Shaun O'Dowd and Ding-A-Ling Gallery (1975-1986)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Shaun, from Jamestown in County
Leitrim, was the son of local singing star Phyllis Glancy who had
her own Dance Orchestra in the mid 1950's. Growing up, Shaun and his
seven siblings would hear stories of the dances and
ballrooms where his mother played. His father was a school teacher
which made for the strange combination of calling him "Sir" at
school and "Dad" at home.
Besides his musical mother,
Shaun's biggest influence was Elvis Presley. During a 2015 interview
with Steven Travers on Irish TV's Showband Stories, he told
the story about hearing Elvis on the radio for the first time. "It
stopped me in my tracks. I wanted to be Elvis, I wanted to sing like
Elvis, I wanted to talk like Elvis. Everything...it just took me
over."
By 1962, Shaun felt he was ready
and formed his first band, The Telstars (named after the Tornado's
hit record at the time). After several years of following showbands,
asking questions about every aspect of having a band, he knew they
needed suits. Shaun's father stepped in and purchased second hand
suits from Ben Dolan of the Drifters for suits which the band had
stopped wearing. "They were red and we thought we were the bees
knees," says Shaun.
and herIn August, 1975 in a shock
announcement, Tommy Drennan left the Top League for a career in
cabaret. It was announced in Spotlight that Shaun O'Dowd would be
taking over and the band would be changing its name. The band would
become Dingaling.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
Discography
Singles:
Silver Moon / Smile
Little Lady (with the Top League) -
#9 Irish Charts
Release Records - Unknown - June, 1974
For the Kids
Unknown Records - Unknown - September, 1975
Bye Bye Frauline -
#4 Irish Charts
Release Records - Unknown - June, 1976
Those Rockin' Sounds / Goodbye Love
Play Records - PLAY 94 - 1976
Gary Don't Go
Release Records - Unknown - March, 1976
Ooh I Love That Boogie Beat / You're My One and Only
Release Records - RL 883 - 1977
A Place In Your Heart / Mary -
#20 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL 936 - September, 1978
Have A Ding-A-Ling Christmas / Don't Ever Let It End
Release Records - RL 904 - December, 1978
Reach Out / Hey Dixie -
#11 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.966 - June, 1979
The Password Is Love / Love Grows
Release Records - RL 999 - 1980
You Are No Angel / Let Me Go -
#13 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.1058 - June, 1981
It's Good To See You / Broken Down Angel -
#19 Irish Charts
Ritz Records - RITZ.023 - January, 1982
Lonely But Only For You -
#25 Irish Charts
Ritz Records - Unknown - August, 1984
Making Movies / Where Did You Learn To Love -
#14 Irish Charts
Ritz Records - Unknown - July, 1985
Love Hurts / Sing Me That Song Again
Unknown Records - Unknown - 1985
I'm Only In It For the Love / Dig A Little Deeper in the Well
Angel Records - S.001 - 198?
Albums:
Rockin' Sounds
Release Records - BRL 4093 - 1977
Crossing Over
K-Tel Records - KLP 130 - 1983
Audio Clips
Coming Soon
Where Are They Now?
