John Hogan

Sometimes known as 'Ireland's Prince of Country Music', John Hogan celebrates his 25th year of success within Ireland's music scene this year, as well as an ambassador to Ireland and Irish Country Music around the world. John Hogan is one of very few singers that can claim to have had a hit record before ever performing at a gig. Although music was a big part of his life growing up, he secured a good job with Board-Na-Mona. However he often took his guitar to work and entertained his workmates with his singing. He was eventually persuaded to record a single, and chose his mother's favourite song, 'Brown Eyes'. Radio West presenter Don Allen gave the song great airplay, and the single took off from there. It soon went up to the top-ten charts.

As a result, John decided to put a band together, and signed up with Gerry Walsh and Brian Finlay of the Mighty Avon’s, as his managers. He performed his first gig to a packed house on 19th April 1987. In the weeks and months that followed, John was playing to packed houses for 5-6 nights of the week. After a number of successful years, John was forced to take time out. He is now back and better than ever, with a smaller band known as "the small band with the big sound.”Throughout the years, John's albums have won numerous awards for their quality and sales. John has also recorded a number of self-penned tracks including 'My Feelings For You', 'My Guitar', and 'Irish Home', as well as 'Candlelight And Wine' which was picked up by a number of other artists including Foster & Allen and TR Dallas.

John's self-penned track 'Stepping Stones' also brought him great success on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. The song spent 18 months in the charts there, and John Hogan is now regarded as a huge superstar there, up with the top Nashville greats. Following on from that, John was also named, Freeman of Saint Lucia, the only Irish artist to hold that distinction. He has toured the island on a number of occasions, last visiting in 2010. John also received exciting news last year that his version of 'Rhythm of the Falling Rain' will be featured in a major American feature film.

In this, his 25th Anniversary year, John Hogan is as busy as ever, playing a busy schedule in Ireland, as well as many appearances in England, Scotland and Wales. He also has a number of special 'John Hogan and Friends' weekends planned in hotels across Ireland throughout 2012, the first of which took place in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. John also recently released a three CD collection of his biggest hits, 'The Ultimate Collection' on his long term record label, Rosette. The album features many of John's best loved songs including 'Brown Eyes', 'Anna' and 'Charleville', as well as a number of new recordings including 'If I Didn’t Have a Dime', 'Four Strong Winds' and 'Peaceful Easy Feeling'. You can catch John on Friday the 13^th in The Blackbird Inn Ballycotton where he will play to a select gathering. There are some tickets still available for this event so contact Mossie Tatten or the staff at the Blackbird to book your seat now. 

Shane Supple interviews Country singer John Hogan by Shane Supple on Mixcloud