October 06, 2012
Irish legend dies
LARRY CUNNINGHAM was one of the best-known performers of the Irish showband era and had his first Irish number one single Lovely Leitrim in the mid-1960s. He was also the first Irish-based artist to reach the British pop charts with his Tribute to Jim Reeves in 1964.
He grew up in Ireland but moved to England when he was 16 to find work as a carpenter, and whilst there he played and promoted Irish traditional music.
He returned to Ireland in the early 60's and, along with the Mighty Avons, gained recognition when he supported Jim Reeves on his tour of Ireland in '63.
During his career Larry performed as part of the Wembley Festival, and drew the biggest ever crowd when he played at the Galtymore Ballroom in London.
His major hit was Lovely Leitrim, and along with his band Country Blue Boys he continued to record and tour until two years ago.
He died in Dublin last Friday night (Sept 28th) at the age of 74.
Family & friends mixed with personalities of the music and media worlds at the funeral on Tuesday of the well-known Longford country and western singer.
Among the hundreds of mourners at his funeral in St Columba’s Church in his native Mullinalaghta were showband and country music veterans Big Tom, Philomena Begley, Daniel O’Donnell and Mike Denver.
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