‘Cash days are my wealth’ - Sandy

Music with Eddie Rowley

SANDY Kelly has lived a fascinating life that included a long-time friendship with America’s king of country Johnny Cash and our own late, great Big Tom McBride.

Big Tom duetted on her first single ‘I Needed You’ and Sandy says: “My wealth is in my memories and the people I’ve met, as opposed to what’s in the bank.” She was born into a showbiz family that travelled the country entertaining people with an extravaganza called Duskey Dan’s Fit-Up Roadshow.

“It was a variety show and they were the stars of the day,” she says. “They moved from village to village. My dad went ahead and put up the poster, which made it look like the greatest show on earth.

“People would come out night after night, and sometimes they’d pay with food rather than money. I remember getting eggs, potatoes and fish. Food was gladly accepted.” In her varied career, Sandy hosted her own TV show on RTE, and has starred in a West End musical featuring the story and songs of Patsy Cline.

“Things I never dreamt have happened in my life,” she says. It was her recording of the Patsy Cline classic ‘Crazy’ that brought her to the attention of Johnny Cash.

“He heard it on a pirate station when he and June were on tour in Ireland and he rang to speak with me,” Sandy reveals. “I thought it was somebody winding me up. He invited me to the show that night in Omagh. Before I knew it, I was in Nashville in Johnny Cash’s house and getting ready to record the song ‘Woodcarver’ with him. It’s stuff you would never believe could happen.”

Cash, she says, was a humble man, full of fun and divilment. “Johnny sent a toy mouse flying across the stage one night and had all of the women on stage screaming with fright,” she laughs.

Sandy Kelly will perform on TG4’s Opry le Daniel in Derry’s Millennium Forum next month.