Gerry and the Ohio were big business back in the showband era. Gerry
Cronin was the lead singer and he had connections with Dublin and Cork.
He came to Tuam when he joined the Johnny Flynn
Showband.
Instantly recognisable with his deep Johnny Cash-style voice,
Gerry delivered most of the country songs as demand for the music
soared across the land.
He recorded two albums with the Ohio and enjoyed success with his
renditions of
Ring of Fire and Among the Wicklow Hills.
This Photo courtesy of Liam O'Reilly Collection
The
Ohio Showband 1966.From Left
Gerry Cronin.Frank Greally,Paraic Potter,
Marco Petrassi,John Bown,Des Hopkins,Billy
Potter
Billy Potter
Gerry Cronin, and Ollie Maloney decided
to quit
The Johnny Flynn
Band,and with Ollies brother Jarlath and Des Hopkins
from The Pete Brown
Band formed their own outfit, and so The Ohio was born.
Marco Petrassi is a respected musician who
has toured in Europe and the USA.
He has played with such stars as Dusty Springfield,
Acker bilk, Shirley Bassy, and Ken Popaloski.
He was a regular on the BBC in "Come Dancing"
and in "Top of the Night" for RTE.
He is a regular contributer to both TV and
Radio.
He has also played with some of the best known
Irish showbands including Paddy Cole,
The Regal Showband,Big
Jim Farley, Michael O’Callaghan
These days Marco is a prominent player on
the Irish jazz scene.
Des Hopkins
Click
Photo for Link
Drummer Des Hopkins long regarded as an exponent
of the great
Gene Krupa earned his experience in the jazz
world playing with
Dixieland bands in the UK during the great
trad jazz boom of the sixties.
He played in the Following Bands during the
Showband scene in Ireland
(Dave Dixon’s Dixonaires Showband)(Pete
Brown and his Band of Renown)
(The Ohio) (The
Kings)(The Victors)
Link
Another
Link
Trumpeter Ollie Maloney and vocalist
Gerry Cronin left Johnny Flynn's band to
form The Ohio Showband.
The line-up also included Olly's brother Jarlath on Trombone, Drummer
Des Hopkins,
Saxophonist John Lee and Bassist John Browne.
Recordings included (Tips Of My Fingers) ( Ring Of Fire) ( Among The Wicklow Hills)
Ian your picture was
the original band. Gerry Cronin was the
Bandleader and owner of the band,
he had some differences with some of the members
of the original band and reformed
the band recruiting the new five members in witch I was part of,
only Gerry himself and Paraic Potter
(Tenor Sax player)remained.
Brendan O'Loughlin
Hi Ian, here's the Ohio Showband when I was
with the band.(In chair)
The Line is : L to R Eamon Mangan (Trumpet)
Brendan O'Loughlin(Bass Guitar)
Frankie Coughlan(Lead Guitar)Gerry Cronin(Lead
Singer) Paraic Potter
(Tenor Sax) Frank Hanly (Keyboards) Walter
Lynch (Drums)The Problems and The
Big Time
Brendan O'Loughlin
From Brendan O'Loughlin's Files
brendanoloughlin@qwest.net
Gerry Cronin passed away in 1988, Ollie Malone Billy Carson,
Frankie Coughlan and original
manager Charlie McBrien are also deceased. (RIP)
