Derek Joys Showband Gallery (1961-1970
/ 1990-1995)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
As far as we can tell the Derek
Joys Showband started life as the Swingbeats
in Waterford City in early 1961. Like so many other bands, they were
a local pop group who played for dances and concerts. Apparently
most of the band members were employees of the Waterford Glass
factory.
The lineup in April, 1961
included: Derek Joy (vocals), Jackie Power (guitar), Jimmy Foley
(leader and guitar), Michael Cahill (drums), Rd Quinn (keyboards),
Edmond Walsh (sax), Nicholas Cahill (trumpet), and Noel Cahill
(trombone). The three Cahills were brothers.
By December of 1961, they had
changed their name to the Derek Joys, which quickly became
the Derek Joys Showband. It didn't take long for the band to
move beyond their home town and by early 1962, they were playing all
around the area including several gigs in Dublin. Their popularity
spread quickly throughout the year and they were soon playing
everywhere. On July 20th, 1962 the band shared the stage with
American star Emile Ford and his Checkmates in a double bill gig in
the Atlantic Ballroom in Tramore.
In September, 1962, the band made
the decision to turn professional and quit their day jobs, always a
difficult step for any band of the era. They were being managed by
Tom Bates of Dublin. Around this time, D.J. Curtin joined the band
on sax, replacing Chris St. Ledger who joined the new
Victors Showband based in Cork. D.J. (who
would become a major star in his own right with the
Kerry Blues) would stay with the band
for the best part of two years.
Around October, 1963, the band
announced the signing of a new lead singer, Earl Jordan, an American
who had been in the US Army and was stationed in England for 5 years
before coming to Ireland. What made Earl unique was the fact that he
was "coloured" as the papers described him in 1963. Earl would only
stay with the band for about a year as he was lured away by the
newly formed Caroline Showband from Dublin in December, 1964.
Keeping up with the band after
this is difficult as it is hard in the newspaper archives to
distinguish between tours, contracts and relocations for the band.
We have read that in November, 1964, the band went to England. Derek
did not go for personal reasons and formed a new band called
Derek Joy and the Joys. However, by March of 1965, he was a part
of the new Capri Showband, also based in Waterford. His time
in the Capri would not last long as by June, 1965 he was once again
Derek Joy and the Joys.
In one of the most interesting
moves of the showband era, despite Derek leaving the band, they
continued to be named after him and the Derek Joys Showband
played on.
In January, 1965 they were
under contract playing in a club in Madrid. In August, 1965, Michael
Cahill was involved in a serious boating accident in Palma Bay and sadly
passed away two weeks later in a hospital in Palma. In September, we think the band returned to England for a
spell, but went back to Spain early the following year (1966).
While in Madrid they were offered
a contract to play in Mexico. In July, 1966 they went to Mexico to
play on a six-month contract which actually turned into several
years. They apparently made a record in Mexico, although they never
released one in Ireland.
When the band returned from
Mexico, Derek would team up with Jimmy Foley in a pub rock group
which played around Waterford.
In 1990, it seems the band
reunited and played for several years before retiring once again.
Derek Joy sadly passed away in October 1997.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
