Airchords

Ian Gallagher Home Page

The AIRCHORDS Showband
Dublin
Looking back at the Showband Scene of the 60,s, one thing that has always intrigued me was
how many of the bands acquired their name , ie. Capitol, Drifters, Mainliners , Dixies, etc.
The Airchords Showband was an exception because the band was founded by serving members of the Irish Air Corps stationed at Baldonnell, Air Base . near Dublinin 1960.
Sean Kinsella, Arthur O,Neill, Liam Hurley,
Al Devine, Ernie Berkenheir, Myles Mooney. Phil O, Reilly and Joe Fitzmaurice
began as a semi-professional Showband playing gigs mainly at weekends.
They were a popular band wherever they played but undersandibly found the going tough ,
combining music and their Air Corps duties so they decided to go full time professional in 1964.
When trombonist Danny Ellis joined the band he teamed up with Myles Mooney
and this duo wrote much of the bands original material, including their first record release,
“A knock at The Door” featuring Joe Fitzmaurice on vocals.

Corkman Pat Lynch replaced Joe Fitzmaurice as lead vocalist in 1965 and he was later to be joined in the band by his brother Tony , who had played with The Hoedowners. Pat Lynch was an instant success and his recording “Treat my Daughter Kindly” went to No. 1 in the Irish Charts in 1967, The Airchords played all the local and countrywide venues and toured abroad, A good musical outfit , they played a varied dancing programme, and with a strong brass section they released a fine instrumental version of the Chubby Checker hit “Limbo Rock” featuring the bands trumpeter Emmet Wynne. Another thing worth mentioning about the Airchords was the quality of their handout photos. They were very professionally presented and many included an Aircraft image, and also the names of all the band personnel and the instruments they played. This was an integral part of projecting the bands image to the dancing public.

When Red Hurley formed the Wheels Showband in 1969, it was made up of ex Airchords members.
The Airchords second No. 1 came in 1971 when Pat Lynch charted with an excellent version of the ballad
“When we Were Young” staying at No.1 in the Irish Charts for 6 weeks.
The band also made many Radio and Television appearances among them being the
Showband Show and The 17 Club, In 1972 the Airchords Showband decided
to disband after having given us 12 great years of quality showband music.
Most of the members went their separate ways in the music industry,
but Pat Lynch is still very active on the music scene in his native Cork.
Sadly bass guitarist Ernie Berkenheir passed away last year
. May he Rest in Peace.
John Baird

The Airchords Showband
Pat Lynch lead singer
Hit " When We Were Young"

Danny Ellis (Trombone)
Danny had played with the Stage2,Jim Farley
and later The Nevada and Miami
Link to Dannys Home Page

From Frank Keegans collection
pkeegan@optonline.net


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