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Sleeve Notes
Noel, Mattie and Tommy Henry, the three brothers in the band were born in Balia Country Mayo in Ireland, and still speak with pride of that little town that was once their home. They attended National School and High School there and in 1969 Noel came to the United States. He worked as a soloist for a few years in the New York City area and then moved to Boston. It was at this time that Noel recorded his first album entitled "With a Little Help from my Friends."
In 1972 Mattie and Tommy joined him in Boston.
In 1974 Noel decided to form an Irish Showband with his brothers, Mattie on Bass, and Tommy on drums, to be joined later by Donnie on tin whistle, flute, and sax and Larry on the accordian. Now approximately ten years later the band is still going strong and has achieved tremendous success. The band is best known around the Northeast but at least once a year they tour most of the major cities across the United States. They were chosen in March 1983 to perform at a testimonial Dinner for Pat O'Brien, at which Bob Hope was Master of Ceremonies in the International Hilton, Beverly Hills, California. They have seven albums to their credit to date and have recently been asked by Round Tower Travel to perform on two cruises to the Caribbean.
Noel, his wife Winnie and five children; Caroline, Noel, Siobhán, Colleen, and Monica live on Cape Cod. Mattie, his wife Mary and two children; Marty and Erin live in Rockland, Mass. and Tommy and his wife Laurie have also made Cape Cod their home. Noel, Mattie and Tommy's parents Mr. & Mrs. Martin Henry came to the United States with Mattie and Tommy in 1972, and they too live on Cape Cod. At present the entire family is planning a resort hotel for Irish American families on Cape Cod.
Donnie Costello was born in Boston, and attended St. Gregorys Grammar School, and Boston Latin High School. He is the youngest of two children, and his love for Irish music was instilled in him by his parents who were both born in Galway City. They loved to dance and listen to Irish music, and have in fact, won trophies for dancing from the famous State Ballroom in Boston. Donnie started music lessons on the clarinet when he was six years old and at the age of ten was a member of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. He later studied Alto Sax and went on to learn Tenor Sax, Flute and Tin Whistle on his own. Before joining the boys in 1974 he played with various bands in the Boston area and was one of the original members of the Boston Irish Social Club Junior Ceili Band. Now, after ten years as a professional musician with the band, having played on all seven albums, he is still just a young man. He and his fiancee Kathy Kelley are now busy planning for their wedding in April 1984, and they plan on making their home in the south shore area of Boston.
Larry Reynolds, Jr. was born in Waltham, Mass., and is the oldest of six children. After finishing High School in his home town he attended Boston University. His Dad who hails from Ballinasloe Co., Galway, is a well known traditional fiddle player in the New England area. He is also president of the Boston branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann so it is no wonder that his son Larry, Jr. grew up with a love for traditional Irish music. His Mom, an accomplished Pianist herself, started Larry taking music lessons when he was seven years old. He studied Clarinet at first but at the age of fourteen decided to learn how to play the button accordian. He studied it for years, practiced with his family at home, at sessions and also played with various Irish bands in the Boston area. He joined the boys in 1977. Now almost seven years later he's made music his career, and has recorded six albums with the band.