The Ottawa Journal from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Page 57

January 18-24 13 A Strictly Irish Institution Ottawa Discovers the Showband THE TV JO URNAL If 1968 was the 'year Ottawa discovered the showband, 1969 promise's to be the year they become even better acquanted. He showband is a peculiarly Irish institution, primarily a dance band that puts on a musical variety show and plays for dancers at the same time. Traditionally, the button accordion is a jnatastay, lending a distinctive Celtic quality to the music, whether it be cha-cha-cha or hillbilly. Most sbowbands now boast brass instruments. Some utilize electric organs or the Chordo-Vox, a piano accordion that produces musical effects ranging from chime-like notes to a full organ sound.

Versatility is the keynote. Most showbands have between six and ten members, most of them doubling as lead singers. Probably the best known showband to hit Ottawa in was The Carlton Showband, widely-known for its weekly appearances on CTV's "Pig 'N' Whistle" show. The Carltons were the first to break into Eastern Ontario and have built up a strong and loyal following here. TWO INSTRUMENTS The Carletons, who have de- Briefs Singer Tlarry Belafonte became the first entertainment figure to be named to the advisory of the Peace Corps by the late president Kennedy.

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Six of the eight musicians rate as singers and six of them can play at least two instruments. Following hard on their footsteps were the Tara Showband, also a Toronto based group. Nine of them made the trip to Ottawa for a dance in early December. While the Carletons are fully professional, the Taras still hold down regular jobs outside the musical field but are working steadily toward making the big transition to full time entertainers. Of the nine, only lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Norman Payne, from Galway, now is a full time musician.

Like the Carltons, who have two Canadian members, the' Taras have dipped into the na tive talent pool. Lead guitar CurHe mmmmw I No Down Payment I A As Lime os Per WMK player Jay Crawford is a Canadian whose parents were born in Dublin. There are differences too. The Taras lean heavily on brass and are primarily a dance band. They chose their name because three of the original members hail from Tara, in County Meath.

The showband has only been together since August of 1967 when singer-bass guitarist Mike Duke, singer-saxophonist Tom Traynor and singer-trombonist John Wadds, all from Tara, joined together. VARIED BACKGROUNDS They added Eddie Thornton, from Westmeath, who sings, plays electric piano, rhythm guitar and accordion; Belfast-born John Nell, who doubles on drums and vocals; Jay Crawford, and finally Norman Payne, Kevin Hannigan from Mayo, on saxophone and trump- Jf CROWN isO ADLQQM 'OF CROWN BROADLOOM 327 BANK ST. ter P. J. Noone from Rosscom-mon.

The Taras come from varied backgrounds. Tara leader Eddie Thornton is a carpenter, es Carleton leader-drummer Chris OToole once was. Kevin Hannigan is a superintendent with the Toronto Separate School Board, a position similar to the one once held by the Carletons' siger, Mike Feeney. And like the Carletons, the Taras' first circuit out of Toronto included Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. If the sbowbands were belated in recognizing potential following among the Ottawa Valley Irish (to say nothing of the Scots), they have been making up for it in double time.

The Taras will be back for a dance at the Civic Centre Feb. 22 and the Carleton on St Patrick's Day, March 17. THE UPSURGE Ottawa area music lovers may also get to hear a third Toronto based showband, the Everything Reg. Values From 100 Broadloom 100 Nylon Velvet Shag Acrilan Plush Polypropylon Dupont 501 100 Wool Twist Plastic Runners. Reg.

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Why the upsurge of show-bands in Canada? Basically, because the almost constant heavy flow of people from Ireland particularly from the troubled North has been diverted to Canada by the -towering oj immigration quotas to the United States. Apart from the showbands, Canadians are likely to see more and more Irish actors, writers, musicians and so on in the years to come all of them talented newcomers who otherwise would likely a gone south of the The second reason for the bands can probably be attributed to Carlton Showband leader Christ OToole, who was the first to attempt' to make the showband brand of music a commercial success in Canada. Now that the ice has been' broken in two ways, the future for the showbands seems espe cially glittering. to Clear 4.95 to 18.95 1.75 sq. yd.

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