The Mighty Avons:
L-R. Paddy Smith (Trumpet)Jerry Walshe (Bass)
Brian Finlay (Drums)
Peter Smith (Sax/ Clar.) Jimmy Smith (Bandleader
(Trombone)
Micky Brady (Lead Guitar), Ronnie Griffiths
(Piano)
and Larry Cunningham (Vocals / Baritone
(Sax)
LARRY Cunningham and the Mighty Avons
walked tall across the showbiz scene in Ireland in the 1960s.
They were in the top league of attractions,
packing dance hall and marquees all over the country. It was the golden
era of the showbands and they loved every minute of it.
From Granard in County Longford, Larry Cunningham
had a total of
24 chart entries in the Irish Top 20 between
1965 and 1976.
The Eddie Masterson composition, Tribute to
Jim Reeves, gave him his first Top 10 success,
a song that also charted in Britain, catapulting
Larry and the Avons into household names.
When Jim Reeves caused such a stir by walking
out of the Orchid Ballroom in Lifford during a
performance there in the early 1960,s
little did he know that he was to create a legend on the Irish dancing
scene The relief Band was Larry Cunningham and the Mighty Avons and from
that instance the Granard man was to go to the top. Three brothers ,Paddy
Peter and Jimmy Smith from Ballyhaise Co. Cavan, Paddy and Peter played
with the Des Jenkins Band , and Jimmy, who
was with the St Bridgets Ceili Band,were joined by Mickey Brady from the
Silver Sextette,, Brian Finlay , Gerry Walshe, Ronnie Griffiths who was
playing with the Clipper Aces from Emyvale , and lead vocalist Larry
Cunningham from the
Grafton Showband from Gowna,
to create one of the first “country “ Showbands specializing in C/W
music but also producing a varied dancing programme of, Pop ballads and
instrumental numbers, until they called it a day in 1969 , when Larry left
to form his own band
“The Country
Blueboys”. The “Avons” as they were affectionately known under the
guidance of their astute manager Charlie Mc Brien continued to entertain
us at home and abroad and were household names here in Donegal especially
when they played the Fiesta.
This Photo Courtesy Jimmy Smith ex bandleader of the Mighty
Avons
The lad 2nd, from left is Patsy Sexton , he was in the band before
Ronnie Griffiths (Amercian Pie) joined
On St Patricks night 1968, 6,500 jammed
the Galtymore , in Cricklewood London to hear them , a record never
broken. And in December 1964 they became the first Irish Showband to enter
the British Charts with the
Eddie Masterson penned “A Tribute to Jim Reeves”.
But it was a ballad “Lovely Leitrim , that will always be associated with
this band,staying in the Irish Charts at No. I for 4 consecutive weeks..
They made many TV appearances on RTE AND UTV
. and played Carnegie Hall , New York and London,s Royal Albert
Hall on many occasions.
When the original band folded the name was
carried on and the band was fronted by
Gene Stuart , Brendan Quinn and Hugh McLean
at different intervals,
Sadly from the original band , Paddy
Smith, Brian Finlay and Jerry Walshe have passed away The remainder are
still involved in the music business and Larry Cunningham continues to
record and had success with a recent CD on which he recorded “From Nowhere
at All” originally recorded by the late Shay Hutchinson still does
the odd concert here in Donegal. Long may he continue.
By John Baird
