also buy ‘Do You Come Here Often?’ online at www.tonybagnall.com
