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Hilton Showband Feature (1963 - 1971 - or 2012?)

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

The Story

Tracing the history of the Hilton Showband has proven somewhat difficult. We have read online that the band came out of the "small local Newry band called the Rhythm Aces" in the late 1950's. Our research has uncovered a band from Newry called the "Rhythm Aces Dance Orchestra and Showband" which appears to have started around 1958. However the band was described as  a ten piece orchestra "with Tommy Vaughn (Ireland's Perry Como), Al Rowan's Harmony Boys, and Aces Skiffle Group (stars of County Down)."

Assuming this was the same band, we know it was managed by Malachy O'Neill from Newry. By early 1962, the band was called the Rhythm Aces Showband but was still 10 pieces. They were also playing through April, 1963 so we think the actual start date for the Hilton may have been around Easter Sunday, 1963.        

According to the archives (see below), the Hilton Showband from Newry hit the road in May, 1963. One way or another, the original nine piece lineup was big for the times, also unique as it included 2 lead vocalists which was unusual back in the early 1960's. 17-year-old Eileen (or Eleanor) Toner and Ricky McVeigh handled the vocals, along with Jimmy McGivern (guitar), Tommy Tohill (bass), Hughie Kimmons (drums), Mick Doran (guitar), Luke Burke (listed as Dessie-trumpet), Dominic Donnelly (aka Dom-sax) and Austin "Bobby" Campbell (trombone). The band was managed by Malachy O'Neill, also from Newry.

They immediately seemed to do very well and were soon playing across the country from East to West (and of course across the North).

Like almost all bands of the era, they started out as a semi-professional and would make the move to the "professional" status a year later in May of 1964. Along the way, there were a couple of changes to their lineup. John Hughes replaced Austin "Bobby"  Campbell on trombone and Gerald Slade replaced Jimmy McGivern on guitar. We think this might have been a stage name for Gerry Black, but cannot verify that info at this time).  

July, 1967 the band replaced female vocalist Patricia O'Kelly with new singer Breege Jordan from Killeen. Still on the road after forty years. Peter Cowan would come over from the Epic Showband in mid 1967.

After 40+ years on the road there are still 3 original members playing at present, namely Mickey Doran, Ricky McVeigh and Tommy Tohill. Also in the present Band are Donal(Dan) Bracken(Drums) and Nigel Simmons (Keyboards). Here's to the next 40 years!
©Tommy Tohill 11.1.2003

 

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

   
Rhythm Aces - 1962 Hilton - 1963 Hilton - 1963 Hilton - 1966 Hilton - 1967
 
Hilton - 1963 Hilton - 1964 Hilton - 1965 Hilton - 1966 Hilton - 1967
Hilton Showband Hilton (LR) Hilton - 1966 (LR) Hilton - 1965 (BF) Hilton Live (JB)

Hilton  - 1963 (LMX)

Hilton - 1967

Hilton (PL) Hilton (PL) Hilton (PL)
Hilton (RF) Hilton (RF) Hilton (RF) Hilton (RF) Hilton (RF)
Hilton (RF) Hilton (RF) Hilton (RF) Hilton (RF) Hilton - 1967 (RF)
 
Hilton (RF) Hilton (RF) Hilton (RF) Hilton (RF) Coming Soon
         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
         
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Years Vocals Vocals Guitar Bass Drums Gtr/Keys Trumpet Sax Trombone
May
1963
Eileen
Toner
Ricky
McVeigh
Jimmy
McGivern
Tommy
Tohill
Hughie
Kimmons
Mick
Doran
Luke
Burke
Dominic
Donnelly
Austin
Campbell
May
1964
Eileen
Toner
Ricky
McVeigh
Gerald
Slade
Tommy
Tohill
Hughie
Kimmons
Mick
Doran
Luke
Burke
Dominic
Donnelly
John
Hughes
Dec
1964
Patricia
Kelly
Ricky
McVeigh
Gerry
Black
Tommy
Tohill
Hughie
Kimmons
Mick
Doran
Luke
Burke
Dominic
Donnelly
John
Hughes
Aug
1967
Breege 
Jordan
Ricky
McVeigh
Gerry
Black
Tommy
Tohill
Pat
Savage
Mick
Doran
Luke
Burke
Dominic
Donnelly
John
Hughes
Oct
1967
Breege 
Jordan
Ricky
McVeigh
Peter
Cowan
Tommy
Tohill
Pat
Savage
Mick
Doran
Luke
Burke
Dominic
Donnelly
John
Hughes
1972 Deidre
Unknown
Ricky
McVeigh
Peter
Cowan
Tommy
Tohill
Pat
Savage
Mick
Doran
Luke
Burke
Dominic
Donnelly
John
Hughes
1974 Eileen
King
Ricky
McVeigh
Peter
Cowan
Tommy
Tohill
Pat
Savage
Mick
Doran
Luke
Burke
Dominic
Donnelly
John
Hughes
                   

Discography

Carlingford Bay
Unknown Records - Unknown Catalog - May, 1966

Audio Clips

         
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Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

Eileen "Eleanor" Toner: If you have any additional info, please email us.
Ricky McVeigh (aka McVey): If you have any additional info, please email us.
Jimmy McGivern: If you have any additional info, please email us.
Tommy Tohill - RIP: Tommy would continue to play for most of the rest of his life (along with Ricky McVeigh and Mickey Doran) with the band which would not call it quits until sometime after 2010. He would sadly pass away on June 9th, 2020.
Hughie Kimmons: If you have any additional info, please email us.
Mick Doran: Mickey Doran stayed with the Hilton until it finally called it quits after fifty years on the road (although much more a local band after the showband era.) He would work as a dental technician and celebrated his 80th birthday in June, 2019. Along with Tommy Tohill (RIP) and Ricky McVeigh, they remained original members through to the end. 
Luke Burke: If you have any additional info, please email us.
Dominic "Dom" Donnelly: If you have any additional info, please email us.
Austin "Bobby" Campbell: If you have any additional info, please email us.
John Hughes: CookestownIf you have any additional info, please email us.
Gerald Slade: If you have any additional info, please email us.
Patricia Kelly: If you have any additional info, please email us.
Gerry Black: If you have any additional info, please email us.
Breege Jordan: If you have any additional info, please email us.
Peter Cowan: If you have any additional info, please email us.
Deirdre Unknown: If you have any additional info, please email us.

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