FIRST things first, Mary Black is not retiring from the music business but is not going to tour internationally anymore. The legendary Irish voice has done her farewell tours of the US and Australia but will tour in Ireland occasionally and do one-off festivals beyond these shores.
“I’m not giving up, but winding down. I have been staying in hotels since I was in my twenties. Sometimes my life is a bit crazy – you are only back and you are off again.”
The show coming to UCH, Limerick next week is ‘Mary Black Sings Jimmy Mac’. Mary has known songwriter Jimmy MacCarthy since the eighties. He penned some of her biggest hits, ‘No Frontiers’, ‘Katie’ and ‘Bright Blue Rose’.
The duo came together last year to produce an album of Jimmy’s songs – some old – some new and this tour will celebrate this fruitful partnership.
“Jimmy got in touch out of the blue. I wasn’t expecting it. Without hesitation, I said yes and loved the idea, but it was only when I got to his place in Kilkenny and heard him sing his new songs that I got really excited. What a joy after all these years to have such great lyrics and new songs to sing from Jimmy Mac.”
Jimmy’s songs have been covered and made famous by the likes of Maura O’Connell, Mary Coughlan and Christy Moore to name a few.
Jimmy’s story is extraordinary – he left school at the age of 15 to become an apprentice jockey for horse trainer Vincent O’Brien.
There is not a lot of time to develop a song writing craft in such a busy career, I suggest to Mary.
“He was apparently a great jockey – he could have made a career out of it. ’Though music was calling him as well. He is a serious thinker, as a lot of writers are. He has had his dark times. That can come across in songs too.”
The turning point for Jimmy was the song ‘No Frontiers’ which was the title track of an album that really opened doors for Mary Black all round the world.
“He played ‘No Frontiers’ for me in my kitchen in Harold’s Cross and I was blown away. I have a lot to be grateful to Jimmy for.”
There is a timeless quality to Jimmy MacCarthy’s songs. They are not easily categorised, being the product of influences as varied as trad Irish, rock, and country with an indefinable but familiar quality that speaks to the generations of fans who come to Mary’s shows.
“The loyal people who come to hear me regularly now and have kinda grown with me as an artist.
“Now there is a younger group, of particularly females, who are coming to the gigs singing these songs at the top of their voices. They were brought up on this music – it is the backdrop to their youth. It is like a circular thing.”
Once Jimmy heard the new record he was delighted.
“I got a beautiful text from him that he was so happy with the new songs and how we had done them.”
As Mary’s three children grew up, she would sing to them, “the way my mother sang to me.”
They all have an appreciation of music – “They get it,” she is delighted to say.
Her son Conor plays guitar and sings but he is quite shy about it. Her daughter Róisín O released her debut solo album ‘The Secret Life of Blue’ in 2012, has toured the US and regularly played Electric Picnic and Other Voices festivals. She part of atmospheric pop duo Thanks Brother with John Broe. They released their debut ‘We Are Different’ this month.
Danny O’Reilly is currently on tour in Australia with The Coronas.
“I knew Danny was musical from a very young age. To see them up on stage is just amazing – I get so much joy from watching them.”
Her kids regularly supported Mary on tours early on in their careers but insisted that she wouldn’t introduce them as her son or daughter. Laughs
“It was always Róisín O or Danny O’Reilly”
The trio did perform together recently on The Late Late Show and sang a traditional song handed down from Mary’s mother.
“They love singing with me when we have parties – to do it publicly was lovely for me – it is a little bit naff for them to get into that Mary Black thing,” laughs. “Who wants to be singing with their mother – they are still young!!”
In reality, all the family, the Blacks and O’Reillys, looked very honoured and proud to be sharing the stage on that TV moment with Mary Black.
A passionate voice with a depth of talent and love of singing that has transcended the generations and borders.
“It’s been a long time since we played the University Concert Hall but it’s great to be getting back there to celebrate their 25th anniversary. I remember performing there 25 years ago – there was a wow factor to a theatre like that – seems just like yesterday!” the singer remembers.
Mary Black plays University Concert Hall on Saturday April 7.
