Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem ()
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Although an in depth history of the Clancy's is beyond the scope of
this site, their impact on the Irish entertainment scene, especially
in the early to mid sixties is undeniable. Additionally, as the band
was actually formed in the United States, we generally only provide
features for Irish bands that played the ballrooms here on
www.irish-showbands.com.
The Clancy Brothers, all born in
Carrick-On-Suir, Co. Tipperary between 1922 and 1935, emigrated to
England and then to Canada in the late 1940's after the end of World
War II. They all eventually ended up in the New York area, hoping to
build careers as actors, not singers. Youngest brother, Liam was the
last to join the brothers in the States, arriving in 1956. At that
time, brother Bobby, returned to Ireland to look after the family
insurance business.
Meanwhile, Tommy Makem, from Keady,
Co. Armagh, had also been singing a bit and had met Liam Clancy in
Ireland in late 1955 and became immediate friends. Like the Clancys,
he dreamed of fame and fortune in the States as an actor and headed
off to the States. He was working in a mill, when his hand was
crushed in an accident and being out of work, he headed to New York
from Dover where he knew the Clancys were enjoying some success on
the Broadway circuit.
Over the next three years, Tommy
and the brothers started singing in local pubs and parties, never
intending to form an official group as they were still pursuing
their careers in acting. Eventually though, their singing
engagements became more profitable than acting and in 1959 they
decided to make an album. Liam was now playing guitar, while Tommy
played tin whistle and bagpipes.
The band played mostly Irish
drinking songs and rebel songs and by 1961 they had become quite
popular in the New England area of the States, playing to packed
houses from New York to Boston. In 1961 they were asked to appear on
the Ed Sullivan Show (the same show that would introduce the Beatles
to America). Just prior to the show, their mother had sent them four
white Arran knit sweaters (reportedly knitted by their sister,
Peggy). Their manager had been looking for a gimmick and their
sweaters proved just the thing. The boys were an instant hit and
were immediately signed by Columbia Records and set about making an
album of folk and Irish songs.
Having conquered the States, the
group came to Ireland for their first tour in 1962 and took the
country by storm. They lead a new folk revolution which took hold of
Ireland and lead to the folk boom which rivaled the showband boom of
the same period. Tom some artists like the Dubliners, Johnny McEvoy
and Danny Doyle owed at least a part od their success to the
overwhelming popularity of the Clancys and Tommy Makem.
Throughout the mid to late 1960's,
The Clancys and Tommy Makem continued to dominate the Irish folk
scene at home and abroad. However, Tommy Makem split from the group
at the end of March, 1969. Bobby Clancy was recruited to take his
place and the boys continued on staying a four piece. Immediately
after the split, Tommy Makem teamed up with Ray Durham for a while,
appearing on the Late Late Show. However, they asked Finbar Furey to
join them as he both sang and played banjo. Finbar agreed as long as
his brother Eddie was included and for the next three years the two
Furey Brothers toured as part of the Clancy brothers.
More to come.....
