Gilbert Strikes A Chord with Kerry Fans

By: Eve Kelliher - Thursday, October 18, 2007

KILLARNEY’S world-famous lakes and a local lady who stole his heart as a teenager will always have a special place in Gilbert O’Sullivan’s memory bank.

Gilbert, who returns to the tourist town this month to perform at the INEC on Sunday, October 28, has been frequenting Kerry since his student days.

"At one stage, when I was 17 or 18, I fancied this girl who worked in a pub in Killarney. I was besotted, but when I arrived back in town for the next visit she ignored me. But that’s youthful romances for you," Gilbert told The Kingdom.

That said, the experience hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for this part of the country.

"I remember during those early visits, as a student, spending time alone going out on the lakes. I have really good memories of Kerry," he said.

Speaking from his home in Jersey, the artist added: "My roots are in Ireland. I was born there and although I left when I was seven, I still have an Irish accent."

The highlight of the upcoming Kerry visit will, as always, be performing in front of an audience, he says.

"This show gives people the opportunity to hear not just familiar songs, but new material I have a very good back catalogue," he said.

Expect plenty of tracks from his latest album, A Scruff At Heart, which recorded in his home studios in Jersey and was released in June.

Gilbert O'Sullivan was a huge star in the 1970s and hit headlines for fighting two massively important music industry legal cases.

Born in Waterford, Ireland raised in England, O'Sullivan signed to CBS Records in 1967 but was to find initial success elusive, although he, with the help of people like the late Kenny Everett and John Peel, almost made the breakthrough with a song called Mr Moody's Garden.

After joining forces with Tom Jones' manager Gordon Mills he reached the top ten in 1970 with Nothing Rhymed.

This was to be the beginning of over a decade of success, including 15 hit singles and five top ten albums.

The 1980s, and to some extent the early 1990s, brought more time in the courts than it did the recording studio, as O'Sullivan, albeit reluctantly, brought action first against his manager and former record label and then in the States, rapper Biz Markie, who had sampled him without his permission. Both cases were found in the singer's favour and have since had wide reaching consequences for the record business.

Since then, O'Sullivan has continued to make music of his own volition, releasing a series of albums including one featuring a duet with a favourite singer of his, the great Peggy Lee plus touring regularly including Japan where in the mid-90s he achieved a number one single with the song Tomorrow Today.

Flying in the face of the fashion for other artists of his era, he has refused to be drawn into the world of nostalgia package tours, reality TV shows and the world of celebrity. As always, Gilbert O'Sullivan has been his own man.

His music has sound tracked films, including Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides and Stuart Little 2, and television shows such as The Simpsons.

Most recently Alone Again (Naturally) featured in the hit BBC series Life On Mars and the next Noah Baumbach film staring Nicole Kidman will feature his song Clair.

Gilbert’s works have been covered by numerous other artists including Andy Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey and Bobby Darin, and more recently Har Mar Superstar and Donny Osmond.

A Scruff At Heart - what he considers himself - is a radical departure from his most recent band albums, simply featuring O’Sullivan, his piano and of course those memorable songs.

The lyrics too are classic O'Sullivan, as comfortable tackling issues such as war and school bullying as the condition of the human heart coupled with a wry sense of humor.

Merci beaucoup David!

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