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The showband scene of former times has lost another well-known name with the passing of Frank Gill (78), bandleader with the legendary Royal Blues.
Frank and his brother Vincent played a prime role in fostering and encouraging the ambitions of young teenager Louis Walsh from down the road in Kiltimagh.
Louis, who went on to become one of Ireland’s best-known showbiz impresarios, has never forgotten the key role played by Frank and Vincent Gill in his own career.
The Royal Blues were huge back then and I used to put up posters for them all around the area. During the time they had The Blues Inn in Claremorris, they gave me a summer job there.
"I absolutely loved it and meeting the many showband heads who would call in when passing through town.
"I always mention them when asked about my early inspiration in this business.
“Their manager Andy Creighton lived in Claremorris and he was an extremely flamboyant character, smoking big Cuban cigars and striking big deals for the band.
"He later managed DJ Curtin and The Kerry Blues, The Memories and Brush Shiels. He was known everywhere in the band scene for years,” recalls Louis.
Old Man Trouble
The Royal Blues became the first band from Connacht to achieve number one in the Irish Top 20 when Doc Carroll’s version of Old Man Trouble, a popular Fats Domino song in America, topped the charts for two weeks in 1966.
The most instantly recognisable sound from the recording is that of Frank’s intro on the sax and throughout the record.
Under the guidance of Andy, they enjoyed some phenomenal years, including mega nights on tour in the UK and the east coast of the USA.
Their gigs in New York drew some of the biggest crowds of the decade to Bill Fuller’s famous City Center ballroom in Manhattan.
They were a magnet for the large west of Ireland population who had made New York their home.
Having the legendary Bill Fuller on-side was a massive coup.
The Kerry native ran a promotions company whose list of clients included Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Joe Loss and Billie Holiday.
Fuller, who died in 2008 at the age of 91, spent seven decades in the entertainment business. He built an empire stretching from Camden Town in London to San Francisco.
Bill was the first man to bring an Irish Showband to Las Vegas, achieving that feat in 1966 with Brendan Bowyer and The Royal.
“They were wonderful days and such great times,” says Vincent Gill. “It was an incredible decade that has left life-time memories for so many people.
"Our dances in New York and the Irish venues in England were amazing in those times.
"Frank’s party piece at our shows in England and America was The Boys From The County Mayo and he would be cheered to the rafters for it.
“He always had a great rapport with people and was also the chief announcer with the band. He loved the music scene and continued to play up until recent years.”
The eight-member band featured Doc Carroll and Frank and Vincent Gill (Mayo), Shay O’Hara (Carlow) and four young Dublin lads, Brian Carr, Bobby Smyth, Brendan Arnold and Don Flanagan. Shay O’Hara and Doc Carroll were the joint lead singers at the outset.
Castlebar Airport
In May 1966, Frank Gill was on board the very first plane, piloted by Michael Finnegan, to touch down at Castlebar Airport. The other two passengers were Bobby Smyth and Andy Creighton.
The Royal Blues were at the height of their fame and a huge crowd was present to witness the landing and give them a rapturous reception.
Frank recorded a few songs, including You’ll Come To Castlebar which was a finalist in one of the early Castlebar song contests. The flip side was Singing The Blues.
He also recorded Sligo The Champions, a tribute to the Sligo team that won the Connacht title in 1975.
Frank had resided in Dublin for many years. He had been in failing health in recent months and died in the kind care of the staff of Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross.
The funeral mass was celebrated in the Church of the Divine Word, Marley Rise, Rathfarnham, followed by cremation in Mt Jerome Crematorium.
Frank is survived by his wife Mary, sons Frank and James, daughters Sharon and Annie, daughter-in-law Kristy, sons-in-law Andrew and Padraig, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
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