Burmah Showband / Carl and the
Actions (1968-1971)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
The Burmah Showband from Meath started out in August, 1968 as a
seven piece outfit. The original line-up included Pat Meehan (Kells
- guitar), P.J. Maguire (Kells - bass), Tommy Brennan (Navan -
drums), Francie McGovern (Kells - trumpet), Alan O'Toole (Navan
- sax), Brian McGovern (guitar) and Eric Murray (Dublin - vocals).
Within a couple of months, they added Jim Clarke of Navan on
trombone, filling out their complement of brass. The band was
managed by Sean Clancy. Their first appearance was on August 20th,
1968 at the Kilcock Carnival.
By September of 1969, Eric had
left the band and joined the Dublin group, Blue. As far as we know,
he was not replaced for the time being. The band was playing
regularly, but rarely far from home along the east coast. Towards
the end of 1970, major changes took place in the band.
A new lead vocalist, Carl Phillips
(real name Philip Carroll) joined the band which had a new name,
Carl and the Actions. Like so many bands of the era, they were
often called the Actions Showband as well. Along with a
new singer, the band (now a seven piece) added Eddie Savage on bass,
John Fitzpatrick on trombone and Brian Doherty of sax. Along with
original members Pat, Tommy and Brian McGovern the band enjoyed a
major relaunch in the papers and started to travel further afield.
Manager Jim Kierans promised a new single from the new line-up in
the near future.
In January of 1971, the band
released its first (and we think only) single,
"Beggar to a King" with an old standard, "Love Dies" on the B-side.
There history gets a little difficult to track after this as in June
of 1971 there were several adverts for Carl singing cabaret spots
and reported to be the "former" singer with the Action. Carl would
eventually end up replacing Frank Chisum in the Royal Showband
almost a year later in April, 1972. We think during this period the
band was advertised as the "Action Showband."
In early 1972,
a band named "Carmen and the Action Showband" was being advertised
for gigs, mostl;y areound the Cork area and we think this was a
totally different band. If you know any more,
please contact us.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
