MUSIC CITY BELFAST

Since the meeting of the Harpers in the 1790’s Belfast has been known as a City of Music.

My father used to say, “Show me a person who likes music and I’ll show you a person with a Soul” and if you enjoy music you’ll know just what he meant. It was my father who instilled in me a love of music that has caused me to roam here there and everywhere to hear the best. yeah, even many times to Austin City Texas, Bakersfield California and Nashville, Tennessee, a City that boasts of being, ‘Music City. USA.” .it has soul. but sure so has our own wee Belfast.. it has a soul as big as Ireland...’Belfast. Music City. Ireland”, The musical talent that Belfast has produced down through the years reflects the beauty of the soul of our own sweet city.

For every big name, like.. Ruby Murray , Ronnie Carroll , Van Morrison Brian Kennedy, that acquired International Acclaim there were many many more, through the years, who had equal talent, aye, and perhaps more, that never got that deserving ‘break” to hit the big time, but nevertheless, happily carried on to entertain people at local venues and collectively through the years have raised millions of pounds for charities., now that is what I call SOUL !, enjoying and sharing a God given talent, bringing pleasure to thousands and at the same time reaching out that helping hand to others...that’s Belfast... ‘Music City”.. for you! There is perhaps no one who made a bigger impact on the local music scene here in Belfast than “The Two M’s”, Tommy Matthews, a Whiterock man and Hector Madden whose real name was Han’ Fitzsimons , who came from English Street in the old Pound Loney.

“The “Two M’s” were the biggest thing in Belfast in the late 1940’s -5 O’s, they topped the Bill at the “Empire Theatre”, big established English stars played under them, Hector was “The Voice”,. “The Crooner”, Tommy harmonized and played the accordion, they appeared at venues all over the country, they played so often at ‘St Mary’s Hall ” folk began  to think they lived there.  Tommy’s brother, Alec Matthews, was also a great talent, he was a member of “The King’s Showband” and then lead singer with “Musical Express”, he was said to he the best Keyboard Player in Ireland, at aged 16 he appeared on. the local 1 N. Show, “Tea Time With Tommy”, he enchanted viewers with the great old song, “In My Mothers Eyes”. “The Kings Showband”, by the way, won “Opportunity Knocks”, the big .Hughie Greene T.V talent show in the 1960’s, As for the great “Musical Express”.. what can I say about them,, well, when they appeared at “The Devenish Arms”, it is said there were more singers and other musicians in the audience than punters... what does that tell you.? Alec was a kindly soul, often when parting from a friend he would put his arm around him/ her and say, “When they made you ... they threw away the mould” I’d say,... “When they made Alec they threw away the mould”,

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