The Drifters' Legendary Mullingar band fronted by Joe
Dolan
first chart success came with "The Answer to Everything"
in 1964
when it reached number 4 in the Irish Charts
Tony Newman, long time drummer with the band, died in
May 2000.
Joe is still going as strong as ever!
The Drifters
Joe Dolan, Brother Ben Dolan,Eddie Deihy,(Drums)Sean Connolly,(Trumpet)
Charlie McMorrow (Piano),
John Kelly(Trombone) and Jimmy Horan(Bass)
Line-up changes Frank Melia(Piano) Tommy Swarbrigg (Trumpet),
left to form The Times Showband
Joey Gilheaney (Trombone), Des Doherty (Piano) and Donal "Sid" Aughey,and
Des Doherty
Tony Newman, (Drums)
Frankie Mc Donald, Gordon Coleman, Maurice Walsh,
Kieran McDonnell, Seamus Shannon Ben, and Pat Hoey
Recordings
I Love You More And More Everyday", "My Own Peculiar Way", "Aching
Breaking Heart",
"Pretty Brown Eyes", "Tar and Cement", "The House With the Whitewashed
Gable",
"Love of the Common People" and "The Westmeath Bachelor".
Scoring an international hit with "Make Me an Island," topped
the music charts of fourteen countries, in 1969, "Teresa," "You're
Such a Good Looking Woman," "It Makes No Difference," and "Falling in Love."
"When You Say I Love You ", "Does It Always Have To Be This
Way?"
"The Wrong Impression " "Workday Blues" "The World Is Going Mad",
"Pretty Brown Eyes" "The Answer To Everything"
MAKE ME AN ISLAND- Joe Dolan- 1969
One of the producers of the record Jeffrey Everett was also
the owner of the radio station - Radio Luxembourg. As a result Joe's song
was played on the radio not just once an hour but as Joe says "it was played
every hour, every half hour and every 15 minutes".
The song spent 19 weeks in the UK charts and went to no. three.
As a result of the huge success of the song it was known all over Europe
- France, Germany,Spain to name but a few. Joe would be on a television
show in France in the morning and performing in Germany the following day.
He remembers it as an incredibly busy time but throughout it all
he never once cancelled a gig in Ireland. He had no idea how long this
fame and success would last and felt it was important "to keep the home
fires burning."
It all paid off as Joe Dolan after over 40 years in the Entertainment
Business is still one of Ireland's most popular performers. Make me an
Island was No. 1 in 14 countries.
Ben Dolan, Sid Aughey, Joe, Jimmy Horan,
Tommy Swarbrigg, Joey Gilheaney, Des Doherty
Tony Newman, long time drummer with the band, died in
May 2000.
This is the first photo of the Drifters Showband.
L/R Jimmy Horan, Joe Dolan, Sean Connolly, Eddie Deehy,
Ben Dolan and myself Charlie McMorrow
1960
mcmorrow20@eircom.net
