![]() | This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations .(February 2013) |
Gene and The Gents | |
---|---|
Origin | Enniskillen |
Genres | Pop |
Years active | 1964–1968 |
Labels | Emerald, Target |
Past members | Paddy McDermott, Dermot Doherty, Pete Watson, Henry McCullough, Tony Gallagher, Barry Scully, Gene Chetty, Pete Cresswell, David Quinn |
Gene and The Gents were a Northern Irish pop showband from Enniskillen, who achieved chart success with tracks including "The Way You Wrinkle Your Nose" and "I Came As a Stranger and Stayed As a Friend" as well as "Puppet on a String".
The band was founded in 1964, with four members of the Enniskillen-based Skyrockets (Paddy McDermott on tenor saxophone (born in 1940, in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland); Dermot Doherty on trombone (born in 1940 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland); Pete Watson on drums (born in 1938, in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland) and Henry McCullough on lead guitar. The band was joined by Tony Gallagher on rhythm guitar (born in 1943 in Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland) and Barry Scully on bass (born in 1944, in County Dublin, Ireland, died 10 December 2007, of a heart attack).
The band advertised for a lead singer and found one in Gene Chetty (born Dushy Anthon Chetty, 2 January 1944, in Durban, South Africa), a Trinity College law student, who had come over in 1962 to study law. He auditioned for the group and got the job. The Gents made their debut on St Patrick's Night, 17 March 1964 at The County Hall in Monaghan. McCullough left in 1966 and was replaced by Pete Cresswell (born Peter Cresswell, February 1944, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey) as lead guitarist from London, who originally had played on a hit record in 1961 by Bobby Angelo and the Tuxedos called "Babysitting". McDermott left in early 1968 and was replaced by Mal Kearns on tenor saxophone, vocals (born Malachy Kearns). Barry Scully left in early 1969, and was replaced by Davy Quinn until the band split in April 1969.
Year | Title | Label Code |
---|---|---|
1965 | "Puppet On A String" / "Sweet Little Sixteen" | Emerald MD 1024 |
1967 | "The Way You Wrinkle Your Nose" / "I Came As A Stranger" | Emerald MD 1073 |
1969 | "C'mon Everybody" / "Hound Dog" | Target 7N 17532 |
County Fermanagh is one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the six counties of Northern Ireland
Enniskillen is the largest town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is in the middle of the county, between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,823 at the 2011 Census. Enniskillen Castle was built in the 15th century as a stronghold of the Maguires, before coming under English control in the early 17th century. The castle and town were expanded during the Plantation of Ulster. It was the seat of local government for the former Fermanagh District Council, and is the county town of Fermanagh.
Earl of Enniskillen is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1789 for William Cole, 1st Viscount Enniskillen. He had already been created Viscount Enniskillen in the Peerage of Ireland in 1776 and had inherited the title Baron Mount Florence, of Florence Court in the County of Fermanagh, which had been created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1760 for his father John Cole, who had earlier represented Enniskillen in the Irish House of Commons.
Henry Campbell Liken McCullough was a Northern Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was best known for his work as a member of Spooky Tooth, the Grease Band and Paul McCartney and Wings. He also performed and recorded as a solo artist and session musician.
Rock music in Ireland, also known as Irish rock, has been a part of the music of Ireland since the 1960s, when the British Invasion brought British blues, psychedelic rock and other styles to the island. The Irish music scene in the 1960s and much of the 1970s was dominated by the unique Irish phenomenon of the 'Showbands' which were groups of professional performers who played at dancehalls and clubs across the country putting on a professional 'show' and playing all the American and British hits of the era. From the mid-1970s onwards rock music in Ireland has followed a similar path to rock music in Britain.
The Irish showband was a dance band format popular in Ireland from the mid-1950s to mid-1980s. The showband was based on the internationally popular six- or seven-piece dance band. The band's basic repertoire included standard dance numbers and covers of pop music hits. The versatile music ranged from rock and roll and country and western songs to traditional dixieland jazz and even Irish Céilí dance, Newfie stomps, folk music and waltzes. Key to a showband's popular success was the ability to perform songs currently in the record charts. Some bands also did comedy skits onstage.
Glenfarne or Glenfarn is a small village in north County Leitrim, Ireland. It is the site of the original "Ballroom of Romance", which inspired a short story by William Trevor and was subsequently turned into a movie by the BBC. Glenfarne has a lakeside forest near Lough MacNean. The village is located on the N16 (Sligo–Blacklion) road, east of Manorhamilton.
Blacklion is a border village in west County Cavan, Ireland. It is situated on the N16 national primary road, just across the border from the County Fermanagh village of Belcoo.
Tamlaght is a townland and village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, 4.5 km south-east of Enniskillen. It is situated in the civil parish of Derryvullan and the historic barony of Tirkennedy. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 276 people.
Big Tom and The Mainliners were a Country and Irish showband from the Castleblayney area of County Monaghan, Ireland.
St Michael's College is a Roman Catholic boys' grammar school located in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.
Eire Apparent were a band from Northern Ireland, noted for launching the careers of Henry McCullough and Ernie Graham, and for having Jimi Hendrix play on, and produce, their only album.
The Irish Tenors are a singing trio from Ireland that was started in 1998 by a group of television producers for a PBS special The Irish Tenors. They have since recorded five PBS specials and eight albums. The group's members are Declan Kelly, Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan.
The Miami Showband killings was an attack on 31 July 1975 by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary group. It took place on the A1 road at Buskhill in County Down, Northern Ireland. Five people were killed, including three members of The Miami Showband, who were one of Ireland's most popular cabaret bands.
The Miami Showband were an Irish showband in the 1960s and 1970s led by singer Dickie Rock and later by Fran O'Toole. They had seven number one records on the Irish singles chart.
Enniskillen Gaels is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in based in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Seán Lynch MLA is an Irish republican Sinn Féin politician and a former MLA for the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. He was a former Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) leader in the Maze Prison.
Maguire is an Irish surname from the Irish language Mac/Mag Uidhir, which is "son of Odhar" or "son of the dun or dark one". According to legend, the eleventh in descent from Colla da Chrich, great-grandson of Cormac mac Airt, monarch of Ireland about the middle of the third century. From the 13th to the 17th centuries, the Maguires were kings of Fermanagh.
The Fermanagh county football team represents Fermanagh GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, in the Gaelic sport of football. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Ulster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.
Ederney St Joseph's is a Gaelic football club based in the village of Ederney, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.