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Celtic Fringe: 'Destiny calls Paddy'
By James McKeefry
Paddy O’Brien — My Destiny— A-ONE CD 385 — 01698 733944.
ON a cold Friday evening in March 2002, I travelled to Felinfach Theatre in Wales with Ursula and her band to share an evening with Paddy O’Brien and his band.
The trip was made at the invitation of the late John Dudley — who was such a popular presenter of Irish music on BBC Radio Wales.
It was the first time I had met Paddy and he turned out to be a very accommodating artist, who offered every form of assistance to a young girl and her band just starting out on their career in country and Irish music.
Paddy was born Patrick Finbar O’Brien on November 6 1954 in Aglish in Co. Waterford.
His father, who sang regularly in the local pubs, soon realised the determination of his fifth and youngest child to become a singer.
Paddy’s earliest influences were Marty Robbins and Slim Whitman and despite two major traffic accidents and sporadic economic uncertainty in his early business life, he overcame these obstacles and the many more that were to follow. He established himself as one of Ireland’s top performers, with an instantly identifiable high-pitched voice that remains his trademark to this very day.
In 1972, Paddy formed the group The Strangers — playing the local scene before changing their name to The Top Four and then moving on to a third change of name in Telstar.
A serious road traffic accident in 1981, culminating in Paddy’s heart ceasing to beat for 18 seconds, gave him plenty of recuperation time to ponder on the future of his musical plans. In 1983, his first cassette, Easy Listening, and a second cassette, Mem’ries, released in 1984, caught the attention of the numerous pirate radio stations that were prolific at that time throughout Ireland.
Luckily for Paddy, national broadcaster Paschal Mooney heard of him and launched his music on mainstream radio.
It was 1986 that saw the formation of the Paddy O’Brien Band and the Gold Star Award of 1988 took Paddy to Holland to represent Ireland, before flying to Nashville in 1989 to record. During 1990 he had four number one records in Ireland, sang for Ireland in the World Cup and released his first video.
Success followed success until 1992, when a series of mishaps, rising costs and debts and subsequent throat problems brought increased pressure and led to serious health problems and heart trouble.
But in 1993, Paddy released what was probably his most popular album — Golden Moments.
And through sheer perseverance and courage Paddy turned the tables.
Today, Paddy has a reputation for a fine stage show, a distinctive sound and a smile that would certainly belie the problems this Waterford man has had to face throughout his years in the business.
My Destiny has 16 tracks made up of quick-steps, old-time waltzes, slow foxtrots and ballad numbers.
Joanne Cash, sister of the late legendary American country star Johnny Cash, duets with Paddy on Will The Circle Be Unbroken.
Track number two, Safe In The Harbour, is written by Eric Bogle and is a haunting and poignant ballad introduced by a lone whistle. It invites us to recognise that from time to time we all need to down anchor and rest from the storms and tribulations of life — everyone needs an anchor.
Paddy has certainly found his anchor and the desperate days of accidents, failed businesses, debts and vocal problems are now behind him and his destiny lies in producing albums of country and Irish music to delight his many fans.
Paddy has a website at www.paddyobrien.com. Check it out. Wouldn’t you like to part of Paddy’s Destiny?
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