Irish Tenors
Encyclopedia
The Irish Tenors is the PBS musical singing trio from Ireland
started in 1998 by a group of television producers for a of PBS special The Irish Tenors. They have since recorded 5 PBS specials and 7 albums. The group's line-up is Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns, and Ronan Tynan.
Daniel Harte and Bill Hughes formed the idea of a trio of Irish tenors during a Cannes
festival at which the famous Three Tenors, Luciano Pavarotti
, José Carreras
and Plácido Domingo
were performing. Harte & Hughes wanted to produce a television special and first approached Ireland's Finbar Wright
in 1998 to join the group but Wright's recording contract with Sony BMG prohibited such a venture. They then invited Canadian John McDermott
to head up the group and he accepted. After conferring with Ireland's leading vocal coach, Dr. Veronica Dunne, Anthony Kearns
and Ronan Tynan
were asked to join. In 1999, "The Irish Tenors-in Dublin" debuted on PBS television in the United States.
PBS signed up for another special by the increasingly popular new group but early in 2000 McDermott's mother died and John decided he could not fully commit himself to the group. Days before PBS was to film The Irish Tenors - Live in Belfast Daniel Harte & Hughes again contacted Finbar Wright and asked him to step in. Wright agreed to help and was asked to stay on for upcoming tour dates. Having left Sony, Wright was able to join the trio on a permanent basis.
In 2001, the Irish Tenors filmed their third special, an historic PBS broadcast at New York
's Ellis Island
, hosted by Irish/American actor Martin Sheen
. Their album "Ellis Island" topped Billboard
s Heatseeker list and landed on its "Top 10 Best of 2001".
The 2005 album Sacred features McDermot, Wright and Kearns, according to the album cover.
In 2008, the increasingly successful blend of voices presented a television 9 part series for Ireland's RTE
titled The Irish Tenors & Friends. Friends performing on the television special with The Irish Tenors include Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber
, Paul Carrick, Finbar Furey
, Hayley Westenra
, Shayne Ward
, Sharon Shannon
, Peter Grant
, Rebecca Storm
, Lucia Evans
, and Celine Byrne.
In 2007 the South Carolina Legislature issued a "Proclamation" welcoming the trio to that State at their performance in Charleston.
The trio continues to tour yearly.
Videos
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
started in 1998 by a group of television producers for a of PBS special The Irish Tenors. They have since recorded 5 PBS specials and 7 albums. The group's line-up is Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns, and Ronan Tynan.
Daniel Harte and Bill Hughes formed the idea of a trio of Irish tenors during a Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
festival at which the famous Three Tenors, Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
, José Carreras
José Carreras
Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini...
and Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
were performing. Harte & Hughes wanted to produce a television special and first approached Ireland's Finbar Wright
Finbar Wright
Edward Finbar Wright , known popularly as Finbar Wright, is a popular music singer, songwriter, poet from County Cork, Ireland....
in 1998 to join the group but Wright's recording contract with Sony BMG prohibited such a venture. They then invited Canadian John McDermott
John McDermott (singer)
John Charles McDermott is a Scottish-Canadian tenor best known for his rendering of the song "Danny Boy". Born in Glasgow, Scotland, John moved with his family to Willowdale, Ontario, Canada in 1965. Growing up in a musical family, his only formal musical training was at St...
to head up the group and he accepted. After conferring with Ireland's leading vocal coach, Dr. Veronica Dunne, Anthony Kearns
Anthony Kearns
Anthony Kearns is a founding member of the Irish Tenors, along with Ronan Tynan and John McDermott.-Early career:...
and Ronan Tynan
Ronan Tynan
Ronan Tynan is a singer in the classical Irish style. He is most famous for his renditions of "God Bless America" at Yankee Stadium during important New York Yankees games, such as Opening Day, nationally-televised games, the last game at the old Yankee Stadium, and playoff games...
were asked to join. In 1999, "The Irish Tenors-in Dublin" debuted on PBS television in the United States.
PBS signed up for another special by the increasingly popular new group but early in 2000 McDermott's mother died and John decided he could not fully commit himself to the group. Days before PBS was to film The Irish Tenors - Live in Belfast Daniel Harte & Hughes again contacted Finbar Wright and asked him to step in. Wright agreed to help and was asked to stay on for upcoming tour dates. Having left Sony, Wright was able to join the trio on a permanent basis.
In 2001, the Irish Tenors filmed their third special, an historic PBS broadcast at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
, hosted by Irish/American actor Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
. Their album "Ellis Island" topped Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Heatseeker list and landed on its "Top 10 Best of 2001".
The 2005 album Sacred features McDermot, Wright and Kearns, according to the album cover.
In 2008, the increasingly successful blend of voices presented a television 9 part series for Ireland's RTE
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
titled The Irish Tenors & Friends. Friends performing on the television special with The Irish Tenors include Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
, Paul Carrick, Finbar Furey
The Fureys
The Fureys are an Irish male folk band of four brothers - Eddie, Finbar, Paul and George, from Ballyfermot, Dublin. They have also been credited as The Fureys and Davey Arthur.The group formed in 1978 and consisted initially of four brothers....
, Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
, Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward
Shayne Thomas Ward is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.During The X Factor competition, Ward was mentored by manager Louis Walsh...
, Sharon Shannon
Sharon Shannon
Sharon Shannon is an Irish musician. She is best known for her work with the accordion and for her fiddle technique. She also plays the tin whistle and melodeon. Her 1991 album Sharon Shannon is the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released there...
, Peter Grant
Peter Grant (singer)
Peter Grant is a British singer of easy listening and jazz music. Peter also played the keyboard.He began singing at the age of six and played at working men's clubs from the age of 12...
, Rebecca Storm
Rebecca Storm
Rebecca Storm is a British singer and musical theatre actress, born in Shipley in West Yorkshire, England. She is most notable for her various performances in stage musicals and for her 1985 hit single "The Show", which was the theme to the ITV television series Connie.-Personal life:Storm lives...
, Lucia Evans
Lucia Evans
Lucia Evans , is an Irish singer and winner of the 2006 season of the talent show You're A Star.Evans is now living in Galway in Ireland working as a full time vocal coach, although originally from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe...
, and Celine Byrne.
In 2007 the South Carolina Legislature issued a "Proclamation" welcoming the trio to that State at their performance in Charleston.
The trio continues to tour yearly.
Discography
- The Irish Tenors - Live in Dublin 1999
- Live In Belfast The Irish Tenors 2000
- Ellis Island The Irish Tenors 2001- Platinum
- Best of The Irish Tenors The Irish Tenors 2002
- We Three Kings The Irish Tenors 2003
- Heritage The Irish Tenors 2004
- Sacred The Irish Tenors 2005
- Ireland The Irish Tenors 2009
- Christmas The Irish Tenors 2010
Videos
- Live in Dublin - 1999
- Live in Belfast - 2000
- Ellis Island - 2001
- Heritage - 2004
- The Irish Tenors & Friends - 2006
External links
- The Irish Tenors Official Site
- Finbar Wright Official Site
- Anthony Kearns Official Site
- Purdue University
- LA Philharmonic Press 2003
- South Carolina legislature Proclamation 2007
- Billboard Magazine 2001
- Business Wire 2001