The popular Country music star chats about his love of Grand Ole Opry and Bob Marley!
What is your favourite song?
Well, I’m into American Country music mostly really.. although I have recorded some Irish songs. One of my all time favourites would have to be George Jones so I would definitely choose one of his songs.. ‘He stopped loving her today’ would be one of my tops…..
What is your favourite book?
I don’t read much but, going back again to George Jones, I read the story of his life,’ I lived to tell it all’ and it’s a fantastic read so that would be one of my favourite books as well…
How about your favourite TV show or movie?
Wow…( laughs.).. I like films .. ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ would have been one of my all time favourite films….
Or maybe the first film I ever saw at the cinema… I was only a wee kids at the time, and my sister took me to see it… ‘The Magnificient Seven’.. Thats going back a few years now!
What is your favourite item of clothing?
(Chuckes….)
I have a T-shirt of Bob Marley that I bought one time when I was out on the Carribean on a cruise, and I wear that quite a bit! I like his music.. I know its far removed from Country but I love it – I love all kinds of music, believe it or not; classical, jazz, blues, country… I love Irish traditional music too!
What is your best memory?
One of the best memories for me would probably be back in 2006, I was out in Nashville and I got the chance to sing on the Grand Ole Opry stage with George Hamilton IV! I did the two shows that night so that would probably be an all-time memory for me… because when I was a kids growing up in Ballinamuck, Co Longford, listening to people like Hank Williams and some of the older country stars, in my wildest dreams I never ever thought that I would even get to Nashvile, never mind sing at the Grand Ole Opry!
Who would be the most famous person in your phone book?
Apart from you? ( Laughs!!)
Oh sure Trudi Lalor – she is great! Great entertainer and fantastic fun!
If you found €5 on the street , what would you do with it?
Ah sure, if I couldn’t find the owner, I’d probably give it to charity.
What is the last meal you had?
Oh, this morning I had potato bread, an egg and tea!
What’s the best advice you ever received?
The best advice ever I got was to stop drinking. …. which I did 32 years ago. I stopped drinking in 1986. I was an alcoholic, and I could never take a drink again. I was in and out of hospital many times.. I tend to always mention it when I’m on stage . I have a song called ‘Choices’, and I tell the story about the song, and how it relates to me, you know? I suppose its all part of life… I’m just glad that I stopped drinking because I would never have been able to go on the road or do the things that I love – singing and entertaining people!
So finally… finish the following question…. All I want is…?
All I want is to live the rest of my life, singing country music and entertaining people !
