Brendan Bowyer

b. 12 October 1938, Waterford, Eire. Inspired by the rock ‘n’ roll boom of the late 50s, Bowyer came to prominence in his homeland after joining the newly formed Royal Showband in 1957. The rugby-playing Bowyer was known for his acrobatics onstage, which included jumping over his partner Tom Dunphy in mid-song. Bowyer sang lead on the majority of the band’s songs, including the Irish number 1 hits ‘Kiss Me Quick’, ‘No More’, ‘Bless You’, ‘The Hucklebuck’ and ‘Don’t Lose Your Hucklebuck Shoes’. Unquestionably the most popular vocalist in Eire during the 60s, Bowyer was acclaimed as the showband’s answer to Elvis Presley. During the summer of 1971, Bowyer left the Royal to join the Big 8 and followed his mentor Presley onto the Las Vegas circuit. His valedictory tribute to Presley, ‘Thank You Elvis’, returned him to the Irish Top 10 during 1977. In the meantime, he slipped inexorably into alcoholism, before drying out in the early 80s. He still plays the Vegas circuit, often in the company of the frequently changing Big 8.
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