Tom McBride (18 September 1936 – 17 April 2018), known as Big Tom, was an Irish country, traditional and easy listening singer, as well as a guitarist, and saxophone player.
With a career spanning over six decades, he started his career in 1966 as the frontman of the Irish showband Big Tom and The Mainliners.
Career On 1 February 2008, Big Tom began a 12-date tour of Ireland after doctors gave him the all clear. On 25 May, Big Tom performed for the closure night of the Galtymore dance hall in Cricklewood, London.news : (Irish News) . The Irish World. Retrieved on 16 November 2011. On 27 July, Big Tom was the headline act at London's Irish Festival.London Irish Festival – Music Acts On 23 November, Big Tom headlined the Claremorris Dance Festival weekend. In July 2009, K-MAC Records announced more dates in Ireland for Big Tom and the Mainliners, which commenced in August. From 14 August to 13 September 2009, Big Tom ran a successful tour of Ireland with large attendances to venues. The highlight was the Glencarn Hotel in Tom's hometown, Castleblayney, where the concert was packed to capacity. The tour ended in Ennis, County Clare, with fans travelling many miles to see Big Tom and the band. Two days after the end of the tour, the band's trombone player and vocalist Cyril McKevitt died of a heart attack.
In 2010, Big Tom announced an extensive series of tour dates. From 2011 until his death in 2018, Big Tom and his band continued to perform with sporadic appearances.
Personal life Big Tom lived in Oram, just outside Castleblayney. He would often be seen at the local shop on his horse, tractor or quad. He was very generous with his time and always participated in the Oram St. Patrick's Day Parade and many of the local football events. The wall in the Oram Community Centre has a huge mural of Big Tom.
Big Tom suffered from a fear of flying. In 1980, he undertook a sea voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to record his Blue Wings album in Nashville.
In 2000, Big Tom underwent a nodule operation on his throat. In November 2006, Big Tom suffered a sudden heart attack at the age of 70,BreakingNews.ie – 2006/11/14: Big Tom recovering well after heart surgery , Archives.tcm.ie (14 November 2006); retrieved 16 November 2011. which had put doubt into whether he would ever tour again with his band. On 24 March 2008, Big Tom performed at Castlebar's TF Ballroom's final farewell night (in its current guise) but he was reported to have taken ill on stageThe Mayo News – Big Tom takes ill. Mayonews.ie (1 April 2008). Retrieved on 16 November 2011. during the performance.
In September 2004, Big Tom was reported to have been on a list of Irish tax evaders. Big Tom was married to his wife Rose McBride until her death in January 2018.
Hit songs Big Tom had numerous Top 10 hits in the Irish Singles Chart:The Irish Charts – All there is to know . Irishcharts.ie (1 October 1962). Retrieved on 16 November 2011. TitlePosition reachedEntry dateArtist creditedGentle Mother730 January 1967Big Tom and The MainlinersOld Log Cabin for Sale421 October 1967The Sunset Years of Life323 July 1970Broken Marriage Vows119 February 1972I Love You Still14 January 1973Old Love Letters116 May 1974Four Country Roads516 May 1981Big TomStreets of Dublin City715 November 1981If I Needed You1018 March 1984Jealous Heart97 April 1984
Discography Vinyl albums Prior to 1990 all of Big Tom's audio music releases (over 20 albums) were on vinyl record (or cassette) and are now out of print. Since 1990 the release format became CD (or cassette).
TitleArtist creditedYearRecord labelIssue CodeThe All Time Hits ofBig Tom and The MainlinersEmeraldGES1051Big Tom and The MainlinersThe Sunset Years Of LifeGES1057Little Bit of Country and Irish1969GES1076From Ireland1970GES1077I'll Settle For Old Ireland1971GES1102Requests!1972DenverDEB102Image of MeDNV 2Ashes of LoveDNV 3Smoke Along The TrackDNV 4Souvenirs1975DNV 5When The Roses Bloom AgainBig Tom & The Travellers1975DNV 6Travel On1977DNV 7I Would Like To See You Again1978DNV 8At The Irish Festival1979DNV 9Blue WingsBig Tom1980DNV 10Four Country RoadsBig Tom & The Travellers1981DNV 11Songs From Home and Faraway1982DNV 12DNV 14Teardrops in the Snow1985DNV 15Around Ireland1986DNV 16
Compilation vinyl albums
TitleArtist creditedYearRecord labelIssue codeFavourites1980K-TelKLP55The Heart of Country MusicBig Tom1979DenverDEB107King of Country Music – Volume 1Big Tom1977BT1King of Country Music – Volume 21977BT2King of Country Music – Volume 31977BT3King of Country Music – Volume 41977BT4King of Country Music – Volume 51977BT5King of Country Music – Volume 61977BT6Hits by the DozenDEB105
CD albums The CD releases typically contain tracks which were previously issued on vinyl, however those marked * consist all tracks newly recorded and those marked ** consist of some tracks newly recorded. The 20 Golden Greats CD may be discontinued as all tracks have been reissued on latter CDs.The Greatest Hits CD includes two tracks taken from the Live at the Glencarn Hotel video. The Live at The Galtymore CD is solely the soundtrack from the video of same name recorded in 1991.It is intended by Big Tom's record company to reissue all vinyl tracks on to CD releases. TitleArtist creditedYearToday **Big Tom and The Mainlinersc.1990Greatest hitsc.199120 Golden Greats1992Out on Their Own *1993The Sweetest Gift *1995Songs I Like To SingBig Tomc.199625 Golden Greats1996Souvenirsc.1998Blue Wings (In Nashville)c.1999The Irish Collection1999The Very Best of Irish Country1999Smoke Along The Trackc.2000When The Roses Bloom Again2002The Same Way You Came In **Big Tom with Seamus McMahon2005Teardrops in the SnowBig TomApril 2007Around Ireland **March 2008Ashes of LoveBig Tom and The MainlinersAugust 2009Four Country RoadsBig Tom and The TravellersAugust 2009The Image of MeBig Tom and The MainlinersAugust 2009RequestsAugust 2009Live at The GaltymoreJune 2010I am an Island *November 2010Songs From Home & FarawayBig TomOctober 2011Travel OnBig Tom and The TravellersOctober 2012Lonesome at Your TableBig Tom and the Mainliners April 2013
The Ultimate Collection vol.1 Big Tom Due April 2014
Tom also recorded a duet track in 2009 with Frank Nelson:Big Tom report in the Mayo News. Mayonews.ie. Retrieved on 16 November 2011. Treasured Memories which is featured on Frank's album of the same name.
Videos/DVDs Live at the Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney Live at the Galtymore, London In Concert at the Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen The Sweetest Gift The Very Best of (Compilation) Back to Castleblayney, Live Galtymore 2004, Live Live in Birmingham and Manchester Live in Castlebar 2008 (featuring The London Irish Festival) Big Tom and the Mainliners – A Celebration (2016)
Legacy On 8 July 2005, a plaque was erected by the local community in Big Tom's home village of Castleblayney, County Monaghan.
In early 2016, Big Tom and the original Mainliners went on tour to mark 50 years since the release of their most enduring hit "Gentle Mother". From May until September, Big Tom and the Mainliners continued their summer tour to celebrate 50 years of "Gentle Mother"
In June 2016, Big Tom became the inaugural artist to be inducted into the Irish Country Music Hall of Fame.
Susan McCann had a hit in 1977 with her recording of Big Tom Is Still The King, referring to Waylon Jennings song Bob Wills Is Still the King.
References
External links Big Tom's record company