Phil Coulter interview 11th Oct 2010
Having just returned from America where he was filming a TV special with his act Celtic Thunder, Phil Coulter, the legendary performer who just happens to be one of Ireland’s biggest-selling recording artists of all time, spoke with me on Youghal radio this week about his forthcoming show in Cork where he will perform in Cork Opera House on Thursday 14 October at 8pm.
With record sales now counted in millions, as well as a Grammy nomination, several appearances in the White House and sold out international tours, it’s been quite a ride. As Phil himself says, I have been fortunate that I have made a living for the last 40 or so years doing something that I love to do, that I have been able to wear different hats so to speak and as a result never get bored, I have been many things down through the years a song writer, a record producer, a piano player, an orchestrater, a touring performer so there’s always something new to keep it fresh.
Not that Phil Coulter had been a stranger to success he has achieved world-wide recognition as a hit songwriter, notching up chart entries with a diverse list of acts from Elvis Presley to Waylon Jennings, from Bobby Vinton to The Bay City Rollers. His production credits include Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor, Elvis Costello and Richard Harris, while in Ireland his successes have ranged from the Dubliners to Planxty, from Paddy Reilly to the Furey Brothers. He has performed on stage with everyone from James Galway and the London Symphony Orchestra to Nanci Griffith and The Blue Moon Orchestra, not to mention Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein and Quincy Jones.
Despite all my success Phil says it’s a business that is constantly changing so you have to keep your edge, you can’t get complacent, you do have to work hard to entertain, to write to keep coming up with music people want to listen to. That involves passion and I am lucky to say I have a great passion for music, if you take a look at many of the singer or entertainers who have stayed in this business a long time, including your father Art Supple,a very fine entertainer and singer whom I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with many a time, we all have a passion, a love for music. When you love what you do it’s never work.
When I asked Phil if someone told him 40 years ago that he would be as successful as he is today, would he believe them, He replied, no, I am amazed by everything but at the same time I have worked very hard to stay involved in this business. I tell any new kid when they join my orchestra that it’s not about talent its also about the hard work you put into it, nothing is a given right even if you have talent you must work to achieve anything.
Phil Coulter will perform with Special Guests Geraldine Branagan, herself a very successful entertainer represented Luxemburg in the Eurovision Song Contest, the first Irish artist to entertain the Irish troops in the Lebanon a series of number ones across Africa and the far east who took time out to raise six children with Phil and in the last few years she has gotten back into the music scene and has been touring with Phil. Also on the night is 13 year old Chloe Coyle Winner of The All Ireland Talent Show who Phil says has a remarkable talent. If one stands back and thinks about it for a minute, Phil Coulter would not be spending so much time with someone without talent, he has produced her first single and she has guested on this tour with him. Phil added that he had promised Geraldine that he would take things a little easier this year that was until he heard Cloe, from there it was into the studio and they started working on her recordings. They will perform at the Cork Opera House on Thurs 14 October at 8pm
With record sales now counted in millions, as well as a Grammy nomination, several appearances in the White House and sold out international tours, it’s been quite a ride. As Phil himself says, I have been fortunate that I have made a living for the last 40 or so years doing something that I love to do, that I have been able to wear different hats so to speak and as a result never get bored, I have been many things down through the years a song writer, a record producer, a piano player, an orchestrater, a touring performer so there’s always something new to keep it fresh.
Not that Phil Coulter had been a stranger to success he has achieved world-wide recognition as a hit songwriter, notching up chart entries with a diverse list of acts from Elvis Presley to Waylon Jennings, from Bobby Vinton to The Bay City Rollers. His production credits include Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor, Elvis Costello and Richard Harris, while in Ireland his successes have ranged from the Dubliners to Planxty, from Paddy Reilly to the Furey Brothers. He has performed on stage with everyone from James Galway and the London Symphony Orchestra to Nanci Griffith and The Blue Moon Orchestra, not to mention Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein and Quincy Jones.
Despite all my success Phil says it’s a business that is constantly changing so you have to keep your edge, you can’t get complacent, you do have to work hard to entertain, to write to keep coming up with music people want to listen to. That involves passion and I am lucky to say I have a great passion for music, if you take a look at many of the singer or entertainers who have stayed in this business a long time, including your father Art Supple,a very fine entertainer and singer whom I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with many a time, we all have a passion, a love for music. When you love what you do it’s never work.
When I asked Phil if someone told him 40 years ago that he would be as successful as he is today, would he believe them, He replied, no, I am amazed by everything but at the same time I have worked very hard to stay involved in this business. I tell any new kid when they join my orchestra that it’s not about talent its also about the hard work you put into it, nothing is a given right even if you have talent you must work to achieve anything.
Phil Coulter will perform with Special Guests Geraldine Branagan, herself a very successful entertainer represented Luxemburg in the Eurovision Song Contest, the first Irish artist to entertain the Irish troops in the Lebanon a series of number ones across Africa and the far east who took time out to raise six children with Phil and in the last few years she has gotten back into the music scene and has been touring with Phil. Also on the night is 13 year old Chloe Coyle Winner of The All Ireland Talent Show who Phil says has a remarkable talent. If one stands back and thinks about it for a minute, Phil Coulter would not be spending so much time with someone without talent, he has produced her first single and she has guested on this tour with him. Phil added that he had promised Geraldine that he would take things a little easier this year that was until he heard Cloe, from there it was into the studio and they started working on her recordings. They will perform at the Cork Opera House on Thurs 14 October at 8pm
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