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Caroline Showband Story (1964-67-in Ireland, -1977 in the UK)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

There were apparently two bands called the "Caroline Showband" in the early 1960's as the first mention of the name we have found is in February, 1963 when a Mullingar-based band placed adverts in the Irish Independent as the Caroline Showband. However it is the "other" Caroline Showband which is the subject of our story. 

In December, 1964, it was reported in a variety of Irish papers that a new band was to be launched that week. The same week, a story appeared in the Sunday Independent saying that Kilkenny man, Jim Craig, of Caroline Enterprises had approached Dublin-based drummer Kevin Brady to form a showband. The band made its debut at a reception in Dublin's Gresham Hotel on Tuesday, December 22nd, 1964. The original lineup included: Kevin Brady (RIP-Dublin-drums), Earl Jordan (Buffalo, New York-vocals), Tony Kearns (Drogheda-sax), Reginald Dunne (Dublin-guitar), Kevin Gregan (Dublin-bass), Tony Coffey (Dublin-keyboards), Harry Burrows (Birmingham-sax), and Michael Burns (Sligo-trumpet). The manager was Frank Traynor of Dublin. On stage the band wore dark blue suits with Earl decked out in a white blazer.

The band made its first appearance at a reception in Dublin's Gresham Hotel on Tuesday, December 22nd. Interestingly, the band debuted at the same time as the new Nevada Showband featuring Maisie McDaniel and the Millionaires Showband. Lead singer Earl Jordan, although born in Buffalo, New York, came to England with the US Air Force and arrived in Dublin in December, 1963.

Former member, Mel Dean (who joined the band in 1966) sent us an email in 2009 and told us the band was put together by Ronan O'Rahilly who owned the pirate radio station, Radio Caroline. Earl Jordan was recruited from the Derek Joys Showband (also managed by Frank Traynor) to front the new act. Mel told us that the band's program featured a lot of soul music (James Brown) and they never quite hit it off with the punters on the Irish dance circuit. The band lineup was: Earl Jordan (vocals), Mel Dean (guitar) Tony Coffey (keyboards), Gerry Ryan (bass), Kevin Brady (drums), Mike Burns (trumpet), Harry Burroughs (sax), and Tony Kearns (sax). Earl Jordan was one of the first black singers to tour Ireland, making the band a bit of a novelty act, but it would not last long. 

The band received plenty of press coverage over their initial few months on the road and were often (as were most bands back then) a tip for the top with their success a forgone conclusion. The band hit the ground running and was soon playing around the country.  

They also had the support of pirate radio station Radio Caroline which helped promote the band as much as it could and at one point it was reported they had recorded twelve songs to be played on the station. On January 21st, 1965 a note appeared in Tom Hennigan's Going Places column in the Evening Herald saying the band was looking for "a lady vocalist, one who can sing pop numbers in in the dynamic, personality-plus manner of today's showbands." Apparently this never happened. In April 1965, Kevin Gregan had his guitar stolen along with his car from outside a Cabra cinema. 

It would appear than in May 1966, the band changed managers, as they placed an ad n the paper saying inquiries should "now be sent" to an address in Killester, Dublin. In June, 1966 it was reported in the Munster Express newspaper that Dave Coady had left the Atlantic Showband to join the Caroline. We also know that Mel Deane joined the band around this same time.   

In early July, 1966, the band traveled to Monte Carlo and played at the Monte Carlo ball for Princess Grace of Monaco. By December, 1966, Dave Coady had left the band to join the Clipper Carlton and we're not quite sure who replaced him.

Mel takes up the story: "Going to England in 1967 wasn¹t really a decision the band made in advance. We went to the UK to do a tour of the Irish clubs. This was the stock tour that many Irish showbands played in Irish clubs in London, Birmingham and Manchester (mainly) plus other cities. We did the tour and while in Manchester (The Irish Club in Plymouth Groove - now a snooker hall) we were "spotted" by Joe Pullen - owner of the 'Talk of the North' nightclub in Eccles, Manchester.

At the time, the Witnesses Showband were working around the Northern clubs and doing really well. Most of the bands in the clubs at that time were three guitars &  drums that emulated the Beatles and other pop groups but they didn’t do an act, just stood and played. The Witnesses put on a show, dressed up, had brass instruments and were considered very entertaining and very different at that time. Joe was impressed that we had a black singer (Earl Jordon) and the music we were best at (James Brown/Otis Redding etc) was popular in the clubs. He asked us could we get a 45 minute cabaret act together that included some humour - we said we¹d give it a go and, for the next 10 years or so, that was that."

Tony Coffey did rejoin the band when Dave Coady left - Tony did a summer season with the band in Skegness the first year they moved but left after that ended - he was homesick and returned to Ireland.
Earl Jordan left the band almost immediately and was replaced by Tony Woods when the Express Showband disbanded in August, 1967. The band changed its name to the Dunes. Eventually, the boys became homesick and the band broke up with Mel Dean staying in the UK, while the rest returned home. The band would make occasional trips to trip in Ireland, the most notable being in 1969 when they played at a dance celebrating the opening of the O'Growney GAA park in Drogheda.     

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Earl Jordan - 1963

Caroline - 1964 Caroline - 1965 Caroline - 1965 Earl Jordan - 1964 (LR)
Caroline - 1964 (LR) Caroline - 1966 (LR) Caroline - 1965 Caroline - 1964 Earl Jordan - 1964 (LR)
   
Caroline - 1964 (RF) Caroline - 1964 (RF) Caroline - 1964

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Lineup Changes (More to come)
 
Years Vocals Guitar Bass Drums Sax Keyboard Sax Trumpet
Dec
1964
Earl
Jordan
Reginald
Dunne
Kevin
Cregan
Kevin
Brady
Harry
Burrows
Tony
Coffey
Tony
Kearns
Mike
Burns
July
1966
Earl
Jordan
Mel
Dean
Kevin
Cregan
Kevin
Brady
Harry
Burrows
Dave
Coady
Tony
Kearns
Mike
Burns
Late
1966
Earl
Jordan
Mel
Dean
Gerry
Ryan
Kevin
Brady
Harry
Burrows
Tony
Coffey
Tony
Kearns
Mike
Burns
Aug
1967
Tony
Woods
Mel
Dean
Gerry
Ryan
Kevin
Brady
Harry
Burrows
Tony
Coffey
Tony
Kearns
Mike
Burns
1968 Tony
Woods
Mel
Dean
Gerry
Ryan
Kevin
Brady
Harry
Burrows
  Tony
Kearns
Mike
Burns
               
               
               
               

Discography

Co Co Joe / Love to Burn
Columbia Records - IDB 747 - 1965

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

Earl Jordan: Earl left the band and as far we know went into cabaret, the last gig we have found for him was in 1979 when he was playing around Dublin cabaret spots. If you know more, please let us know..
Reginald Dunne:
Kevin Cregan:
Kevin Brady - RIP:
Harry Burrows:
Tony Coffey:
Tony Kearns:
Mike Burns:
Mel Dean:
Gerry Ryan: Gerry would emigrate to the United States in 1984 where he worked as a carpenter for many years. He sadly passed away on June 7th, 2022 age 77.(from Frank Mangan).
Dave Coady:
Tony Woods:

 


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In Loving Memory of Grant Gallagher: Sept. 21, 1990 - Nov. 18, 2006