Big Tom and the Travellers (1975-1989)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
When Big Tom McBride announced he
was splitting with
the Mainliners in April, 1975, it rocked the country and Irish music scene.
The Mainliners had been one of the most successful country bands to
emerge from the showband era. Love them or hate them (and many did)
they were packing them in by the thousands in ballrooms across
the country. It was still hard to imagine why Tom would part company
with this long time band mates. However, as was previously
experienced with the split of the Drifters, Miami, and many others, it was
almost inevitable it would happen.
The band made its debut just 4
nights after the final appearance of Big Tom and the Mainliners on
8th May, 1975 in Athy. The same night, the new look Mainliners debuted at
the Annadown Carnival with new lead singer John Glenn (Hanratty).
The transition for Tom was made a little easier by the fact that the
new Travellers were actually the old Everglades, who had been on the
road since the early 70's and previously been fronted by Sean
Thompson. However, the move was not a total surprise as bass player,
Paddy King, of the Everglades was actually Big Tom's brother-in-law.
The original line-up was: Paddy
King (bass), Patsy McDermott (guitar), Harry Conlon (keyboards), Ken
Kennedy (sax), Kevin McCooey (sax), Tom McBride (vocals), and Noel
Cassidy (drums). Originally managed by John McCormack (who also
managed the Mainliners for over a decade) Tom joined the Top Rank
Entertainment team in January 1976 and was being managed by Robin
Irwin (the former manager of the Everglades).
Tom Kernan joined the band in 1980
on guitar following a stint with Country Gifts.
Although Big
Tom was one of the greatest attractions the ballroom scene had ever
known, even his staunchest fans found it hard to swallow his new
sound. Spotlight magazine was full of reviews and comments about how
the new band was not up to the standard of the Mainliners. One of
the main problems for the new band was that Big Tom and the
Mainliners had a very distinct sound and the new outfit struggled with
NOT sounding like the Mainliners, while still backing Big Tom
playing mainly Mainliner's hits which was not
an easy task. The Travellers certainly had
big shoes to fill. Despite some rough going early on, they
eventually hit their stride and Tom's success as the King of Irish
Country continued.
In February, 1976, the band
released its first album, "When the Roses Bloom Again." In late 1976
Big Tom's first single with the Travellers was released, It's A
Weary Weary World, which did not make the charts, a rarity for
the man from Castleblaney who had made the record in his new studio.
Thoughout the late 70's, Big Tom would release an album every year
including: Travel On (1977), I Would Like to See you Again
(1978), Live at the London Irish Festival (1979) and Blue
Wings (1980). Despite the success of hs album sales, Tom would not
have another single in the charts until 1981 when Four Country
Roads became the biggest selling single of his time fronting the
Travellers.
More to come....
click on thumbnails for full image
Discography
Singles:
It's a Weary Weary World / Connemara Country Boy / Darcy Farrow
Denver Records - Unknown - September, 1976
Four Country Roads (Big Tom) -
#5 Irish Charts
Denver Records - Unknown - July, 1981
Streets of Dublin City (Big Tom) -
#7 Irish Charts
Denver Records - Unknown - October, 1981
Lonesome Guitar (Big Tom) -
#12 Irish Charts
Denver Records - Unknown - July, 1982
Drinkin' 'Em Beers (Big Tom) -
#16 Irish Charts
Denver Records - Unknown - March, 1983
If I Needed You (Big Tom) -
#10 Irish Charts
Denver Records - Unknown - March, 1984
Old Pals of Yesterday (Big Tom) -
#20 Irish Charts
Denver Records - Unknown - October, 1985
Tubbercurry (Big Tom) -
#25 Irish Charts
Denver Records - Unknown - December, 1986
Albums (Our thanks to Richard Cooke for the info on the
Travellers albums)
When The Roses
Bloom Again
Denver Records - LPDNV6 - 1976
Travel On
Denver Records - LPDNV7 - 1977
I Would Like To See You Again
Denver Records - LPDNV8 - August, 1978
Live at the London Irish Festival
Denver Records - LPDNV9 - 1979
Blue Wings - Nashville
Denver Records - LPDNV10 - 1980
Four Country Roads
Denver Records - LPDNV11 - 1981
Songs of Home and Far Away
Denver Records - LPDNV12 - 1982
Blue Wings / Four Country Roads
Denver Records - LPDNV14 - 1984
Teardrops In The Snow
Denver Records - LPDNV15 - 1985
Around Ireland with Big Tom
Denver Records - LPDNV16 - 1986
Audio Clips
Coming Soon
Where Are They Now?
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