Manhattan Showband (Dublin) Gallery (1965-1968)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
As far as we can tell, the Dublin-based Manhattan Showband (there
was also a Manhattan Showband based in Belfast) hit the road around
1965. In a 1967 article it describes the band as teenagers aged
"sixteen and upwards. We think the band may have been formed in 1965
but they spent the first couple of years playing relief to the
bigger bands as well as local parties and clubs. It would be late
1967 when the band hit the road as a showband.
The original lineup in 1967 was
Noel Foley (leader and guitar), Paddy Foley (guitar), Ken Brennan
(vocals/sax), Steve Maloney (bass), Terry Killeen (drums), Jack
Walsh (sax) and Kevin Boyd (trumpet). Tracking the band's history is
made somewhat more difficult because of the Belfast band of the same
name who had hit the road in 1962. They were being managed by Paddy
Cole.
It would be a year later in
November, 1968 when they released their first record, the Phil
Coulter penned "Who's Pushing Your Swing"
which was produced by John Drummond and released on the Dolphin
label. As with most singles released in those days, it had no impact
on the charts but received enough airplay to help build the band's
reputation outside of their native Dublin.
Based on our newspaper archives
research we think the band last until 1978, but we can find veryu
little about them in terms of newspaper adverts for dances. Because
of this, we are not when they say for sure how long they lasted or
whether they had any lineup changes of further record releases.
If you know any more about the
band,
please contact us.
Hopefully, more to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
