Bebo

TOP RANK ENTERTAINMENT LTD ® <toprank1964>

"TOP SPIN/MUSIC BOX RECORDS ®"

	Philomena Begley	372 giorni fa
	Philomena Begley modestly says, "When I started out I did not even think I would be singing with The Old Cross Ceili Band. It was just by chance that friends of mine dared me to go up from the audience and sing with the band at a Ceili in Pomeroy Co Tyrone. Afterwards the boys asked me to stay for a few local gigs and then they kept me." After a few years, in the 1970's this band became The Country Flavour. They kept this name for about 12 years before Philomena formed the Ramblin' Men in 1974. She regularly toured with Ray Lynam in 1975 and they recorded many duets together and had huge successes with some of them. Probably their most popular being "My Elusive Dreams" which is mentioned in The Pogues' song, "A Pair of Brown Eyes". Begley had a huge hit with her version of Billie Jo Spears' hit song "Blanket on the Ground" which took her to the top of the charts in Ireland. "We were coming home from dance date late one night in 1975 when we heard Billie Jo Spears singing "Blanket on the Ground" on a radio programme on the American Forces Network", she related. Her manager at the time, Tony Loughman, thought it had hit potential so he got her a copy of the song from America. "Tony knew someone in America who could get the song over to us quickly and as soon as it arrived I went straight into the studio and recorded it. We were so busy on the road that it had to be recorded during the only available spare time we had and that was before a dance date on the night that we got the song." "Anyway it was a lucky break for us that we got the song released over here (Ireland) before Billie Jo even had it released in England. So you could say I got a few steps ahead of her when laying the Blanket on the Ground on this side of the Atlantic," quips Philomena, "Some years afterwards I got to meet her and she laughed and said "are you the B**** that recorded my song?!" She told me then that she was over here to promote the song and she was sitting in a cafe in Derry when she heard it on a jukebox. She could not believe that someone had it out here before she had got a chance to promote it. We had a good laugh about it all and I asked her "sure isn't that my song now?". Philomena has also released her own "Countrified" version of the ABBA song "The Way Old Friend's Do". This has now become very popular among Irish Country singers and many have also covered this classic in more recent times but Phil was the first. Her version even almost had her competing with ABBA in the British Hit Parade! When asked what led to her recording the song Philomena answers, "My brother Kieran bought an ABBA album which included "The Way Old Friends Do" and I just kept playing it and playing it. I got the idea to put a wee Country feel to it and we tried it out with amazing success. It went down really well especially with audiences all over the UK and I would finish off the theatre show with that song and get all the audiences to join hands and the reaction just went from strength to strength." Philomena Begley later toured with her own band "Shotgun" in the 90's and is still performing and recording today. She has truly earned her title of Ireland's Queen of Country! Even Daniel O'Donnell, Ireland's current international superstar singing sensation says Philomena Begley is one of the stars who inspired him to go into show business and he has even named her as his favourite Irish artist.
		1 commento
	Joe Dolan	414 giorni fa
	To his fans he was a "music legend". To his friends he was someone who was always there for them. To to the people of Mullingar he was "one of our own". They all came together in his hometown yesterday to say goodbye and salute one of the "greats" of Irish showbusiness, Joe Dolan. And there was another side to the singer, the golfer, the businessman and farmer, and that was the side that Fr Brian Darcy revealed in his homily in the Cathedral of Christ the King yesterday, telling the congregation that over the years Joe Dolan secretly donated "tens of thousands" to the poor and was "one of the most charitable people I ever met". Fr Darcy, a well-known figure on the entertainment circuit and long-standing friend of Mr Dolan's, paid a moving tribute to the man whose music touched lives of people all over the world. Mr Dolan died in the Mater Hospital Private on St Stephen's Day, after suffering a brain haemorrhage on Christmas Night. Apart from the 2,000 family, friends and fans who packed the Cathedral of Christ the King, thousands more lined the streets of Mullingar as Mr Dolan's remains were transported to Walshetown Cemetery outside the town. "It's wonderful to think that, at the end of his life, when all his friends got together, we all agreed on one thing: Nobody had a bad word to say about Joe. He was one of those people you looked forward to meeting and, afterwards, you felt better for having met him," said an emotional Fr Darcy, who struggled to maintain his composure during his homily. "To Joe, the most loyal group he had were his fans for 47 years. Joe loved those fans and knew them personally, and entertained them when they needed to be entertained, and he lifted their burdens too when that was needed," said Fr Darcy. Fr Darcy said that for people in the entertainment industry, 2007 was one of the worst years of their lives. "We have had to gather so many times as legends passed on. I'm thinking of people like Jim Aiken, Tony Loughman, Dermot O'Brien, Deirdre Drew, Christie Hennessy, and now Joe," he said. "No family can lose people of influence like that and not be the lesser of it. There's only so much sometimes we can take of loneliness and heartbreak. All of us this morning feel that loss." Mr Dolan is survived by his sisters Dympna and Imelda, brothers Paddy, Ben and Vincent, nephews, nieces, and a large extended family. - LIAM HORAN
		0 commenti
	Dee Rielly	420 giorni fa
	Nashville singer Dee Reilly is the big attraction at a country special in Kelly's Inn, Garvaghey on Thursday, September 25. Appearing on the same bill with her will be Tony Kerr, Boxcar Brian, Anthony McBrien, Larissa and the star-studded Applejack Band. Dee Reilly beautifully personifies the dramatic influence that Irish music has had on today's American country scene. Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts to Irish parents, Deirdre Reilly (Dee) began singing at age five and had formed her own band by the age of 15. For a few years she played various clubs and dance halls all around the north-east and it was during one of those performances in Queens, NY she caught the attention of Paddy Noonan, the founder of Rego Records. Noonan was so impressed with the young singer he offered her a national tour with his All Star Variety Show and a recording contract. That was only the beginning for Dee. In between her stints with Noonan's shows, she became a regular performer at Nashville's Opryland Show Park in the world renown show, 'Country Music USA'. Dee's time in Nashville during her Opryland days proved to open many doors for her in the Nashville music industry. She began recording her albums there working with Music City's finest musicians and producers. She became a regular guest on Nashville's TNN (The Nashville Network) performing on television shows Music City Tonight and Prime Time Country. It was on the popular country music show Music City Tonight hosted by Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase that record producer and guitar master Chet Atkins endorsed Dee's career on live television by saying, "I see them come and go in droves, but I think she will make it. She's got what it takes and she's great." Dee has been making regular visits to Ireland since she was just a baby. With family in Cork, Mayo, Dublin, Clare and Derry, she indeed calls Ireland her home away from home. In recent times she has been coming back to tour the country music scene in Ireland and Britain. Her former manager, the late great Tony Loughman believed so much in Dee's talent as a singer, musician, songwriter and top class performer. Tony first saw Dee performing at a summer festival in Chicago, Illinois in May 2006 while he was over in the States representing Irish country star John Glenn. He was so impressed with her shows, he decided to represent her and launch her career in Ireland and Britain. Sadly, Tony passed away in 2007, but he certainly paved the way for Dee as she is well on her way to becoming a household name in country music. Dee's warm engaging style, powerful voice and dynamic stage presence makes her one of the top entertainers in music today. With fans all across America, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia, she is a hit with audiences no matter where she goes. Her former manager says, "Dee's love of what she does shows all through her process of being a professional artist. She is totally professional on stage and off, always exuding that star quality she was born with, always totally prepared and always willing to meet her fans even after the most demanding concerts. Dee Reilly has it - everything it takes to earn a singular place on the world's musical stage."
		0 commenti
	****Copyright****	632 giorni fa
	Any inquiries email musicboxrecords@hotmail.com
		0 commenti
	.	694 giorni fa
	The late Tony Loughman Tony Loughman, who passed away was at one time the doyen of the country music promoters in Ireland and further afield, indeed very few acts in this particular generation could claim to be untouched by him. Tony, a prolific footballer was never known to shirk a challenge on the field of play and the same can be said in his business dealings where he met adversity head on and it must be said he usually came out on top. A tough negotiator he came from a generation where deals were sealed with a handshake and having shook on the deal a man’s word was his bond. The carnivals that sprang up in every parish were his springboard to fame as he booked for most of them which gave him great clout when it came to dealing with the Dublin based syndicates who previously had called the shots but had to bend the knee when offered so many block bookings. Having got the better of them once he decided to take them on at their own game when realising he was being supped off for advertising and recording, immediately launched his own magazine ’Top Rank’ which knocked the top selling Dublin magazine spotlight off its pedestal and eventually, after starting up a recording company in Castleblayney, all the artists managed by Top Rank had their own recording and publicity and printing business on their own doorstep which proves how far sighted a business man he was. By this time most of the top recording stars including, Big Tom, Philomena Begley, Susan McCann, John Glenn, Hugo Duncan, Brian Coll, Paddy Cole’s Big 8 and many more were managed from Blayney. Having conquered Ireland Tony set his sights on Nashville and it wasn’t long before artists such as Porter Wagnor, Dolly Parton, Charlie Pride were on first name terms and many of the local artists fulfiled a lifetime ambition when they recorded with the cream of the country music capital’s musicians in the famous fireside recording studios. Tony found a way to combine his two great loves when he formed The Top Rank All Stars ladies and gents football teams which played most Monday nights and the same artists usually put on a musical performance afterwards which a local charity courtesy of ’Top Rank’ benefited from. Tony’s football career began in the mid 1950s, playing in the street with is contemporaries, and lining our at juvenile level for the Faughs. He won Minor Championship medals with Blayney in three consecutive years, 1958, 1959 and 1960. In 1960, he captained the victorious championship team and played at midfield for Monaghan County Minor Team in the Ulster Final against Down. He made his club senior debut in 1960 and gave 15 seasons’ service to his beloved Faughs. Tony played in 13 county senior Championship medals, in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973. He scored a goal in his debut county final against Scotstown in 1960 and played over 50 SFC matches for Blayney during his career. Towards the end of this playing career, Tony transferred to Cremartin Shamrocks and added a Junior Championship medal in 1976, and an Intermediate title in 1977. Thus he is the only player in Monaghan GAA history to have a full collection of Senior, Intermediate and Jumior and Minor Championship medals, a total of 14 in all. During the 1960s, he was a regular member of the Monaghan Senior Team. After his playing career had ended. Tony turned to tea, management. At Club level, he served as manager of the all Blayney teams from U16 to Senior level bringing further success at all levels. He managed the Monaghan County Senior Team from 1981 to 1983 and assisted Brian McEniff with the Ulster team in the mid 1980s. He returned to intercounty management in charge of the county Minor Team which won the Ulster League in 1991. His passing will be a cause of great sadness for all who had pleasure of knowing him. To his wife, Joan, and to Declan, Caroline, Ciara and Anthony we extend oour sincerest sympathies
		0 commenti
	Top Rank	739 giorni fa
	Tony Loughman (Top Rank Entertainment) Owner of - Rainbow Center, Glenfarne, Co. Leitrim St. Patrick's Hall, Shercock, Co. Cavan Central Ballroom, Mountfield, Co. Tyrone Drumquin Social Center, Co. Tyrone Starlight Ballroom, Clones, Co. Monaghan St. Mary's Hall, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim Wonderland Ballroom, Bawnboy, Co. Cavan Metric Ballroom, Burnfoot, Co. Donegal Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan Imperial Hotel, Garvagh Barley Inn, Omagh Plaza Ballroom, Buncrana, Co. Donegal St. Brigid's Hall, Carnew Termon Ballroom, Co. Donegal Pettigo Community centre Knock-na-Moe Hotel, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Embassy Club Castleblayney, Three Star Inn Castleblayney.... Managed- Paddy Cole Superstars Big Tom and the Travellers Eileen King's Country Gifts Patrice & Stage Five Philomena Begley & her Ramblin' Men Susan McCann & the Storytellers Shelly & The Big Valley Anne, Shelly & The Marines Big Ivan & The New County Sharon & Green Forest, Sally O Brien, louge & mc cool, Kathy Durkin, Margo....
		0 commenti
	TONY LOUGHMAN	739 giorni fa
	June 1, 2007....Tony Loughman, Monaghan music legend mourned (From the Mayo News) Tony Loughman, who died in his native Castleblayney last week, was a central player in the Irish country music scene for many years. He was aged 64 and had been coping with an illness for some time. He was predeceased by his daughter Edel last year. During the late 1970s and well into the ‘80s, Tony directed the hugely successful Top Rank organisation that was the biggest management operation in country music on the island of Ireland in those years. Several of the biggest names in the business operated out of the Top Rank stable including Big Tom, Philomena Begley, Susan McCann, Paddy Cole, Hugo Duncan and a host of others. The company also ran a chain of ballrooms and venues. The furthest flung venue from Castleblayney was the Macra Hall in Abbeyleix. Tony’s company had its own recording studio in Castleblayney as well as its own weekly publication, Entertainment News, which had a nationwide distribution bringing readers up to date with all the happenings on the country music circuit. I had the privilege of editing the Entertainment News magazine for a time and lived in Castleblayney for some months. In many ways, the Loughman enterprise was an empire within the structures of the country music scene here in Ireland. Tony started out as a quarryman and often said that it gave him a great grounding in understanding the ordinary people. He later served for a term or two as a member of Castleblayney UDC. A strong footballer, he won eleven Monaghan senior championship medals with Castleblayney Faughs and was a big supporter of the club all his life. As a teenager, he captained Monaghan to an Ulster minor final win while he also played for the Monaghan senior team for a number of years during the 1960s. Immersed in the culture of the GAA, his son Declan was a member of the Monaghan senior team for several seasons. But outside his native county, he was mainly associated with the world of country music and the promotion of shows. He was a regular visitor to Mayo and the last time I met Tony was in the TF in Castlebar last year. In recent times, he had being doing a lot of promotion work for Deirdre Reilly, the Nashville-based singer whose dad is from Belmullet. Fr Brian D’Arcy was the chief celebrant at his Requiem Mass in St Mary’s Church, Castleblayney and among the overflow congregation were many well-known people from the showbiz and circuit including Big Tom, Phil Begley, Derek Davis (RTÉ), Susan McCann, Paddy Cole and many more. Tony is survived by his wife Joan, sons Declan and Anthony, daughters Caroline and Ciara, in-laws, grandchildren, brother Noel and sister Sheila, relatives and friends.
		0 commenti