John Hogan will be the star attraction at the Blacktown Arms
THE ‘Prince of Country Music,’ John Hogan returns to the Blacktown Arms in Castlederg tonight, Friday, March 22.
John hit the country music scene with a bang in 1987 when he took a gamble and spent his mortgage money to realise a dream.
He recorded a song called Brown Eyes that was taught to him by his mother. The song was an instant hit shooting straight into the top ten of the Irish charts.
John at the time was working for Bord na Mona in Tullamore, Co Offaly and the success of the song took him completely by surprise.
The song was so popular with radio listeners that they were calling the radio stations wanting to know more about this new voice.
Within two weeks John had left his job at the factory and was on the road with his new band.
Such was his popularity that almost straight away John had become a huge country music star and was packing venues to the point that they were turning people away.
He signed with Harmac Records and his first album, ‘My Feelings For You,’ was released and became the best selling country album ever in Ireland and produced many irish chart hits.
His popularity had now got the attention of Mick Clerkin who was the owner of London based Ritz Records. John was signed to Ritz and recorded many albums for them including the Nashville Album, which was recorded in the home of country music.
John was now one of the biggest attractions in the music business in Ireland and was working up to six nights per week.
Little did john know that an undiagnosed ear problem was to do serious damage to his voice.
He was forced to take a break from the business for five years on doctor’s orders.
His return album was called Broken Silence. After that he recorded Where I Come From, an album of country standards.
John’s new album is called The Anniversary album and he is back touring Ireland again with a new band.
