Country singer Gene Stuart hit the Irish music scene over thirty five years ago. In his first band Gene sang the country songs with ‘The Dynamic Sounds’ a talented local pop group. Because of the lack of work in Ireland Gene traveled to England and spent some time on the construction Sites in Birmingham. He stayed for awhile but returned home where he found work with Ken Kennedy’s band from Monaghan, He then moved onto the Mc Geogh brother’s band before securing his big break.In 1969 Larry Cunningham and The Mighty Avon’s were right at the top of the showband tree when Larry decided to go his own way. The call went out and Gene auditioned for and got the job fronting The Avon’s. For the next four years, Gene and the Avon’s would enjoy huge popularity all over Ireland, and in England. Gene’s first recording ‘Before the next Teardrop Fall's’ was an instant hit, reaching No 3 in the Irish top ten. Other chart successes followed, and songs such as ‘I’m just lucky I guess’ ‘Don’t go’ ‘Kiss an Angel good morning’ ‘I’d rather love and lose you’ and ‘Christmas in Connemara’ kept Gene’s name continually in the Irish hit parade at that time.
In 1973 Gene and the Avon’s were flying, however the constant traveling, six nights a week on the road, big crowds and sweaty dancehalls saw the young singer struck down with TB. He spent eight weeks in Dungannon hospital and was off the road for six months recovering. When he returned some of the lads had gone their separate ways and he felt soon afterwards that perhaps the time was right to move on and form his own band. Peter Smith from the Mighty Avon’s became the long term manager of ‘Gene Stuart and The Homesteaders’ and since then with over 20 albums recorded, one in Nashville’ countless singles and four videos later Gene has his foot firmly planted on the rung of the popularity ladder. His vocal abilities and heartfelt emotions throughout his long lasting career have made the entire country music nation stand up and applaud. His love for the particular type of country music with which he identifies is such that he is prepared to forego commercial success for the personal satisfaction which he gets from performing the music he loves. Gene has always strikingly possessed that tender feeling for the full range of human emotions so eloquently and simply expressed by Country, Irish and Gospel music, invariably wrapping his own inimitable personality around his songs, whether it be on stage or in the recording studios.
A few years back the big man decided to step back from the hectic routine of nightly gigs and expansive travel. But country music runs too richly in his veins to have broken the link completely, and he still responds generously to tours and concert requests. Nothing much has changed, he is still a natural talent, still demonstrating that warm and easy style. His ability to change pace and mood to compliment the meaning and feeling of the songs he sings continues to give repeated pleasure to listeners.His remarkable career, encompassing all his talents and performance ability has been well and truly chronicled. A performer who has soared to great heights in the recording business, yet his feet always remained firmly on the ground. This of course, is totally in keeping with the character of the man, no airs or graces, an artiste who has admirably and continually coped with success and all its attachments. You can catch Gene and his band in Crottys of Lemybrien this coming Saturday night on the 21st July. It should be a great night and one long overdue for all his fans in this part of the world.
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