Long before the advent of motorways, Johnny was familiar with the highways and byways of the island of Ireland. That’s what comes with years on the road.

All of 60 years have flown by since a young lad of just 14 summers from Castlerea joined the Premier Aces Showband, one of the leading bands in the Roscommon region back then. Johnny’s first gig with the band was in The Maple, Ballinrobe, and his next one was just six miles away in lovely Cong.

On 21 September, a tribute night to Johnny Carroll will be staged at the Salthill Hotel, Galway, just over the road from where Johnny has resided for many years.

The Conquerors will provide the music for the night and guest performers include Jimmy Buckley, Mick Flavin, John Hogan, Brendan Shine, Tony Allen, PJ Murrihy, Trudi Lalor, Eddie Carey and Matthew O’Donnell. The comperes are Chris Carroll and Jimmy Higgins, and the show starts at 8pm.

“There are times you sit back and wonder where the years have gone. Thank God I am still in fine health and enjoying every night I go on stage. I still do a good few of the smaller theatres and I have never lost that love and zest for the stage.

“I loved my young years with The Premier Aces. They were a great band and had a wonderful rapport with audiences. The crowds were phenomenal at dances back in those times.

“A lot of the big showbands of the 1960s era began to break up and go their own way towards the close of that decade. I joined the band known as Murphy and The Swallows in the early 1970s, and from there it was on to Magic and the Magic Band,” says the man himself.

The advent of the 1980s saw Johnny embark on another phase, as he branched out on his own, releasing some highly popular instrumental albums. The title of ‘The Man with the Golden Trumpet’ was put on him by his manager and marketing guru, Donie Cassidy, from Castlepollard.

“It stuck and has remained with me every since,” smiles Johnny.

The Enjoy Travel Company, pioneers of the music holidays abroad, took Johnny on board for several of their overseas trips to Spain and Portugal. Among the special highlights were the annual trips to Ibiza.

“Those were magical days and we made so many friends from all over Ireland and the UK. There was a huge buzz to the April shows in Ibiza. From once you went on stage, you could be anywhere in Ireland at the height of the showband boom.”

Stories from the road come easy to Johnny. The recent death of American country legend Glen Campbell rekindles memories of a meeting with Glen in Branson, Missouri, around 16 years ago.

“I was over in America doing a few shows and among the audience was Sandy Gilliard, who was a photographer and did some work for Glen. She got some of my albums and liked them. The end result was she invited Donie (Cassidy) and I to come to Branson, where Glen had a major theatre and where he was performing a number of shows. We found him to be a most amicable gentleman and he invited us for a round of golf.

“He very graciously invited me on stage to perform a trumpet solo on Amazing Grace, while he played the bagpipes. It was an incredible experience. Another time he heard I was doing a show in Galveston and he sent me a message to wish me well.

“This guy was so huge over the years. He did sessions with Elvis and the Beach Boys, and was one of the finest musicians and singers on the circuit. He made it the hard way and appreciated his success.”

The man from Castlerea, celebrated in the song of the same title written by PJ Murrihy, retains a fondness for the showbusiness scene that has never waned with the years. He has remained true to his early calling and he most certainly has done it his way. CL

The Johnny Carroll Tribute Night takes place in the Salthill Hotel, Galway, on Thursday, 21 September. Tickets are available in advance and can also be had at the door on the night.