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| Traditional Music >> Performers >> Scottish Folk Groups >> The Kerries |
The Kerries and Gibb Todd
The Kerries were named after Kerry Todd, a Scotsman who settled in Coventry, England, in the 1950s. They changed their name from The Kerry Singers because it "sounded like that of a Concert Choir." They cut their teeth in an Irish Social Club, where they played for three hours a night twice a week. Later they decided to run their own folk club.
Kerry Todd himself played guitar and sang harmony; he was reluctant to take lead vocals as his voice "isn't what it used to be". The group's leader and arranger was Kerry's son Gibb Todd who played banjo, mandolin and whistle. Ralph Overton played guitar (and was engaged to Gibb's sister!). Singer Gill Thurlow was poached from rock and blues singing, and even played tin whistle when she wasn't singing. Finally, Ulsterman Lennie McIlhone completed the group, playing guitar and singing lead and harmony vocals.The Kerries recorded one LP that I know about on the Major Minor label in the summer of 1967. Gibb Todd remained in the folk scene, touring the world with various groups and ensembles. He has been a regular at Glasgow's Celtic Connections festival, hosting the Open Stage feature initiated by Danny Kyle. He released his first solo recording, Connected, in 1999, followed by Goin' Home in 2004.
Records:
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The Kerries: The Kerries (Major Minor Records MMLP9, 1967)
Side One: Coulter's Candy; Big Mansion Hoose; McTaggart (The
Kerries); He Wrapped Me In His Coat; The Gallows Tree; Bonny Laddy;
Oh dear What Will I Do; Gallant Forty Twa All songs traditional except where indicated Kerry Todd (guitar, backing vocals); Lenny McIlhone (guitar, vocals); Gill Thurlow (vocals, penny whistle); Ralph Overton (guitar, vocals); Gibb Todd (vocals, banjo, tin whistle, mandolin) |
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The Kerries: Coulter's Candy (Major Minor Records MM541, 1967 - 45rpm single)
Side One: Coulter's Candy All songs traditional except where indicated Kerry Todd (guitar, backing vocals); Lenny McIlhone (guitar, vocals); Gill Thurlow (vocals, penny whistle); Ralph Overton (guitar, vocals); Gibb Todd (vocals, banjo, tin whistle, mandolin) |
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Lochan: Lochan (Celtic Music CM018, 1983)
Side One: Someday We'll See Them (Alex Campbell)/Battle o'
the Somme; O Gin I Were a Baron's Heir; Sandy Anderson; The Dark
Island (MacLachlan)/MacLeod o' Mull/Barbara's Jig; The Man You
Don't Meet Everyday All songs traditional except where indicated Billy Ormiston (vocals, mandola, mandoline, whistle, guitar); Gibb Todd (vocals, banjo, guitar) Calum MacAulay (accordion, Highland pipes, keyboards) |
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Gibb Todd: Connected (Lochshore CDLDL1292, 2000) Lonely Belnahua; Someday We'll See Them; No More Stravaigin'; My Love is Like a Red Red Rose; The Final Trawl; Do You Think I Do Not Know; Sister Maureens Waltz; The Last Of The Tinkler; George Campbell; Blackwaterside; Scarborough Settlers Lament; Carrickfergus; Will Ye No Come Back Again All songs traditional except where indicated Gibb Todd (vocals, guitar, banjo); John Sheehan; Finbar Furey; Alasdair Fraser (fiddle); Kate Rusby; Tony McManus (guitar); Joanie Madden; Elspeth Cowie; Fraser Spiers (harmonica); Corrina Hewat (clarsach); Malcolm Stitt (guitar) |
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Gibb Todd: Goin' Home (Compass Records 4374, 2004) Bell of Byron Bay; Where the Bangelows Are; The Band Played Waltzing Matilda; The Last Trip Home; Don't Put Taxes on the Women; Canada; Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies; Goin' Home; Strong Women Rule Us All; Cape Cod Girls; Norlin' Wind All songs traditional except where indicated Gibb Todd (vocals, guitar, banjo); John Doyle (guitar), Alison Brown (banjo); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Danny Thompson (double bass); Andrea Zonn (fiddle); Tim O'Brien |