Royal Showband Story

Waterford’s Royal Showband were without doubt the leaders of the showband phenomenon in Ireland during the 1960s. They drew the biggest crowds, commanded the highest appearance fees, released the first showband record, had the first showband chart-topper and boasted Ireland’s biggest star, Brendan Bowyer.

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The story of The Royal Showband goes back to the mid-‘50s, when Harry Boland invited a few local lads to join him and play some gigs at the Fisherman’s Hall in Dunmore East. Michael Coppinger (tenor sax), Charlie Matthews (drums), Jim Conlon (guitar) and pianist Gerry Cullen were first to join and before long they were joined by Tom Dunphy on double-bass. The other members were Jimmy and Johnny Fardy.

At this time, Brendan Bowyer was learning trombone and was playing with The Rhythm Kings. Though coming from a household with a background in opera and classical music, the tall young man had recently discovered the music of Elvis Presley and was keen to share it with the world!

In the autumn of 1957, Harry Boland’s Band was about to break up, so Michael Coppinger decided to enlist a trumpeter, Eddie Sullivan along with Bowyer and form The Royal Showband with some of the lads in the band.

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Right from the start, the new Waterford showband made a huge impact, and crowds were flocking from far and wide to dance to their infectious music. One of the strengths of The Royal was that there were never any permanent changes to their line-up, though Michael Gilligan (formerly of The Blue Aces) did step in for a time while Jim Conlon completed his studies.

It wasn’t long until fate was to play an important card when Jim Conlon was visited by a musical instruments salesman from Cott’s of Kilcock. T.J. Byrne went to Waterford in the hope of selling a guitar and came away as the manager of The Royal Showband! Byrne’s contacts and enthusiasm soon began to pay dividends.

Byrne’s contacts and enthusiasm soon began to pay dividends. Instead of a straight fee, he introduced percentages, and The Royal were soon taking up to 60% of door-takings. Promoters didn’t complain as the crowds were so big that they also did well financially. In 1961, they did a very successful tour of The Mecca Ballroom circuit in Britain and won the prestigious Carl Allen Award as the “Outstanding Modern Danceband of 1961”. They finished this tour at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre where Brendan Bowyer recalls having a friendly chat with two young lads from the support band. Paul McCartney and John Lennon did quite well afterwards! (Jim Conlon's Fender Stratocaster [far right] is in fact the famous battered Strat that Rory Gallagher made famous - Jim was its original owner!)

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In 1962, their record, “Come Down The Mountain Katie Daly” featuring Tom Dunphy was the first single release by an Irish showband. In September 1963 they topped the Irish charts with “Kiss Me Quick” featuring Brendan Bowyer. Another first for The Royal as this was the first-ever chart-topper from an Irish showband. Six more No.1s followed in the next four years; “No More” (December 1963), “Bless You” (June 1964), “The Hucklebuck / I Ran All The Way Home” (January 1965), “If I Didn’t Have A Dime” (March 1965), “Don’t Lose Your Hucklebuck Shoes” (September 1965) and “Somewhere My Love” (November 1966). The latter two featured Tom Dunphy and Charlie Matthews respectively.

It wasn’t all plain sailing and there were some dramatic incidents along the way. Their bandwagon was broken into on a number of occasions, resulting in the loss of instruments and stage-wear, but one blatant attack in London tops them all. Having played in The Seymour Hall, they had parked their wagon outside their hotel and were having a well-earned rest when a taxi pulled up outside, four men jumped out, poured petrol over the wagon, set fire to it and disappeared into the darkness. Flames engulfed the vehicle and it was totally destroyed as were all their instruments, amplification and stage-gear which were inside. The perpetrators were never found.

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During 1962 they filmed a documentary called “The One-Nighters” and later released an E.P. and and L.P. including songs from the film. In the late ‘60s, both manager and band foresaw changes in the domestic dancing scene and looking to the future, arranged with impresario Bill Fuller that they would do a season at The Desert Inn and The Stardust in Las Vegas as “The Irish Showband”. They still continued to appear at home for six months each year.

Their long-time manager T.J. Byrne parted company with the band in 1967 and took over the reins of a Northern Ireland band called The College Boys. Connie Lynch became manager of The Royal. They continued to play both in Las Vegas and in Ireland until 1971, when Brendan and Tom left to form The Big 8. Replacements were quickly signed, with Lee Lynch, Barbara Dixon and Derrick Mehaffey at various times fronting The New Royal. However, the flame seemingly had gone out, and a once-great band more or less faded away, leaving us all with so many magical memories.

Tom Dunphy died tragically in a car crash in 1975, just two days after three members of The Miami Showband were murdered near Newry. Brendan Bowyer continues to record and perform and some other members still play music in Waterford.

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