Stockton's Wing
Encyclopedia
Stockton's Wing is an Irish
band formed in 1977 by four All-Ireland champion musicians - Paul Roche flute
/whistle, Maurice Lennon fiddle
, Tommy Hayes bodhran
, and Kieran Hanrahan
banjo
/mandolin
, along with Tony Callinan on guitar
and vocals.
song, "Backstreets" - "Slow dancin' in the dark on the beach at Stockton's Wing..."
n Stephen Cooney who then joined the band playing bass guitar
.
In 1982 the band released Light In The Western Sky. In 1983, Tommy Hayes was replaced by Fran Breen on drums. Peter Keenan on keyboards also joined the band. 1984 saw their first American
tour. This coincided with the release of American Special.
(this album was re-released on CD in 2006). 1986 saw the release of Full Flight. 1988 brought Celtic Roots Revival. In 1991, Davey McNevin replaced Kieran Hanrahan
in the line-up. In addition, Fran Breen and Stephen Cooney departed.
with the release of a 20 track compilation of the band's first 3 albums (in 2005 Tara Music released these 3 albums in a boxset). 1992 saw the release of The Crooked Rose. 1995 saw Eamon McElholm join as new lead singer and the release of Letting Go. In 2003 original members Paul, Maurice, Kieran and Tommy along with Mike Hanrahan got together for a number of reunion concerts.
More recently, in January 2009, they took to the stage once more at the West County Hotel, Co. Clare. The line up included Paul, Maurice, Tommy and Mike Hanrahan.
Taramusic.ie biography
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...
band formed in 1977 by four All-Ireland champion musicians - Paul Roche flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
/whistle, Maurice Lennon fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, Tommy Hayes bodhran
Bodhrán
The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
, and Kieran Hanrahan
Kieran Hanrahan
Kieran Hanrahan is an Irish radio host and musician, born in Ennis, Co. Clare in 1957. He began playing traditional Irish music on the tenor banjo at the age of fourteen, and had won the All-Ireland banjo championship by the time he was eighteen...
banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
/mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, along with Tony Callinan on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocals.
Name
The band took its name from a line in the Bruce SpringsteenBruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
song, "Backstreets" - "Slow dancin' in the dark on the beach at Stockton's Wing..."
Early years
Their self-titled first album was released in 1978. During the recording of their second album Take A Chance, which was released in 1980, singer-songwriter and guitarist Mike Hanrahan replaced Tony Callinan. At the Ballisodare Folk Festival they met AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Stephen Cooney who then joined the band playing bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
.
In 1982 the band released Light In The Western Sky. In 1983, Tommy Hayes was replaced by Fran Breen on drums. Peter Keenan on keyboards also joined the band. 1984 saw their first American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour. This coincided with the release of American Special.
Live Album
In 1985 they recorded the live album Stockton's Wing Live - Take One in Dublin- and GalwayGalway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
(this album was re-released on CD in 2006). 1986 saw the release of Full Flight. 1988 brought Celtic Roots Revival. In 1991, Davey McNevin replaced Kieran Hanrahan
Kieran Hanrahan
Kieran Hanrahan is an Irish radio host and musician, born in Ennis, Co. Clare in 1957. He began playing traditional Irish music on the tenor banjo at the age of fourteen, and had won the All-Ireland banjo championship by the time he was eighteen...
in the line-up. In addition, Fran Breen and Stephen Cooney departed.
Tara Music
In 1991 the band returned to the Tara Music labelTara Music label
Tara Music have been regarded for many years as one of the leading traditional Irish music recording companies. The label was set up by Jack Fitzgerald and John Cook back in the early 1970s....
with the release of a 20 track compilation of the band's first 3 albums (in 2005 Tara Music released these 3 albums in a boxset). 1992 saw the release of The Crooked Rose. 1995 saw Eamon McElholm join as new lead singer and the release of Letting Go. In 2003 original members Paul, Maurice, Kieran and Tommy along with Mike Hanrahan got together for a number of reunion concerts.
More recently, in January 2009, they took to the stage once more at the West County Hotel, Co. Clare. The line up included Paul, Maurice, Tommy and Mike Hanrahan.
Discography
- Stockton's Wing (album)Stockton's Wing (album)This 1978 release by Stockton's Wing was the group's first album and was in a very traditional style in comparison to later releases. The album features the five founding members, Tommy Hayes on Bodhran & Jaw harp, Kieran Hanrahan on Banjo, Mandolin, Bouzouki & Harmonica, Paul Roche on Flute,...
, 1978 - Take A ChanceTake a Chance (Stockton's Wing album)Take a Chance was the second album from Stockton's Wing. It featured songwriter Mike Hanrahan on vocals. Mike's own compositions featured on the album were the start of the group's move away from the pure traditional music to a more contemporary style which later became their trademark...
, 1980 - Light in the Western Sky, 1982 (deleted)
- American Special, 1984/85 (deleted)
- Stocktons Wing Live - Take One, 1985 (deleted)(rereleased 2006)
- Full Flight, 1986 (deleted)
- Celtic Roots Revival, 1988 (deleted)
- The Collection 1991
- The Crooked Rose, 1992
- Letting Go, 1995
- The Very Best of Irish Jigs, Reels & Songs 2005
- Live - Take One (re-release) 2006
External links
Taramusic.ie biography