Big Tom

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Big Tom
Big Tom in 2004
Background information
Birth name	Tom McBride
Origin	Ireland
Genre(s)	Country, Irish, Easy Listening
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Guitar, Saxaphone
Years active	1966 - present
Associated acts	Big Tom and The Mainliners
Notable instrument(s)
Guitar

Big Tom - real name Tom McBride (born September, 1936) from Oram, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, Ireland is an Irish country music singer, guitarist, saxophone player. Established since 1966 he is currently front man of the Irish showband Big Tom and The Mainliners.

Contents 1 Recent Life 1.1 Future 1.2 Other details 2 Hit Songs 3 CDs and Videos/DVDs 3.1 CDs 3.2 Videos/DVDs 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Recent Life

• 2000 - Big Tom underwent a nodule operation on his throat.
• September, 2004 - Big Tom was reported to have been in a list of Irish tax evaders ^[1].
• 8 July 2005 - A plaque ^[2] was erected by the local community in Big Tom's home village in appreciation to his contribution to Country and Irish music.
• November, 2006 - Big Tom suffered a sudden heart attack at the age of 70 ^[3], this had put doubt into whether he would ever tour again with his band.
• 1 February 2008 - Big Tom began a 12 date tour of Ireland ^[4] after doctors gave him the all clear.
• 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 stage^[5] during the performance.
• 25 May 2008 - Big Tom performed for the closure night of the Galtymore dance hall in Cricklewood, London ^[6].

[edit] Future

Big Tom intends to be a headline act at London's Irish Festival ^[7] on 27 July 2008.

[edit] Other details

Big Tom suffers from a Fear of flying.

[edit] Hit Songs

Big Tom has hit the Top Ten numerous times in the pop charts of Ireland^[8] :

Title and Position reached		Entry Date	Artist credited
Gentle Mother	7	30.01.1967	Big Tom and The Mainliners
Old Log Cabin For Sale	4	21.10.1967	Big Tom and The Mainliners
The Sunset Years Of Life	3	23.07.1970	Big Tom and The Mainliners
Broken Marriage Vows	1	19.02.1972	Big Tom and The Mainliners
I Love You Still	1	04.01.1973	Big Tom and The Mainliners
Old Love Letters	1	16.05.1974	Big Tom and The Mainliners
Four Country Roads	5	16.05.1981	Big Tom
Streets of Dublin City	7	15.11.1981	Big Tom
If I Needed You	10	18.03.1984	Big Tom
Jealous Heart	9	07.04.1984	Big Tom

[edit] CDs and Videos/DVDs

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).

[edit] CDs

All of the CD releases contains tracks which were previously released on vinyl except for those marked * (all tracks newly recorded) or ** (some tracks newly recorded), all remain on general availability release except possibly the 20 Golden Greats album as all it's tracks have been reissued on latter CDs so it is potentially out of print.
The Greatest Hits album includes two tracks taken from the Live at the Glencarne Hotel video.
It is intended by Big Tom's record company over time to eventually reissue all vinyl tracks on to new CD releases.

Title	Artist credited	Released
Today **	Big Tom and The Mainliners	c.1990
Greatest Hits	Big Tom and The Mainliners	c.1991
20 Golden Greats	Big Tom and The Mainliners	1992
Out On Their Own *	Big Tom and The Mainliners	1993
The Sweetest Gift *	Big Tom and The Mainliners	1995
Songs I Like To Sing	Big Tom	c.1996
25 Golden Greats	Big Tom	1996
Souvenirs	Big Tom	c.1998
Blue Wings (In Nashville)	Big Tom	c.1999
The Irish Collection	Big Tom	1999
The Very Best Of Irish Country	Big Tom	1999
Smoke Along The Track	Big Tom	c.2000
When The Roses Bloom Again	Big Tom	2002
The Same Way You Came In **	Big Tom with Seamus McMahon	2005
Teardrops In The Snow	Big Tom	April 2007
Around Ireland **	Big Tom	March 2008

[edit] 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

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Big Tom's record company