I come from Virginia, Co. Cavan, Ireland but have travelled all over the world to bring my music to the people. I have worked extensively on the European mainland over the years, but I have also toured in the US and in such far away lands as Egypt!
I collaborated with Davy Spillane to release the critically-acclaimed CD “The Peace Within”. This was considered by many to be the birth of Celtic-Blues. Davy Spillane is the well-known uilleann pipe player who played in Riverdance. He has also guested on albums by Bryan Adams, Van Morrison and Chris Rea, to name a few.
I played support to Rory Gallagher on his final European tour, which included the Paradiso club (where part of the Rolling Stones “Stripped” CD was recorded). I also headlined the Waterpop Festival in Holland for 20,000 people with my band Albatross.
Mick Taylor (former Rolling Stones guitarist) was my ‘special guest’ for the release party for the “Beyond The Tears” CD and we've continued to work together, respective schedules allowing, throughout Europe after that. Snowy White [Bird of Paradise] was also one of my ‘special guest’ on several festivals in Europe!
My version of the Fred James song “Full Moon On Main Street” won the Sheheshe Music Award in the USA and my own composition “One Of These Days” was voted one of the top six blues songs in the world by the Backas Jazz Society in Helsinki, Finland.
One very special tour I undertook was an extensive tour of the Netherlands – playing 12 concerts in 12 days in all the 12 provinces. This was to help raise money for the “War Child” charity. Since then I have continued to collaborate with “War Child” on several other projects. I have also worked for the following charity organisations; The Irish Youth Foundation (IYF) and the Red Cross.
I have played on festivals/clubs with Status Quo, ZZ Top, Molly Hatchett, Walter Trout, Stan Webb, Rory Gallagher, Dr. Feelgood, Roy Rogers, Canned Heat, Ten Years After and The Sweet to name but a few. My music has been played on radio stations in Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Croatia, Australia, Japan, France, Spain, Finland, Ireland, the UK and in the USA.
My follow up to “The Peace Within” was his “Beyond The Tears” album. It features special guests: Mark Feltham on harmonica (Rory Gallagher Band), Johnny Fean on guitar (Horslips) and Pat Mc Manus on guitar (Mama’s Boys & Celtus).
To sum it up quite simply – I grew up in a small town and dreamed that one day I’d be in a music group, travelling all over the world and reaching people through my music. It’s a dream that has come true many times over!
