Tommy Fleming
Encyclopedia
Tommy Fleming is an Irish
singer and philanthropist. He rose to fame in the early 1990s
after he was asked to tour the US with Phil Coulter
. He soon established himself as a solo artist, he found his greatest success singing traditional Irish music (both old and contemporary) with his forceful and dynamic bel canto
tenor. Fleming has toured extensively throughout Ireland, UK, US, Netherlands
and Australia
.
in Westport, County Mayo
that changed his career. Within a few short months of this meeting, he'd appeared at the Cork Opera House
, and The National Concert Hall in Dublin. He then went on a tour of the United States
, which included appearances at Carnegie Hall
and the Boston Symphony Hall.
After his return to Ireland, he joined the group De Dannan
. (Mary Black
, Maura O'Connell
, and Dolores Keane
had been previous lead vocalists of this group.) With De Dannan, Fleming's voice was brought to Australia
, China
, Hong Kong
, and, once again, the United States.
Silgo
, with his wife, Tina. He met her at a funeral two dates after a tour in the late 1990s. This was soon after the accident Fleming was involved in where he crashed his car and broke his neck. Fleming has described Tina as "a great woman very strong and a great organizer".
Whilst Fleming is often compared to Daniel O'Donnell
, he has said that he does not know why this comparison is made. According to Fleming, it doesn't annoy him but O'Donnell would not be his cup of tea.
in 1996 to pursue a solo career. When he is touring, he is accompanied by his good friend David Hayes, who plays piano and keyboard. The two have been friends since they met while Fleming was touring with Phil Coulter
in 1993, and he has said that Hayes is always very down to earth and has never told him a lie. Hayes produces Fleming's albums and is the musical director of his shows. Hayes has also taught Fleming about singing, stage presence, and song delivery.
In 1998, Fleming released Restless Spirit. In early 1998 while on the promotional tour for this album he was almost killed in an autowreck returning to his native Sligo. He escaped from the burning car with a broken neck, all of which put his career in jeopardy. He ended up wearing a cranial halo for three months. After this incident Fleming was told there was a chance he might not be able to walk again. The woman who rescued Tommy at the time was his wife Tina. Fleming said "She took over my management and helped steer me in the right direction".
Sand & Water and The Contender were the two albums that followed Restless Spirit. The Contender brought Fleming back to the roots of traditional Irish
music
. The continued successes of his albums throughout 2000 and 2001 would lead to his first tour of Japan
.
, This building has a capacity of 5,000 and had been host to Holy Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II
on the pontiff
's visit to Ireland
in September 1979. Fleming's was the first concert of its kind to be held there. PBS began broadcasting the recording of the concert under the title Voice of Hope
in the United States
in August 2005. The estimated North American viewing audience was 100,000,000. Voice Of Hope was his first album to be released in North America
.
's "Scorn Not His Simplicity
". The album went straight to number 5 in the Album charts.
The following year he went on to release his second live album, A Journey Home.
to an audience of 2,000. It will be released on CD and DVD in 2008, and features 22 songs from Ireland's most celebrated and acclaimed writers and poets. A Journey Home includes classical Irish songs such as "The Cliffs Of Dooneen", "Isle of Innisfree
" (the theme of the film, The Quiet Man, written by Dick Farrelly
), and "Isle Of Hope, Isle Of Tears".
It has been revealed by Fleming's official website that he will be releasing a new album in early November 2009. The new Christmas album will be titled Song For A Winter's Night.
Fleming had a back operation, because he had a problem with one of his disks.
He participated in season 4 of Celebrity Bainisteoir
in 2011 managing St Patrick's GAA Club Dromard, Sligo.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer and philanthropist. He rose to fame in the early 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
after he was asked to tour the US with Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter is an artist with an international reputation as a successful songwriter, pianist, music producer, arranger and director. His success has spanned four decades and he is one of the biggest record sellers in Ireland...
. He soon established himself as a solo artist, he found his greatest success singing traditional Irish music (both old and contemporary) with his forceful and dynamic bel canto
Bel canto
Bel canto , along with a number of similar constructions , is an Italian opera term...
tenor. Fleming has toured extensively throughout Ireland, UK, US, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Australia
Australia
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...
.
Biography
From an early age Fleming's natural singing talent was on show in local talent competitions and concerts. After finishing secondary school in 1990, he played the local scene with a couple of bands, but it was his meeting with composer Phil CoulterPhil Coulter
Phil Coulter is an artist with an international reputation as a successful songwriter, pianist, music producer, arranger and director. His success has spanned four decades and he is one of the biggest record sellers in Ireland...
in Westport, County Mayo
Westport, County Mayo
Westport is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated on the west coast at the south-east corner of Clew Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean....
that changed his career. Within a few short months of this meeting, he'd appeared at the Cork Opera House
Cork Opera House
Cork Opera House is a theatre and opera house in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. It was originally built in 1855, although its existence has not been continuous; having survived the burning of much of Cork by British forces in reprisal for an ambush of a military convoy in 1920 by Irish rebels,...
, and The National Concert Hall in Dublin. He then went on a tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which included appearances at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
and the Boston Symphony Hall.
After his return to Ireland, he joined the group De Dannan
De Dannan
De Dannan was an Irish folk music group. They were formed by Frankie Gavin , Alec Finn , Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh and Charlie Piggott as a result of sessions in Hughes's Pub in An Spidéal, County Galway, subsequently inviting Dolores Keane to join the band...
. (Mary Black
Mary Black
Mary Black is an Irish singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both folk and contemporary material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland, and in many other parts of the world....
, Maura O'Connell
Maura O'Connell
Maura O'Connell is an Irish singer and actress. She is known for her contemporary interpretations of Irish folk songs, strongly influenced by American country music.-Background:...
, and Dolores Keane
Dolores Keane
Dolores Keane is an Irish folk singer and occasional actress. She was a founding member of the successful group De Dannan, and has since embarked on a very successful solo career, establishing herself as one of the most loved interpreters of Irish song.-Background:Keane was born in a small village...
had been previous lead vocalists of this group.) With De Dannan, Fleming's voice was brought to Australia
Australia
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...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and, once again, the United States.
Personal life
Tommy Fleming is currently living in Enniscrone, CountyCounty
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
Silgo
Silgo
Silgo is a town in the Bingo Department of Boulkiemdé Province in central western Burkina Faso. It has a population of 1639....
, with his wife, Tina. He met her at a funeral two dates after a tour in the late 1990s. This was soon after the accident Fleming was involved in where he crashed his car and broke his neck. Fleming has described Tina as "a great woman very strong and a great organizer".
Musical style
When Fleming was asked how he would describe his genere of music he confessed that it is not opera nor rock 'n' roll. He said that he is just "very traditional and likes a song with a good story".Whilst Fleming is often compared to Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel or Danny O'Donnell may refer to:* Daniel O'Donnell, Irish singer* Daniel O'Donnell , American legislator from the state of New York* Danny O'Donnell * Danny O'Donnell...
, he has said that he does not know why this comparison is made. According to Fleming, it doesn't annoy him but O'Donnell would not be his cup of tea.
Solo career
Tommy Fleming left De DannanDe Dannan
De Dannan was an Irish folk music group. They were formed by Frankie Gavin , Alec Finn , Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh and Charlie Piggott as a result of sessions in Hughes's Pub in An Spidéal, County Galway, subsequently inviting Dolores Keane to join the band...
in 1996 to pursue a solo career. When he is touring, he is accompanied by his good friend David Hayes, who plays piano and keyboard. The two have been friends since they met while Fleming was touring with Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter
Phil Coulter is an artist with an international reputation as a successful songwriter, pianist, music producer, arranger and director. His success has spanned four decades and he is one of the biggest record sellers in Ireland...
in 1993, and he has said that Hayes is always very down to earth and has never told him a lie. Hayes produces Fleming's albums and is the musical director of his shows. Hayes has also taught Fleming about singing, stage presence, and song delivery.
Early years (1996-2005)
Fleming's first solo effort after leaving De Danaan, Different Side of Life, was released in 1996.In 1998, Fleming released Restless Spirit. In early 1998 while on the promotional tour for this album he was almost killed in an autowreck returning to his native Sligo. He escaped from the burning car with a broken neck, all of which put his career in jeopardy. He ended up wearing a cranial halo for three months. After this incident Fleming was told there was a chance he might not be able to walk again. The woman who rescued Tommy at the time was his wife Tina. Fleming said "She took over my management and helped steer me in the right direction".
Sand & Water and The Contender were the two albums that followed Restless Spirit. The Contender brought Fleming back to the roots of traditional Irish
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. The continued successes of his albums throughout 2000 and 2001 would lead to his first tour of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Voice of Hope (2005-2006)
On December 12, 2004, Fleming recorded a concert at Knock Shrine Basilica in Knock, County MayoCounty Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, This building has a capacity of 5,000 and had been host to Holy Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on the pontiff
Pontiff
A pontiff was, in Roman antiquity, a member of the principal college of priests . The term "pontiff" was later applied to any high or chief priest and, in ecclesiastical usage, to a bishop and more particularly to the Bishop of Rome, the Pope or "Roman Pontiff".-Etymology:The English term derives...
's visit to Ireland
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...
in September 1979. Fleming's was the first concert of its kind to be held there. PBS began broadcasting the recording of the concert under the title Voice of Hope
Voice of Hope
Voice of Hope Ministries, Inc. is an American non-profit organization operating in Texas.Voice of Hope, founded in 1982 by Kathy Dudley is a Christian community center founded on principles of self-help, spiritual enrichment and urban renewal...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in August 2005. The estimated North American viewing audience was 100,000,000. Voice Of Hope was his first album to be released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
A Life Like Mine (2006-2007)
In 2006 Fleming released his first studio album in three years, entitled A Life Like Mine. It included songs that Fleming had wanted to record for some time, including Jimmy MacCarthy's "Mystic Lipstick" and Phil CoulterPhil Coulter
Phil Coulter is an artist with an international reputation as a successful songwriter, pianist, music producer, arranger and director. His success has spanned four decades and he is one of the biggest record sellers in Ireland...
's "Scorn Not His Simplicity
Scorn Not His Simplicity
"Scorn not his Simplicity" is a song written by the Irish musician and songwriter Phil Coulter and performed on his albums Classic Tranquility and The Songs I Love So Well....
". The album went straight to number 5 in the Album charts.
The following year he went on to release his second live album, A Journey Home.
A Journey Home (2007-2008)
In 2007 Fleming recorded his new live show, A Journey Home, in Ireland’s National Events Centre KillarneyKillarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
to an audience of 2,000. It will be released on CD and DVD in 2008, and features 22 songs from Ireland's most celebrated and acclaimed writers and poets. A Journey Home includes classical Irish songs such as "The Cliffs Of Dooneen", "Isle of Innisfree
Isle of Innisfree
The Isle of Innisfree is a song composed by Dick Farrelly , born Richard Farrelly, who wrote both the music and lyrics. Dick got the inspiration for "Isle of Innisfree", the song for which he is best remembered, while on a bus journey from his native Kells, County Meath to Dublin...
" (the theme of the film, The Quiet Man, written by Dick Farrelly
Dick Farrelly
Dick Farrelly born Richard Farrelly was an Irish songwriter, policeman and poet, composer of "The Isle of Innisfree", the song for which he is best remembered. His parents were publicans and when Dick was twenty-three he left Kells, County Meath for Dublin to join the Irish Police Force...
), and "Isle Of Hope, Isle Of Tears".
Current work (2008-present)
Upon the release of A Journey Home, Fleming was asked in an interview what would be next for him. He stated that he's going to work on his next studio album, as well as writing an autobiography.It has been revealed by Fleming's official website that he will be releasing a new album in early November 2009. The new Christmas album will be titled Song For A Winter's Night.
Fleming had a back operation, because he had a problem with one of his disks.
He participated in season 4 of Celebrity Bainisteoir
Celebrity Bainisteoir
Celebrity Bainisteoir is a prime-time reality programme produced for Radio Telefís Éireann, which was produced by Animo Television/Kite Entertainment...
in 2011 managing St Patrick's GAA Club Dromard, Sligo.
Solo albums
- 1996 - Different Sides to Life
- 1997 - Sand and Water
- 1998 - Restless Spirit
- 2000 - The Contender
- 2003 - The CollectionThe Collection (Tommy Fleming album)The Collection is a compilation album released in 2003 by Irish singer Tommy Fleming. This two disc collection features some of his favourite and most popular songs of the first ten years in his career...
- 2005 - A Voice of Hope
- 2006 - A Life Like Mine
- 2007 - A Journey Home
- 2009 - The Best Is Yet to Come
- 2009 - Song For A Winter's Night
- 2010 - Going Back