Birth name: Tom McBride
Also
known as: Big Tom
18
September 1936 (Born: Castleblayney, Monaghan, Ireland) - 17 April 2018 (aged
81)
The
“giant
in Irish country music” died in the early hours of Tuesday morning
His
family confirmed the news hours after he “passed away peacefully” in the early
hours of Tuesday morning.
“It
is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear father Big Tom
McBride (RIP) this morning,” a statement on the singer’s official Facebook page
read.
“Dad
passed away peacefully in the company of his family. He will be sadly missed by
all who new him. “May he rest in peace.”
McBride,
whose wife Rose died in January, was hospitalised in Nov 2006 after suffering a
heart attack, at the age of 70,
which had put doubt into whether he would ever tour again with his band
Tributes
quickly flooded in from famous fans and politicians including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who hailed
McBride a “giant in Irish country music”.
Singer Daniel O'Donnell branded him a “king” as he paid tribute. “It's just so sad,” he said. “On the other hand, he was probably heartbroken without his wife, Rose. Maybe for him, it's a gift from God.
McBride
enjoyed a career spanning five decades which saw him hit the charts with Big Tom And The Mainliners.
The
band, formed in the 1960s, were famous for songs including “Broken
Marriage Vows” and “The Sunset Years Of Life”.
www.irish-showbands.com |
Band:
"Big" Tom McBride (lead vocals, saxophone, rhythm guitar), Seamus
McMahon (lead guitar, fiddle, vocals), Henry McMahon (tenor sax, vocals,
bandleader, percussion), John Beattie (keyboards, piano), Cyril McKevitt (
trombone, vocals), Ronnie Duffy (drums, vocals) and Ginger Morgan (Bass guitar,
vocals)
Originally
named as "The Mighty Mainliners
Showband", the band achieved fame after appearing on RTÉ Television's Showband Show
broadcast on 21 May 1966 performing “Gentle Mother” which subsequently
reached No.7 in the pop charts of Ireland. In the early 1970s, the band changed
their name to "The Mainliners", however soon afterwards they adopted
the name "Big Tom and the
Mainliners" in line with other Irish Showbands where a single man was
used to take centre stage.
Although
the band did not gain prominence until the mid to late 1960's, in an article in
Spotlight in May, 1970, Tom McBride told reporter Donal Corvin that he formed
the band with Henry McMahon when Tom returned to Ireland in 1963 after working
in England for two years. Henry had also been in England.
Born
in Oram, near Castleblaney, Tom McBride was one of four siblings. Reared on a
farm, he left school in his teens to help out at home. In the September 30,
1976 issue of Starlight magazine, Tom told his story in his own words.
"I suppose it must have been five years that
I remained working on the local farm because I was about 19 when a pal and
myself headed for Scotland. Actually, it was the friend who took the notion and
I fell in with the idea." Tom and his pal stayed in the Scottish Highlands
for about four months before returning home to Castleblaney. He was only back
for two months when he started traveling again, this time to England. "I
got fixed up with Walls, the ice cream factory and there I remained for a year
and a half working the night shift all the time." Tom continued, "it
was around that time that I started fiddling around with a guitar, playing it
at parties, things like that." Soon after, Tom headed for the Channel
Islands where he got work picking tomatoes, a job that lasted another year and
a half. "I liked it there," said Tom. "They had this country
group whom I grew to like. They called themselves the Mainliners."
Read More + Photos at www.irish-showbands.com
In
1980, Big Tom was presented with a Gold
Award for sales of more than one
million records.
Big
Tom suffered from a fear of flying. In 1980, apparently, he undertook a sea
voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to record his BLUE WINGS album in Nashville.
He
later reunited with The Mainliners in 1989 and continued to perform live,
appearing on the first Late Late Show
Country Music Special, among other shows.
In
2000, Big Tom underwent a nodule operation on his throat.
In
November 2006, Big Tom suffered a sudden heart
attack at the age of 70, which had put doubt into whether he would ever
tour again with his band. on 24
On
8 July 2005, a plaque was erected by
the local community in Big Tom's home village of Castleblayney, County Monaghan.
In
early 2016, Big Tom and the original Mainliners went on tour to mark 50 years
since the release of their most enduring hit "Gentle Mother". From
May until September, Big Tom and the Mainliners continued their summer tour to
celebrate 50 years of "Gentle Mother"
Top 10 hits on the Irish Singles Chart:
"Gentle
Mother": #7 (Jan 30, 1967) Big
Tom and The Mainliners
"Old
Log Cabin for Sale": #4 (Oct 21, 1967) Big Tom and The Mainliners
"The
Sunset Years of Life": #3 (July
23, 1970) Big Tom and The Mainliners
"Broken
Marriage Vows": #1 (Feb 19, 1972) Big Tom and The Mainliners
"I
Love You Still": #1 (Jan 4, 1973) Big Tom and The Mainliners
"Old
Love Letters": #1 (May 16, 1974) Big Tom and The Mainliners
"Four
Country Roads": #5 (May 16, 1981) Big Tom
"Streets
of Dublin City": #7 (Nov 15, 1981) Big Tom
"If I
Needed You": #10 (March 18, 1984) Big Tom
"Jealous
Heart": #9 (April 7, 1984) Big Tom
He
was inducted into the Irish Country
Music Awards Hall of Fame in June 2016.
He
leaves behind four children. Tom's wife of more than 50 years Rose died in
February.
The
singer Big Tom McBride, one of the icons of Irish country music, who died today
aged 81, will be laid to rest in his home county of Monaghan Friday (April 20,
2018).
His
funeral mass will be celebrated at 11am in Saint
Patrick's Church, Oram, and he will be buried in the adjoining cemetery
following the service.
There will be an opportunity for fans and friends to pay their respects between 12pm and 8pm (Thurs) in Oram Community Centre in Castleblayney (Facebook), where his remains will be lying in repose.
Mourners
have been asked to respect that Big Tom's house is strictly private.
Shannonside-Northern
Sound
radio (96.3 FM | Northernsound.ie | Shannonside.ie) will broadcast the funeral mass at 11am on
Friday.
#WATCH: Hundreds line streets to pay tribute to 'King of Country' Big Tom on his final journey pic.twitter.com/U6KVa74hZp— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) 18 April 2018
‘He was a
lifeline for a dispossessed people’: Big Tom remembered: Country star had a
huge following despite being lampooned by critics as uncool Irish Times.com
Independent.ie: We referred to him as the king' -
tributes pour in as country music singer Big Tom dies aged 81
FANS'
FINAL FAREWELL Country music legend Big Tom McBride to lie in public repose for
fans to pay tribute as family confirm funeral plans The Sun.ie
Big Tom
McBride, Irish country music star, dies at 81 - BBC News
Hugo Duncan and Daniel O’Donnell pay tribute to Big Tom
first broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster
17 April 2018
TRIBUTES
Lisa McHugh: Shocked and truly
saddened to hear of the passing of Big Tom this morning. Ireland’s King of
Country Music for so many years and his legacy will live on for many years to
come. My sincere condolences go out to all of his family and friends at this
terrible time. RIP
Mike Denver: So sad this morning
hearing of the passing of my friend Big Tom. The gentle giant. Country music
has lost a legend. RIP with your love Rose
Derek Ryan: This photo has always
been special to me, but even more so this morning as I woke to the sad news of
Big Tom's passing. His songs and unique sound will live forever in Irish
Country Music. Rest In Peace. #KingOfCountry #Legend #BigTom Twitter Photo
Cliona Hagan: Deeply saddened to
hear of the passing of the King of Irish Country Music Big Tom! Your music or
your unmistakable voice will never be forgotten!#BigTom #countryking
#neverforgotten
Dominic Kirwan: I’ve just heard the
sad news Ireland’s true #KingOfCountry music #BigTom (Tom McBride) has passed
away, and so soon after his beautiful wife’s death, Rose. A humble man! I send
my sincere condolences and prayers to Tom’s family at this time. Thank you for
the music .. R.I.P. Tom
Lisa Stanley: So sad to hear of the
death of the legend Big Tom McBride. I met Tom many times and he was such a
gentleman both on and off stage. There will never be another like him. My
sincere condolences to Tom’s family and friends. Rest In Peace Tom 🌹#legend #bigtom #theking
Rachael Anderson (Downtown Radio) :
Very sad to hear this morning of the passing of the Irish Country legend Big
Tom McBride. A very sad day for Irish Country music x #BigTom
Lynette Fay (BBC Radio Ulster) I
am so sorry to hear of the passing of Big Tom McBride, Ireland’s King of
Country- a National Treasure and Irish country music legend. Suaimhneas síoraí
ar a anam uasal.
The Irish World: The Irish World are
very sad to learn of the passing of the undisputed king of Irish country music,
Big Tom. We send our condolences to his family and friends. Irish Times
(Article)
The Late Late Show: We were very sad to
hear this morning of the passing of Ireland’s King of Country, Big Tom. Our
condolences to his family, friends and fans. He was a huge part of our Country
Specials and we will be paying special tribute to him on this Friday’s show.
Keep It Country TV: We are saddened today
to hear news of the passing of Irish Country Music Legend Big Tom. Our thoughts
and prayers are with his family, friends & many fans at this time. Pictured
below is Big Tom being interviewed for @KeepItCountryTV Rest in peace Big Tom.
#BigTom ☘️
Hot Country TV: rest in peace big tom, the king of country , you will be sadly missed, thoughts and prayers are with your family,friends and fans Twitter Photo
Jonathan O'Brien: Big Tom joins the
majority. Good story: Garech Browne once took Mick Jagger to a Big Tom gig in
Castleblayney in the early 1980s. Jagger went backstage afterwards and
introduced himself. Big Tom refused to believe it was him and ignored him.
Jagger flounced off in a huff.
RIP lovely gentlemen Big Tom, we love you 💖💖💖 pic.twitter.com/wGqZ8umKNN— Larissa Tormey (@LarissaTormey) 17 April 2018
Big Tom discussing how a GAA manager gave him his nickname and his GAA background in 1980. RIP pic.twitter.com/iB6kUdq889— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) 17 April 2018
Shane McGowan, as a amhrán 'Rock 'N Roll Paddy'...— Tuairisc.ie (@tuairiscnuacht) 17 April 2018
'Here's to Geno, here's to Eddie
Here's to sad songs Big O sings
Here's a letter from Elvis Presley
Big Tom is still the King' pic.twitter.com/534A4s5kwd
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