Carlton Showband: Album Catalog

Biographies

Chris O'Toole

Band leader, Chris O'Toole, from Co. Wicklow in Ireland, was the drummer, manager, and one of the founders of the Carlton Showband. He started the group with Seamus Grew in 1964. Chris liked all types of music. Although he didn't sing, he was kept busy with the drums and percussion besides keeping track of the score for all concerts. Chris retired from the Showband in 1980.

Seamus Grew

"Men wanted to work in Canada." This ad in an Irish newspaper brought Seamus Grew from Co. Monaghan to Canada and eventually to the Carlton Showband. Seamus didn't sing but played accordion and keyboards. He used to bring his left leg waist high as he played, much to the delight of Showband fans. The leg idea developed as a gimmick and became his trademark. Seamus retired from the Carlton Showband in 1991.

Christy McLaughlin

Christy Mc Laughlin of Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland is one of the original founding members of the Showband. When he came to Canada he met Chris and Seamus and they became a trio. They played only Irish Ceili music at first. His interest broadened and he started singing up-tempo Irish songs and Country ballads. Christy's wavy brown hair and infectious smile broke the hearts of thousands of women. Older women wanted to mother him and the younger ones wanted to marry him. "The Black Velvet Band " became his signature song. Chris retired from the Carlton Showband due to ill health in 1981.

Sean McManus

Sean Mc Manus of Co. Fermanagh in Ireland joined The Carlton Showband in 1964. Hank Snow was his inspiration and Country music his first love. Sean, the lead guitarist, was a gifted singer/songwriter and a natural comedian. Audiences knew him as Biddy McGraw and The Bricklayer. He often teamed up with Bob Lewis in comic skits over the years. He also was a serious entertainer, undertaking a ten minute monologue called "I Loved A Papish" which brought audiences to tears. His signature tune was "My Mother", a Hank Snow classic.

Fred White

Fred White, from Cape Breton, N.S. was the first Canadian member of the Showband. He started playing guitar at 15 with friends Bob and Bill Lewis (Bob later joined the Showband and Bill became the lead guitarist for Canadian legend, Stompin' Tom Connors) in a Rock & Roll band for a few years before seeking a new start in Brampton, Ontario. He met Chris O'Toole and was asked to join the Showband in late 1964. Fred is a guitarist/singer/songwriter and also plays bass, banjo and mandolin. His trademark song is "My Song For The Miner", written as a tribute to his Dad who worked many years in the Cape Breton coal mines.

Mike Feeney

Mike Feeney from Galway City in the west of Ireland joined The Carlton Showband in 1965. He sang mainly Irish and romantic ballads and also emceed concerts and dances for many years. Mike had a way with the Irish ballads that most singers could only envy. Fans loved his sincerity and his caring way with seniors and children with disabilities. Mike was probably most well known for the song "Twenty One Years".

Edwin "Mitch" McCoy

Mitch Mc Coy came to Canada in 1966 from Belfast, Northern Ireland, to work as a millwright. He moved in with his brother, a neighbour of Chris O'Toole, who found out that Mitch was also a musician who played in several groups in his native Belfast. He was recruited to join the group on CTV's "Pig 'N' Whistle Show". Mitch was with the Showband for two years and when he left he formed his own group called "The Molly McGuires" where he performed successfully for many years.

Bob Lewis

Bob Lewis comes from Sydney, Nova Scotia. Bob and twin brother Bill started playing guitar and singing together on a weekly radio show at a very young age. Later on Bob learned to play piano and bass. He is a huge Country music fan and enjoys most other types of music. With the Carlton Showband he sang Irish, Country, Pop and Gospel songs. Bob is a talented writer and composed many of the songs he recorded with the group. He also was a natural comedian and combined with Sean McManus to provide many laughs for the fans over the years. His best loved songs were the classic "Rose Marie", and "Why Me Lord". Bob left The Carlton Showband in 1979.

Johnny Patterson

Johnny Patterson was born in the City of Londonderry, Northern Ireland and emigrated to Canada and joined the Showband in 1967. Johnny was considered to be one of the finest tenors to ever grace a stage, as thousands of Showband fans will attest. Until he returned with his family to Ireland in 1975 Johnny thrilled fans at live performances and a few million every week on "The Pig 'N' Whistle" on national television. Although almost any song he performed could be a favourite, he was most well known for "Danny Boy" (which nobody before or since has been able to match) and "Love Thee Dearest" a hauntingly beautiful old ballad.

Gregory Donaghey

Gregory Donaghey of Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, joined the Showband in 1975. He brought another superb voice and a magnificent comedic talent to add to the already great talent pool. Comfortable with any style of music Gregory fit in as if he was always a part of the Carlton Showband. The fans loved his singing and his comedy skits but loved his always bubbling personality more. His most requested songs were "The Town I Loved So Well", and the all-time classic "Danny Boy".

Marty Shaw (Warshawski)

Info coming soon...

Roddie Lee (Le Prieur)

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Robert Benoit

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Larris Benoit

Larris Benoit comes from a rich heritage of traditional music by simply growing up near "The Cape" on the west coast of Newfoundland. He grew up in West Bay where the French influence and the no-nonsense attitude to making music is evident in Larris' playing style. He started playing in bands when he was 13 years old. He played bass and lead guitar. His first instrument was drums. His favorite music is Bluegrass and Louisana 'Cajun'. When he was a teenager, he used to watch The Pig & Whistle Show and always said someday he would be playing with those guys, and sure enough, he was invited to join the band in September, 1989, just after the death of Sean Mc Manus. The first time he played with the Carlton Show band, "It was a thrill of a lifetime."

Aaron Lewis

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