Brendan Quinn

Brendan started in the music business as a guitar player with 'The Malachi Doris Ceili Band' at age 15. While playing in various Irish showbands like 'The Breakaways' and 'The Signs', he recorded Kris Kristofferson's 'Help Me Make It Through The Night' in 1969 which recieved extensive airplay in Ireland. 1972 saw Brendan with an Irish no. 1 when he recorded Faron Young's 'Four In The Morning'. Brendan also recorded a version of Charlie Rich's 'Behind Closed Doors' around this time and BBC Radio 1 presenter Tony Blackburn recieved it and played it every day for 2 months! it also proved a big hit in Ireland reaching no.3. After fronting a few of Ireland's most popular showbands, Brendan decided to form his own band. 'The Bluebirds' started in 1976, and Brendan named the band after a car he was driving at the time. (Datsun Bluebird). Brendan and The Bluebirds signed with George Doherty's 'Emerald Gem' label and a string of hit records were to follow including 5 no. 1s with the label. Brendan's first effort in his new surroundings, 'My Kinda Country' went on to critical acclaim in England and Scotland. It held hit singles 'The Door Is Always Open' and 'Dreaming My Dreams With You', including 3 no. 1s, 'Bandy The Rodeo Clown' 'I Dont Want The Money' and 'After Sweet Memories (play born to lose again)'. Three more albums followed with the label and more hits including 'I Can Almost See My Hometown From Here, Angeline, To Daddy and I'm A Little Bit Lonesome'. 1982 saw Brendan immigrate to Vancouver, Canada where he and his band toured extensively throughout North America. Brendan returned back to Ireland in 1985 finding it hard to find the balance between the rigours of touring and family life, he reformed The Bluebirds and made 5 more albums on his own 'Deep Cove' record label. 1995 saw Brendan 'semi retire' from touring and The Bluebirds became defunct after 20 years! In 1996 his first grandson was born which inspired Brendan to start writing his own songs. He formed a band with old friend and guitar wizard Arty McGlynn called 'The Kickin Mule'. A band Brendan is comfortable in because they can play music they like instead of having to please the punters. First single 'Be Like Him' proved to be a radio hit and it is still requested in his live shows. Brendan's newest release and critically acclaimed 'Sinnerman' has won over a new audience and tours are planned for 2008 and 2009. Brendan Quinn is a legend in Irish country music with 12 studio albums to his name and countless apperances on other peoples work as a vocalist or guitarist. He has apperaed at some of the world's top country music festivals and shared the bill (and sometimes the stage) with other legends such as Merle Haggard, George Jones, Don Williams, Gene Watson and Hal Ketchum.