Hilton Showband Feature (1963 - 1971 - or 2012?)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

Tracing the history of the Hilton Showband has proven somewhat difficult. We have read online that the band came out of the "small local Newry band called the Rhythm Aces" in the late 1950's. Our research has uncovered a band from Newry called the "Rhythm Aces Dance Orchestra and Showband" which appears to have started around 1958. However the band was described as  a ten piece orchestra "with Tommy Vaughn (Ireland's Perry Como), Al Rowan's Harmony Boys, and Aces Skiffle Group (stars of County Down)."

Assuming this was the same band, we know it was managed by Malachy O'Neill from Newry. By early 1962, the band was called the Rhythm Aces Showband but was still 10 pieces. They were also playing through April, 1963 so we think the actual start date for the Hilton may have been around Easter Sunday, 1963.        

According to the archives (see below), the Hilton Showband from Newry hit the road in May, 1963. One way or another, the original nine piece lineup was big for the times, also unique as it included 2 lead vocalists which was unusual back in the early 1960's. 17-year-old Eileen (or Eleanor) Toner and Ricky McVeigh handled the vocals, along with Jimmy McGivern (guitar), Tommy Tohill (bass), Hughie Kimmons (drums), Mick Doran (guitar), Luke Burke (listed as Dessie-trumpet), Dominic Donnelly (aka Dom-sax) and Austin "Bobby" Campbell (trombone). The band was managed by Malachy O'Neill, also from Newry.

They immediately seemed to do very well and were soon playing across the country from East to West (and of course across the North).

Like almost all bands of the era, they started out as a semi-professional and would make the move to the "professional" status a year later in May of 1964. Along the way, there were a couple of changes to their lineup. John Hughes replaced Austin "Bobby"  Campbell on trombone and Gerald Slade replaced Jimmy McGivern on guitar. We think this might have been a stage name for Gerry Black, but cannot verify that info at this time).  

July, 1967 the band replaced female vocalist Patricia O'Kelly with new singer Breege Jordan from Killeen. Still on the road after forty years. Peter Cowan would come over from the Epic Showband in mid 1967.

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Discography

Carlingford Bay
Unknown Records - Unknown Catalog - May, 1966

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

Back