Patsy Watchorn
Patsy Watchorn | |
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Watchorn with The Dubliners, c. 2005 | |
Background information | |
Born | (1944-10-16) 16 October 1944 (age 79) Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland |
Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
Genres | Irish folk |
Occupation | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, banjo, bodhrán, spoons |
Years active | 1969–2014 |
Patsy Watchorn (born 16 October 1944) is an Irish folk singer. He is notable for being a member of the Dublin City Ramblers and later The Dubliners.
Music career
Watchorn first came to prominence around 1969 as the lead singer of The Quare Fellas, a Dublin-based ballad group, in 1969. They evolved into the Dublin City Ramblers in the early 1970s and with Patsy as their lead singer they had hits with songs such as "The Rare Ould Times" and "The Ferryman", both of which were written by Pete St. John.[1]
Patsy also wrote and sang the Irish Football Team anthem for their European Championship campaign in Germany and again for the World Cup in 1990 in Italy "We are the Boys in Green" (Home & Away Album) with The Dublin City Ramblers. The lyrics changed slightly in both releases in 1988 and 1990.
In 1995, Watchorn left the Dublin City Ramblers and made a number of solo albums. He joined The Dubliners in 2005, taking Paddy Reilly's place. He has appeared on their Tour Sampler EP in 2005, as well as the double album Live at Vicar Street (2006).
Patsy plays the banjo, bodhrán and spoons. He cites Luke Kelly, former lead singer with The Dubliners as his favourite singer. Patsy sang with the Dubliners and was well received throughout Ireland, the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA.[2]
When The Dubliners announced their retirement in 2012 after finishing their 50 Years Anniversary Tour, Patsy Watchorn decided to keep on touring with former band members Seán Cannon and Eamonn Campbell and Banjo player Gerry O'Connor under the name of "The Dublin Legends".
On 28 April 2014 Patsy Watchorn posted a message on his website, stating that he "decided to take a break from the music business for a while" and will not be touring the rest of 2014 with "The Dublin Legends". He later admitted this was due to ill health and that doctors advised touring would do further damage to his health.[3]
Watchorn's distinctive and passionate vocals have made him a huge rock on the Irish folk scene. In his solo projects in the mid and late 1990s after departing from his band The Dublin City Ramblers, he had session men who used to play alongside him and he used the stage name "Patsy Watchorn, agus a Cháirde" (which means "and his Friends" in Irish).
Discography
- Pub with No Beer (1996)
- Sonia's Song (1996)
- The Craic and Porter Too (1998)
- Raised on Songs and Stories (2000)
- The Rare Old Times: The Very Best of Patsy Watchorn (2002)
- Hearts on Fire (2003)
- Irish Rebel Heroes (2004)
- Now (2011)
References
External links
- Official website
- v
- t
- e
- Bobby Lynch
- Jim McCann
- Seán Cannon
- Eamonn Campbell
- Paddy Reilly
- Patsy Watchorn
- A Drop of the Hard Stuff
- More of the Hard Stuff
- Drinkin' and Courtin'
- At It Again
- At Home with The Dubliners
- Revolution
- Double Dubliners
- Plain and Simple
- Now
- A Parcel of Rogues
- 15 Years On
- Together Again
- Prodigal Sons
- 25 Years Celebration
- The Dubliner's Dublin
- 30 Years A-Greying
- Further Along
- The Dubliners
- In Concert
- Finnegan Wakes
- Live at the Albert Hall
- Hometown!
- Live
- Live at Montreux
- Live in Carré
- 21 Years On
- Alive Alive-O
- Live from the Gaiety
- Live at Vicar Street
- A Time to Remember
- An Evening with The Dublin Legends: Live in Vienna
albums
- The Best of The Dubliners
- It's The Dubliners
- A Drop of The Dubliners
- Spirit of the Irish: Ultimate Collection
- The Best of the Original Dubliners
- 40 Years
- A Night Out with The Dubliners
- Too Late to Stop Now: The Very Best of the Dubliners
- Live at Vicar Street
- The Late Late Show Tribute
- The Very Best Of: The Dubliners
- Original Dubliners
- 50 Years
- 20 Greatest Hits
- Drinking and Wenching
- Home, Boys, Home
singles
- "Nelson's Farewell"
- "The Black Velvet Band"
- "All For Me Grog"
- "Seven Drunken Nights"
- "Never Wed An Old Man"
- "Dirty Old Town"
- "Hand Me Down My Bible"
- "Free the People"
- "Raglan Road"
- "Don't Get Married"
- "The Irish Rover"
- "Jack's Heroes"
- "The Rose"
- "Red Roses for Me"
- "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew"
- "The Rocky Road to Poland"
- "The Auld Triangle"
- Live from the Gaiety
- Live at Vicar Street
- Discography
- Ronnie Drew discography
- Gerry O'Connor
- Category