Black Aces Showband Story (1958-1972)

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

The Story

As many early showbands did, the Black Aces started out in Kilkenny as a skiffle group around 1958 at a parochial concert in St. Patrick's Hall. Sean Holland was a part of that original line-up playing washboard. A few months later, they appeared again in the hall, but had added a few new members and the line-up included John Cantwell (drums), Ollie Kearney (vocals/guitar), Sean Holland (trumpet), Jim O'Dwyer (bass) and Liam Drennan (sax).

When the group made the move to become a showband, they added Arthur Connick (trombone) and Val Reynolds (guitar). Eventually the band would also feature Pat Hanrahan (vocals) and Jimmy Lennon (guitar). 

The first advert we can find for the showband line-up was in October, 1959. At the time, the band was still being booked as a "relief band" to major dance bands, as well as beginning to make a name for themselves on the local scene around Kilkenny and the south of the country.

A front page article in the Kilkenny People newspaper on April 16th, 1960 announced the band had quit their day jobs and were turning professional. The line-up at the time included: Liam Drennan (leader and sax), Sean Holland (trumpet), Val Reynolds (guitar), Ollie Kearney (guitar), Jim Lennon (guitar), Arthur Connick (trombone), Jim Dwyer (bass), John Joe Cantwell (drums), and Pat "Paddy" Hanrahan (sax). At this time, the band was being managed by Patsy Murray. As a side note, the band was sometimes advertised as the Black Ace Showband (but officially known as the Black Aces).

In the meantime, the band went from strength to strength, growing in reputation and traveling further afield. In April, 1962, the band left on a one month tour of the USA (mostly the New York area) and they had several changes to the band including Paul Fennelly now as manager and the addition of Tom Dullard on Guitar and Paddy "Sonny" Cullen on bass. At some point earlier Jimmy Lennon left the band and went to live in England where he would eventually carve out a place for himself singing in the Fuller Ballroom in London. Val Reynolds had also left the band early on.

In 1963 the band was involved in one of the most famous events of the Irish entertainment scene when on June 6th, they were booked to play the Diamond Ballroom in Kiltimagh in support of superstar Jim Reeves, who was undertaking a concert tour of the west of Ireland. As the band got ready to back Jim, they were shocked when the country and western superstar left the hall and travelled to his next gig in Sligo's Las Vegas Ballroom, leaving the Black Aces and 1,600 dancers pondering what had happened. Legend has it that Jim objected to the horribly tuned piano in the ballroom and others think he wasn't happy doing two gigs in one night. One way or another, he didn't play in Kiltimagh with the Black Aces.  

By mid to late 1963, things were really rolling for the band. They undertook their 8th tour of the English ballroom scene and were featured on several (R)TE radio shows. In September, both lead singers, Paddy and Ollie got married. In mid 1964, it was reported that the band had cut a record and although an article and photo appeared in the local paper, the disc never materialised. The report said the two recorded songs were, White Sports Coat and Only You, which both featured Pat Hanrahan.

The reason the recordings never saw the light of day was probably that in October, 1964, Pat defected from the band and joined the Nomads Showband. We think this may have been the time at which Jimmy Lennon returned from England to rejoin the band as lead singer. Although much heralded in the local press and band handouts, it appears this move did not last long with Jimmy returning once again to England by the time 1965 rolled around.

In July 1965, the wedding was announced of trumpet player Sean Holland to manager Paul Fennelly's daughter, Mary. Also in 1965, the band finally did release its first single, Serenade of the Bells, sung by bass player Paddy Cullen who appeared to have adopted the stage name, Sonny.

In 1967, they released "Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello" which was sung by Ollie Kearney.

The band's end is a little hard to trace as in mid 1969 they added a new lead singer, 17 year old Andy Murray who had previously been with beat group Fifth Degree. They also released a single, "Happy The Heart That I Own" in January, 1970, but it didn't help them much.

Based on newspaper adverts, the band seemed to be slowing down in early 1970 with an ever increasing number of engagements in and around their home town of Kilkenny and the surrounding area, although they still had fans across the country, they seemed to player fewer gigs further from home. By mid 1972, there were no more dances advertising the Black Aces, although there were several adverts for a band of the same name playing singing lounges around county Galway, but we doubt this had anything to do with the original band. 

Since the late 1990's, there have been numerous reunions with various members of the band's past line-ups taking part including Sonny Cullen, Ollie Kearney, Liam Drennan and Jimmy Lennon. 

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

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Discography

Serenade of the Bells / Cause I Love You (Sonny Cullen)
Emerald Records - MD 1023 - 1965
Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello / La-La (Ollie Kearney)
Emerald Records - Unknown - 1967
Happy The Heart That I Own / Smile (Andy Murray)
Unknown Records - Unknown - January, 1970

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?