The Premier Aces
At one time during the 1960,s, there were approx. 500-600 show bands
of all varieties
playing the dancehalls of the Island of Ireland.
They came from all of the 32 Counties, and in these articles so
far,
I, “been around the counties “a fair bit.
This is the first venture into Co. Roscommon however,
to the town of Ballintubber to be precise, the home of the Premier
Aces Showband.
The Premier Aces began as The Pioneer
Aces and were not one of the top bands nationally.
They were not in the same Premier League as
the Royal Showband or the Capitol or The Clipper Carlton.
They would have known that themselves. But
what they were a good showband with a strong regional following,
Houston Wells (Vocals) Jimmy O'Neil (Guitar)Johnny Carroll (Trumpet)
Sonny Ward
(Tenor Saxophone/Clarinet) Larry Carolan (Bass)Billy Ryan (Guitar)
Paddy Malone
(Alto Saxophone/Clarinet) Andy Malone (Drums)
Stephen Treacy (Accordian)Liam Treacy (Tenor Saxophone)
Shay O'Hara (Vocals)Royal BluesMichael
Slyman (Vocals/Trombone)
Frank O’Brien (Guitar)Quicksilver Showband
Bob Madden (Guitar)Dene Lane (Vocals)Peter Shanagher (RIP)
Three members of the Premier Aces
{Sonny Ward, Jimmy O'Neill and Johnny Carroll (right)}, formed
The Swallows.
They did not start out as the Premier Aces however, but as the Pioneer
Aces in the late 1950,s.
They were all pioneers and members of The Total Abstainence Society
(a rarity in show bands!!) and their original line up was: Paddy Malone
(Alto Sax), Andy Malone (Drums), Sonny Ward (Tenor Sax.), Stephen Treacy
(Accordion) Liam Treacy (Sax) and trombonist / vocalist Mckey Slyman. The
lads started to command quite a following and the bookings rolled in.
But a dispute within the Total Abstinence Society as to their eligibility
to continue to be associated with the society forced them to change their
name, so they became the Premier Aces. The band line up also changed with
the Treacy brothers leaving to form their own band, the Rhythm Stars, also
from Ballintubber. And in came Larry Carolan on electric double bass, Co
Galway man Frank O, Brien on Haiwain Guitar and Jimmy O, Neill on
Guitar. Also new to the band was Trumpeter Johnny Carroll, yes, the same
Johnny Carroll that is so popular on the cabaret scene these days.
