In the summer of 1978 I was on tour in Germany playing small concert halls and youth centers. I had a great time, especially because my Dad was travelling with me.
Just coming to the end of the tour I received a telegram (remember those days before mobile phones and internet?) The telegram read:
Fotosession Christmas Party album – Monday – 15.00 hrs – Hilton Hotel Schiphol – Dress in white.
As my last show was on Sunday it was going to be really close, plus…, I didn’t own anything remotely white…
We left Hannover very early on Mondaymorning, stopped off at a friend, borrowed his suit and arrived uncharacteristically on time only to discover they hadn’t finished the Christmas decorations and I had to wait for two more hours before the shoot began.
Merry Christmas!
Love Michael
Our first gig as “The Blue Skies” was at the Dobbins Inn Hotel.
After setting up we played a few numbers, “Your cheatin’ heart”, amongst others. And then our old Vox AC blew up.
On closer inspection this was caused by various swiss rolls, apple pies and other sweets stacked at the back of it. They started to melt and then BANG. That was the end of that.
This story was told by George Reed.
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Concert on June 4th, 2011
I was born on 29 September 1952 in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. My father was a shoemaker, my mother took care of me, my two brothers and five sisters. I had a happy childhood.
On my twelfth birthday my mother gave me a guitar. It was a Kent 2 solid body with a Domino amplifier; nobody will remember this brand, but it made me very happy.
When I was twelve I played in “The Blue Skies”, George Reed (guitar) John Hunter (bass), Norman Kelly (keyboards), Dennis Stanley (drums) and myself (guitar and vocals). We practiced in a room over my father’s shop in St. Bridestreet.
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My Dad drove us to the gigs, none of us were old enough for a drivers license.
When I was sixteen Norman and I decided to go to London, where we thought it was all happening. So we picked up our instruments and left…
On the 14th of April Michael wil give a unique concert. It will be a concert with the best of Michaels’own work alternated with Irish Traditionals.
Untill now we have never been able to let the public enjoy the beautiful songs Michael wrote, his virtuose guitarplay and his wonderful voice in the atmosphere of a dinner theatre
Though many of his songs have been sung through others, nobody can make them sound better than Michael himself.
Judge for yourself on the 14th of April in:
Theatersalon De Avenue
Waterstraat 5
4811 WZ Breda
Starts 20.30 hrs
Tickets € 15,00 | Pre-sale € 12,50
Tickets can be ordered through: concert@introweb.nl, at theVVV in Breda or at the venue.
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Concert on March 20th, 2011
