Tom Clancy (singer)
Encyclopedia
Tom Clancy was a member of the Irish folk singing group The Clancy Brothers
. He had the strongest voice of the brothers and had previously been an actor in numerous stage productions, appearing with Orson Welles
in King Lear
.
Like his older brother Patrick Clancy
, he was born in Carrick-on-Suir
, County Tipperary
. Also like his brother, Clancy served in the Royal Air Force
during World War II
, despite their having earlier been members of the Irish Republican Army
.
Discharged from the RAF at the war's end, Tom Clancy toured with a British repertory company. In 1947 he and his brother Patrick emigrated to Canada
. However, they soon moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to lives with relatives. The brothers planned to go to California
, but their car broke down. They decided to try New York City
instead and found work as actors, both on and off Broadway. In 1955 their brother Liam Clancy
joined them, accompanied by his friend Tommy Makem
. Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem began singing together, and in 1959 were joined by the older Clancy brothers as The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.
The group performed together until Makem left them in 1969. Tom Clancy continued singing with The Clancy Brothers until his death.
He died from stomach cancer at the age of 67 in 1990 in at Mercy Hospital in Cork City, County Cork
. He was survived by his wife Joan and their four daughters.
Clancy's last recording was made in 1988 with Robbie O'Connell
, Bobby Clancy, and Paddy Clancy at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire
. Unfortunately, it was recorded on DAT
, which does not allow mixing after the recording and the recording is marred by uneven instruments and voices.
*This is his only known outside solo effort
Other recordings can be found with The Clancy Brothers discography.
. He appeared on television in Little House on the Prairie
, Starsky and Hutch
, and The Incredible Hulk.
The Clancy Brothers
The Clancy Brothers were an influential Irish folk music singing group, most popular in the 1960s, they were famed for their woolly Aran jumpers and are widely credited with popularizing Irish traditional music in the United States. The brothers were Patrick "Paddy" Clancy, Tom Clancy, Bobby Clancy...
. He had the strongest voice of the brothers and had previously been an actor in numerous stage productions, appearing with Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
in King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
.
Like his older brother Patrick Clancy
Patrick Clancy
Patrick Clancy , usually called "Paddy" or "Pat" Clancy, was an Irish folk singer best known as a member of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem....
, he was born in Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. As the name – meaning "the rock of the Suir" – suggests, the town is situated on the River Suir. The of the town gives the population as 5,906 and shows that it has grown by 5.7% since 2002...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
. Also like his brother, Clancy served in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, despite their having earlier been members of the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
.
Discharged from the RAF at the war's end, Tom Clancy toured with a British repertory company. In 1947 he and his brother Patrick emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. However, they soon moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to lives with relatives. The brothers planned to go to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, but their car broke down. They decided to try New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
instead and found work as actors, both on and off Broadway. In 1955 their brother Liam Clancy
Liam Clancy
William "Liam" Clancy was an Irish folk singer and actor from Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. He was the youngest and last surviving member of performing group The Clancy Brothers. The group were regarded as Ireland's first pop stars...
joined them, accompanied by his friend Tommy Makem
Tommy Makem
Thomas "Tommy" Makem was an internationally celebrated Irish folk musician, artist, poet and storyteller. He was best known as a member of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. He played the long-necked 5-string banjo, guitar, tin whistle, and bagpipes, and sang in a distinctive baritone...
. Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem began singing together, and in 1959 were joined by the older Clancy brothers as The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.
The group performed together until Makem left them in 1969. Tom Clancy continued singing with The Clancy Brothers until his death.
He died from stomach cancer at the age of 67 in 1990 in at Mercy Hospital in Cork City, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was survived by his wife Joan and their four daughters.
Clancy's last recording was made in 1988 with Robbie O'Connell
Robbie O'Connell
-Life:Robbie was born in Waterford and grew up in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, where his parents had a small hotel. He spent a year touring folk clubs in England before enrolling at University College Dublin where he studied Literature and Philosophy. Being a newphew of the Clancy Brothers,...
, Bobby Clancy, and Paddy Clancy at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire
Goffstown, New Hampshire
Goffstown is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 17,651 at the 2010 census. The compact center of town, where 3,196 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Goffstown census-designated place and is located at the...
. Unfortunately, it was recorded on DAT
Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is similar to a compact audio cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As...
, which does not allow mixing after the recording and the recording is marred by uneven instruments and voices.
Guest recordings
- 1956 - The Countess Cathleen - Tradition LP
- 1980 - Seamus Kennedy: Raise Your Weary Hearts - Gransha LP
*This is his only known outside solo effort
Other recordings can be found with The Clancy Brothers discography.
Television and film
Tom Clancy continued to act during his singing career, appearing in the movie AirportAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
. He appeared on television in Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
, Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
, and The Incredible Hulk.