Picture this, Hugo on a photoshoot
I will shortly be bringing out a new album recorded in Ownie Smyth’s studio under the Sharpe Music banner.
And, while recording the songs under the watchful eye of Raymond Stewart was a relatively straightforward operation, I’m afraid the same cannot be said about the photographic session that was necessary in order to get some images for the cover.
I used four or five shirts during the shoot and I made sure that I would feel comfortable in them by giving them a good stretch before I tried them on.
When the photographer, Jim Kerr from Dungannon, was shooting, I tried to ensure that I adopted the right pose to make sure that everything looked a neat fit.
I was delighted that Jim was blessed with patience and had a good sense of humour.
Between himself and Raymond, they were able to camouflage me rightly!
When Brendan Quinn linked up with two old school pals, Gerry Donnelly and Felix Mackle, in Castledawson earlier this week, he had not quite bargained on a resume of his singing career.
But in what is now an age of instant communication, his two friends were able to tell Brendan (right) more about his new single than he himself knew.
It was in the aftermath of his hugely successful Tickin’ Over album that Brendan was prevailed upon to release I Have Met My Love Today and now this particular number is proving a huge bonus for the Magherafelt man.
It was the legendary country songwriter and performer John Prine who penned the song and, right now, Brendan cannot believe his good fortune as the song is proving massively popular on the airwaves.
“When I got together with Felix and Gerry again, it was only for the craic — I certainly did not expect the focus of our discussion to be on my singing,” laughs Brendan.
“But the two boys are not behind the door when it comes to current events and they weren’t long letting me know that I had been in the studio.
“If I’m honest, I have to say that I was chuffed. But if you knew the lads, you would know that they are always on the ball — they never miss a thing.”
Pete O’Hanlon, son of the late Mickey O’Hanlon, who was drummer with the Clipper Carlton — the band that put the word “show” into showband — played a big part in producing the song.
A long-time collaborator with Brendan,
Pete helped to come up with the new arrangement, which saw horns added by
Sean McCarron, accordion by Dermot Byrne and backing vocals provided by Donegal’s singing solicitor Jacqui Sharkey (right).
“I think it’s a very meaningful song and I have to say I am very glad that I recorded it,” says Brendan, who was with me in the BBC Radio Ulster studio yesterday.
“Sometimes, you hear a song for the first time and it makes a big impact on you and you want to get into the studio to do your own version of it.”
Brendan, who now lives up on the beautiful Fanad peninsula in Donegal, shot to fame as lead singer with The Bluebirds showband and achieved considerable success with numbers such as Four in the Morning, Fool Enough to Give It One More Try, I Can Almost See My Hometown From Here and Ravishing Ruby.
And now, at a stage in life when most men would prefer to settle for their carpet slippers, put their feet up and take life easy, he is putting the final touches to two forthcoming concerts.
The first of these will be in the Terrace Hotel in his native Magherafelt on Thursday next and the second will take place in the Bardic Theatre, Donaghmore the following night.
“I must say, I am looking forward immensely to these concerts,” says Brendan. “Although I spent a good part of my career performing in dance halls around the country, I have grown to like the concert scene.”
I am not in the least surprised to note that he has retained his enthusiasm for performing and I have no doubt that his concerts will prove hugely successful.
As Brendan said to me yesterday: “Do you know, Hugo, when you think of people like Big Tom, Larry Cunningham and Gene Stuart, who have gone to their eternal reward, aren’t you and I blessed that we can still get up there and sing the odd song?”
I will say Amen to that — from the bottom of my heart.