Write a commentA Manchester based singer whose father came from Newry struck a chord on regional radio when his swing rendition of an Irish folk ballad went viral.
Wayne Devlin, famed for his Rat Pack renditions, performed an a cappella version of Danny Boy on Mike Sweeney’s BBC Radio Manchester show on Friday, June 26.
The performance was an immediate hit, drawing praise from listeners before the Manchester based crooner had even left the studio.
The tune’s popularity has since spread from enthusiastic listeners among Manchester’s Irish community to the Emerald Isle itself – with Wayne due to perform the track on the Irish TV channel.
“My dad taught me to sing as a child and some time before he died I sang the song to him. He was quite ill at the time,” explained Wayne.
“I was going to then sing it again at his funeral, but it was just too much for me to sing on that day.
“I had taken some backing tracks to perform over for the radio show, but they said I would have to sing a cappella.
“The only thing I could think of was mine and my dads song, Danny Boy. It just popped into my head. I performed it with a Sinatra twist; a sort of swing version.”
But the spur of the moment decision soon had the station’s phone lines abuzz.
“The producer showed me the reaction they were getting from their listeners. It just went berserk,” added Wayne.
“Two days after the performance, I got an email from Irish TV asking for an interview. They're also going to film me in the studio recording it."
Now Wayne is set to record his second EP at Unit 26 studios in Media City, with his unique version of Danny Boy as the lead track, alongside Sinatra’s My Way and an as-yet undecided third tune.
“It’s nice that so many people have an emotional attachment to Danny Boy.
“It’s always felt like mine and my dad’s song. It’s great to be able to share it after all these years.”
If you've got a suggestion for the third track on Wayne's EP, tweet him @MrWayneDevlin
Check his website out at www.waynedevlin.com
