Irish country singer Mick Flavin has been a favourite at the dance halls singing Irish & Country songs for over 20 years, celebrated his incredible journey from Drumlish to Nashville via Wembley Stadium with the release of a double CD As Good As I Once Was. Recognised by his pure, deep voice and for his reputation as being a 'big, friendly giant', Mick has accumulated a large fan base throughout the years.
Mick Flavin grew up in a thatched farmhouse in Ballinamuk, Co. Longford. Working on a farm and running wild through the fields was a favourite part of this country boy’s young life. His first guitar cost the princely sum of £4 and he learned to play it from a Guitar Tutor he bought in Denniston’s Music Shop in Longford. From the expertise he acquired playing his guitar and singing, he received an offer at sixteen years of age to play in a local band, which lasted two years. Based in Dublin , he availed of every opportunity to see his favourite Country and Irish Bands playing at The National, Ierne, Irish Club, Garda Club, etc. On returning to his native Longford in the mid-seventies Mick secured employment with Longford County Council and sang and played on a part time basis.
In May, 1978 the group he played with were invited to the United States for one month. In 1986 following a Charity Night in Cairnhill in Drumlish, Mick was encouraged by Declan Nerney to record his first album. In June of that year they went in to a recording studio in Athlone and put down 10 tracks, which were released at Christmas of the same year. This album was an unprecedented success on the Pirate Radio Stations, which were very popular in Ireland at that time. Success followed, and he recorded with Harmac and Ritz Records recording a total of 12 Albums and 3 Videos. Silver and Gold Discs are some of the honors Country Music has rewarded him with. In 2005, Mick was nominated for the Country Music Association Global Artist Award. This was the first time that an Irish Country Artist was nominated for this prestigious award and is an indication of the significance of his contribution to Country Music in Ireland and beyond.
It’s been an incredible journey for the Longford singer and this latest release has some of his most memorable recordings from early material such as Wildflowers or The Old School Yard to his version of the Buck Owens classic Sam’s Place. “I met Buck at the Wembley Country Festival in 1989 and it was an incredible experience talking to this Country music icon and playing on the same stage as him,” says Mick. During that Wembley Country Festival he also worked with Lorrie Morgan and her late husband Keith Whitley as well as Waylon Jennings. “Sadly Keith, Buck and Waylon have all passed away since but they have left us a great Country music legacy,” says the Longford singer. He is pleased that the fans in Ireland have been so supportive of his career for almost three decades. “I never thought it would be possible for me to make a living singing Country songs and I want to thank everybody for making my dream come true,” he added. But even the critics of Irish Country often admit that Mick is one of the closest sounding to the authentic American Country singers you can get from this side of the Atlantic .
This year has started on a high note for the mighty Mick Flavin with his latest double album “As Good As I Once Was” receiving the prestigious “Best Album of the Year” 2011 award recently at the Sunday World Music Awards. Mick's award winning album “As Good As I Once Was” the essential Mick Flavin collection. The album features 40 of his finest songs including all of his greatest hits like “The Old Schoolyard”, “Maria's Heading Out To California”, “Sam's Place” and also included the hit song Lifetime Guarantee written by Shane Supple. You can catch Mick Flavin and his band in Crottys Lemybrien just outside Dungarvan on Saturday the 7th July. Bring your dancing shoes as it should be a great night of music and fun.
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