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Sleeve Notes
Danny was born on the banks of the Grand Canal in Dublin, a somewhat Bohemian area, at the time, populated by artists and writers. Neighbors, poet Patrick Kavanagh and the legendary Brendan Behan encouraged Dannys talent, and it was in the church choir that he did his first serious singing. Dublin's first back lane theater was built in a converted stable behind the Georgian house in which the Doyle family rented a basement. This was the controversial Pike Theater. Danny was involved as general factotum, assistant stage manager, ticket seller and collector, sweeper-upper etc. At a time when Irish folk music was not fashionable he developed an abiding interest in the songs and history of his country, acquiring a huge repertoire. When the folk revival blossomed in the late sixties his distinctive style and large store of little known songs ensured his immediate success.
He left school at age fourteen to go to work and help support the expanding Doyle family. Never happy with a regular job he drifted from one to another, eventually arriving in London. Here he spent two years, travelling the English and Scottish folk clubs.
1966 saw Danny back in Dublin. The folk music boom was about to reach its peak. He became an overnight success with a song he had learned in the smokey back room of a London pub, written by his friend, Kerryman, Seán McCarthy. This was "Step It Out Mary" and went straight into the Irish hit parade at #2. More hits followed and a huge selling first album. In '67 Danny recorded "Whiskey On A Sunday", the story of one of the last of the street puppeteers, that would stay in the hit parade for over a year and make him an international Irish name.
His travels in the following years took him to France, Spain, Germany, Rumania, Malta, America, Monte Carlo, Brazil and Australia.
In 1976 he met and began to work with Pete St.John, soon to be a major songwriting talent. This collaboration produced, "The Fields Of Athenry", "Ringsend Boatman", "James Connolly The Workers Hero", "Soldier Boys Awa", "The Galway Rover" and more. The biggest of these, "The Rare Oul' Times" is undoubtedly the best song ever written about Dublin, and has become Danny Doyles anthem. In recent years he has recorded five albums which he says were labors of love. These were "Raised On Songs And Stories" and "The Highwayman" (both combined and available on Rego, new title; "Folk Masters Ensemble."), "Twenty Years A-Growing" and "Dublin Me Darlin" (available from Rego). Dannys latest "Emigrant Eyes" (on Rego) was recorded in Dublin with his sister Geraldine, a vivacious singer and Australias #1 stand up comedian.
So here is the "Danny Doyle Collection Vol. 1.", we hope you enjoy these Emerald Encores.