Tommy, who was born in Aclare Co. Sligo, Ireland in 1971 and was the youngest of six children, started singing while still at school. While fronting his own local band, a chance encounter with Phil Coulter at a charity function near his home lead to a big break onto the world stage where Tommy appeared as a guest singer on Phil’s USA tour. This then lead to the singer entering into the music business as a solo artist.
While still at school his first band was born – a rock band (!) called “The Face of February” and thus began the a life of ”gigging” in local clubs and pubs. After leaving school (in 1990) Tommy started to establish himself as part of a Castlebar quartet known as “Jarog” performing in pubs and clubs around the country and regularly packing in the fans wherever they appeared. Their flame haired vocalist was also attracting attention at their many festival appearances across the country. However, despite this success in many venues through the early 1990’s, record companies didn’t appear to be too interested in his work. Then a chance encounter with renowned producer and composer Phil Coulter changed all that. In July 1993, Phil overheard Tommy performing at a charity event in Westport, County Mayo and within days he was ‘guesting’ with Phil and his Orchestra at the Opera House (Cork), the National Concert Hall (Dublin) and The University Concert Hall (Limerick). Four months later he was touring North America, playing to huge audiences all across the USA and Canada, culminating in two shows in the Boston Symphony Hall and the legendary Carnegie Hall, New York.
Upon returning from the successful US tour, Tommy’s career took another leap forward when he was invited by Galway traditional group De Danann, to join them as lead vocalist, following in the footsteps of such living legends as Mary Black, Maura O’Connell, Dolores Keane and Paul Brady. This collaboration lasted three years and introduced Tommy to a worldwide audience touring Australia, Hong Kong, China and the U.S.A. Tommy also featured on the De Dannan album “Hibernian Rhapsody”. Tommy still had ambitions of a solo career and moving on, he finally recorded his first solo album in 1996, entitled “Different Sides to Life”.
Tommy continued to tour and achieve huge success on the live circuit as well as many radio and TV appearances. This ultimately led to his idea for an incredible one-of-a kind concert at the Basilica in Knock. The local boy had made good and the Monsignor was delighted to welcome him home for an evening of uplifting and inspirational music. The seeds were sown. The Knock Shrine Basilica in County Mayo is a magnificent building with the capacity to seat 5000 and is set in the town of Knock in the West of Ireland. The Basilica has played host to Pope John Paul 11, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and millions of pilgrims for over a hundred years.
A concert of this type had never taken place in the Basilica but on the 12th December 2004 Tommy Fleming succeeded in staging exactly that, and after many months of planning and preparation a “Voice of Hope” was born. 5000 people packed the Knock Basilica for a once off concert that words cannot describe. The material was specially chosen for the night and was meaningful, spiritual and relevant to the setting in this revered place performed by an enlarged band, orchestra and choir and guests Phil Coulter, Cara Dillon, Eileen Ivers and Naoise Stewart-Kelly.
Tommy continued to tour and achieve huge success on the live circuit as well as many radio and TV appearances. This ultimately led to his idea for an incredible one-of-a kind concert at the Basilica in Knock. The local boy had made good and the Monsignor was delighted to welcome him home for an evening of uplifting and inspirational music. The seeds were sown. The Knock Shrine Basilica in County Mayo is a magnificent building with the capacity to seat 5000 and is set in the town of Knock in the West of Ireland. The Basilica has played host to Pope John Paul 11, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and millions of pilgrims for over a hundred years.A concert of this type had never taken place in the Basilica but on the 12th December 2004 Tommy Fleming succeeded in staging exactly that, and after many months of planning and preparation a “Voice of Hope” was born. 5000 people packed the Knock Basilica for a once off concert that words cannot describe. The material was specially chosen for the night and was meaningful, spiritual and relevant to the setting in this revered place performed by an enlarged band, orchestra and choir and guests Phil Coulter, Cara Dillon, Eileen Ivers and Naoise Stewart-Kelly.
Shortly after securing a record deal everything looked set to flourish when a tragic car accident left the singer with a broken neck leaving his music career on-hold indefinitely. After many months of convalescence, Tommy returned to the stage having had to start over and is now regarded as one of the finest singers worldwide and is currently enjoying a hugely successful career spanning the last 18 years.
Tommy turns each song into his own with his own unique and powerful style touching emotions in you that only music can reach.
A Tommy Fleming concert is a musical experience not to be missed with one song more haunting than the other. He has a universal appeal to all ages and backgrounds with a fan base that is growing stronger worldwide year by year.
Listen in to Shanes interview with Tommy Fleming here
Visit the Tommy Fleming website for news and touring information here
Visit the Tommy Fleming website for news and touring information here
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