The Miami Showband

Last updated

The Miami Showband
Origin Dublin, Ireland
Genres
Years active1962–1982
Intermittent later reunions
Website http://www.themiamishowband.com/

The Miami Showband were an Irish showband in the 1960s and 1970s led firstly in 1962 by singer Jimmy Harte, followed by Dickie Rock and later by Fran O'Toole. They had seven number one records on the Irish singles chart.

Contents

The band's career was interrupted at the height of their fame when three members – Fran O'Toole, Tony Geraghty, and Brian McCoy – were killed in 1975 by loyalist terrorists, in a botched attack initially intended to convince the United Kingdom government that the band had been involved in smuggling explosives across the Irish border. [1]

The band reformed in 1976, but would disband in 1982, later reuniting and reforming. The Miami Showband played their final gig in 2015. [2]

Career

The band was established in Dublin in 1962 by impresario Tom Doherty. He recruited an existing group, the Downbeats Quartet, comprising Joe Tyrell (piano), Tony Bogan (drums), Clem Quinn (guitar), and Martin Phelan (saxophone), and augmented them with singer Jimmy Harte who at the time was a member of The Ambassadors Showband in Dublin, joined trumpeter Tommy O'Rourke, trombonist and vocalist Murty Quinn, and bass player Denis Murray. The group's first engagement was at the Palm Beach Ballroom in Portmarnock, and as the town of Palm Beach in Florida is near to Miami, they were named the Miami Showband. They rapidly became one of the top showbands in the country. For family reasons, and to finish his education in early 1963 Jimmy left the Miami, by now a very successful band, and a replacement, Dickie Rock (at the time, a member of another group, the Melochords) was found. In December 1963 the Miami had their first single, a version of the Elvis Presley album track "There's Always Me" reached number one in the Irish charts They had four further number one hits over the next two years: "I'm Yours" and "From the Candy Store on the Corner" (both 1964), and "Every Step of the Way" and "Wishing It Was You" (both 1965). [n 1]

In 1966, the band were chosen to sing Ireland's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, and their song "Come Back To Stay" also reached the top of the charts. They also appeared on British TV, on Sunday Night at the London Palladium and Thank Your Lucky Stars . [4] [5]

In 1967, four members of the band—Murty Quinn, Tommy O'Rourke, Denis Murray and Martin Phelan—split away to form their own group, The Sands. They were replaced by songwriter and singer Fran O'Toole, Paul Ashford, Pat McCarthy, Des Lee (born Des McAlea) and Brian McCoy. The group's final number one came with "Simon Says" (a version of the 1910 Fruitgum Company song) in 1968. McCarthy and Tony Bogan later left, and were replaced by Danny Ellis and Martin Brannigan. The group released an album, The Wind Will Change Tomorrow, in 1970, and in the early 1970s played a residency in Las Vegas and performed at Carnegie Hall. [6]

The Troubles

Popular with both Catholics and Protestants, the Miami Showband regularly played to audiences on both sides of the Irish border throughout the Troubles and were known to some as the "Irish Beatles". [7] The band's saxophonist, Des Lee, would later recollect: "We entertained everybody. Didn't matter what colour, what creed, or where we were playing, whether it was north or south at that terrible time in Northern Ireland. We looked upon it as giving two hours of fun to people to get away from the Troubles." [8]

In 1972, the group had another major change, when Dickie Rock left to front his own band. He was initially replaced in the Miami Showband at first by brothers Frankie and Johnny Simon and then, briefly, by Billy Mac (born Billy MacDonald). Following the sacking of Mick Roche (Billy Mac's replacement) in 1974, Fran O'Toole fronted the band, the group often being billed as "Fran O'Toole and the Miami". [9] The album Miami Country was released in 1973. Line-up changes continued, and by 1975 the last remaining member of the original line-up, Clem Quinn, had left. The group then comprised Des Lee, Brian McCoy, Tony Geraghty, Fran O'Toole, Steve Travers and Ray Millar. Four of the band hailed from Northern Ireland: two of whom were Catholic; and two Protestant. [4] [5] [10]

The lay-by in the townland of Buskhill where the Miami Showband were ordered to stop by members of the Ulster Volunteer Force. Site of the Miami Showband massacre.jpg
The lay-by in the townland of Buskhill where the Miami Showband were ordered to stop by members of the Ulster Volunteer Force.

On 30 July 1975, the Miami Showband performed a gig at the Castle Ballroom in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland. The band played live for an estimated 450 people before drummer Ray Millar left to spend the evening with his parents in Antrim. The remaining five members of the band travelled south by minibus back to Dublin.

Massacre

At approximately 2:30 a.m. on 31 July 1975, the band were stopped at a bogus military checkpoint by gunmen dressed in British Army uniform in the townland of Buskhill, outside of Newry. All were ordered to exit the vehicle and line up by the roadside, facing away from the vehicle with their hands on their heads as individuals they initially believed were members of the Ulster Defence Regiment searched their van for explosives or weaponry. [11] [12] In efforts to allay any fears or suspicions, one of these individuals jokingly asked the band members, "Which one of you is Dickie Rock?" [1] Upon hearing this, one of the Protestant band members, Brian McCoy, nudged bassist Stephen Travers' elbow with his own, reassuring him all was well and of his belief the individuals were members of the British Army. [13]

The small memorial at the scene of the murders, the lettering on which appears to imply it is also in commemoration of the two terrorists who died at the spot. Memorial to the Miami Showband, A1 Road.jpg
The small memorial at the scene of the murders, the lettering on which appears to imply it is also in commemoration of the two terrorists who died at the spot.

Unbeknownst to the band members, the individuals were actually members of a loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). [11] [14] Two gunmen, Harris Boyle and Wesley Somerville, attempted to hide a time bomb on the minibus, with the intention for the device to explode upon the band's reaching the Republic of Ireland. However, the device exploded prematurely, killing both Boyle and Somerville and hurling the band's saxophonist, Des Lee, into a ditch. [15]

The remaining gunmen then opened fire on the band members, killing O'Toole (age 29), McCoy (age 32) and Geraghty (age 24) and wounding Travers. Lee escaped any further injury by feigning death. [15] Two serving Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers and one former UDR soldier later received life sentences after having been found guilty of murder. [15]

Reformation

The year after the killings, the Miami Showband regrouped and continued to perform. Des Lee fronted the band until leaving in 1978, later moving to South Africa. The group remained active until 1982, led by Charlie Chapman. They then split up and their management formed a new band, The New Miami, fronted by Caroline Allen. Another new band using the Miami name was formed in 1996, featuring Gerry Brown, brother of the singer Dana. [5]

In August 2005, Lee, Travers and Millar reunited on stage at a Miami Showband Memorial Concert in Dublin. Following from that, a tour was organised in 2008 with the trio being augmented by Gerry Brown, Johnny Fean (formerly of the band Horslips), and Barry Woods. [16]

The Miami Showband played their final concert on 21 August 2015. The venue for this concert was a location in Banbridge, close to the Castle Ballroom, where the band had played on the evening prior to the UVF ambush. [2]

Memorial to the three dead band members at Parnell Square, Dublin Memorial to the Miami Showband.jpg
Memorial to the three dead band members at Parnell Square, Dublin

In an interview granted to the press prior to this gig, saxophonist Des Lea stated: "It will be a very fitting close in Banbridge; it's going to be a very emotional evening as we're back in the town where the massacre occurred. It's emotional and heart-wrenching, but I know Fran, Brian and Tony would be very proud." [2]

Aftermath

A monument at Parnell Square North, Dublin, dedicated to the dead Miami Showband members, was unveiled at a ceremony on 10 December 2007 attended by Lee and Travers. The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, said of O'Toole, McCoy and Geraghty: [17]

"Their murder was an atrocity which had such a profound impact on everyone on this island. It is remembered with sadness to this very day....We remember the affection in which they were held by people the length and breadth of Ireland. Their popularity crossed all boundaries and all traditions. They simply wanted to entertain everyone who had a love of music. At a dark time, they were a shining light for so many."

Tom Doherty died on 21 April 2009. [18] Former band members Martin Phelan and Paul Ashford (born 1950, Bray, County Wicklow) died in 2010 and 2011 respectively. [19]

A stamp was issued on 22 September 2010 by An Post commemorating the Miami Showband. This was one of a series of four stamps issued in Ireland to celebrate the "golden age" of the Irish Showband scene from the 1950s to the 1970s. The 55-cent stamp was designed with a 1967 publicity photograph of the band, fronted by Dickie Rock. Two of the band members killed in the massacre at Bushkill, Fran O'Toole and Brian McCoy, are also featured. [20]

Singles discography (partial list)

a = Features Dickie Rock b – Features Clem Quinn c – Features Murty Quinn d – Features Des Lee e – Features Fran O'Toole f – Features Brian McCoy [21] [22]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Miami Showband Massacre: 'You Don't Have to Die to Lose Your Life'". The Irish Independent . 22 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Miami Showband Bid an Emotional Farewell as They Play Final Gig Near Scene of Brutal Loyalist Massacre". The Belfast Telegraph . 22 August 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  3. ↑ The Irish Charts – Straight in at Number One. Retrieved 5 April 2011
  4. 1 2 "Miami Showband - Scrapbook". Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 "All About The Miami Showband". Irish Showbands. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  6. ↑ Gail Bell, "Sax player Des Lee says time is right to celebrate the music of the Miami Showband", The Irish News, 19 January 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019
  7. ↑ "Stop Rewriting History, Says Miami Showband Massacre Survivor". 3 April 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "Miami Showband Massacre Survivor on Coming Face-to-face with The UVF Killers". The Belfast Telegraph . 30 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Archived 5 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Archived 4 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  11. 1 2 "The Mystery of the Miami Murders". Sunday Business Post. Tom McGurk. 31 July 2005 Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 7 April 2011
  12. ↑ Taylor, pp.147–48
  13. ↑ "Miami Showband Massacre: HET Raises Collusion Concerns". BBC News . 14 December 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  14. ↑ Taylor, Peter (1999). Loyalists. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. pp.147–49 ISBN   0-7475-4519-7
  15. 1 2 3 Taylor, p.148
  16. ↑ Archived 12 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ Archived 10 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ Add to Timeline. "Tom Doherty death notice". Announcement.ie. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  19. ↑ "Miami Showband - News". Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  20. ↑ "Miami Showband stamp issued". The Irish Times . 22 September 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  21. ↑ "Pye Records [Irish Record Labels]". Irishrock.org. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  22. ↑ Jaclyn Ward (1 October 1962). "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 6 June 2014.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Every Step of the Way" was the first song by an Irish artist to go straight in as a number one single in the Irish charts. [3]

Cited works and further reading

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