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SHOWBAND SINGER SONNY Knowles has died aged 86.
The performer had a long and glittering career which he started in Dublin in the 1950s as a clarinet player.
He eventually went on to perform with The Pacific Showband and the Earl Grill Showband before going solo.
He regularly performed with the National Concert Orchestra and toured the United States as well as Europe.
Knowles was a supporter of the Irish Cancer Society and frequent performer at charity galas.
“Sonny Knowles was one of the most underrated vocalists of the big performers of that period – the Perry Comos, the Sinatras, and an absolute gentleman,” promoter Pat Egan said.
It was an absolute honour and pleasure to work with Sonny and delighted that we contributed to two of the highpoints of his career – both the platinum sales of 20,000 for his album ‘The Best of Sunny Knowles’ and two sell out concerts at the National Concert Hall in 2006 and 2007.
RTÉ broadcaster Joe Duffy said on this afternoon’s Liveline programme that Knowles had passed away this morning surrounded by family.
Friends, fans and former colleagues of Knowles spoke to Duffy to share their memories of the singer.
Singer Red Hurley said he was “a lovely man, a lovely, gentle man” while Eamon Carr, the former Horslips drummer, said on Twitter that he was a top singer and “master craftsman”.
Presenter Maxi said Knowles was “generous with his time and generous with his wisdom”. “I’m heartbroken – what a gentleman,” she added.
Stephen Travers of the Miami Showband tweeted that Knowles was “Ireland’s King of Cabaret”.
“A wonderful musician and, most of all, and true gentleman. Sincere condolences to his wife Sheila, daughters Geraldine and Aisling and son Gary,” he added.
- With reporting by Daragh Brophy
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Twink to fill the misery slot to tell us about her hellish ordeal with Teddy the dog.
Alan Shatter will pretend he has a point and Ryan Tubridy will pretend he has showmanship, charisma and basic interviewing skills.
- If I was an RTE Executive I’d be hoping people wouldn’t watch this….
Wow Alan shatter and Ryan Tubridy in the one place at the one time? This is going to be epi… No wait.. I’d rather take my eyeballs out with a rusty teaspoon than watch them
I’m sure the presenter will ask Shatter some difficult and probing questions of Shatter in order to get to the root of… oh no, wait, it’s Tubridy. Absolute waste of time.
What a Tosser,
We are paying a license fee for this crap
Did you not see Prime Time’s Irish Water infomercial the other night? We are paying a licence fee for that crap too.
so sore he got the boot,and his not receiving all his usual choreographed attention,just wont go away,wait and see the high moral ground this creep takes,id wish he`d just disappear,he`s caused enough trouble as it is
Will Turbiddy ask him about his loyal support of Israel and it’s killing of Babies…
Tubbs is a fg man be no hard questions
Tubbs is FF to the core. His family have squatters rights on every FF body in south Dublin.
Scripted interviews
if it had a two men enter one man leaves feel to it I’d be happier, isn’t AS persuing legal action so not much can be said about it.
Typical RTE vapid waste of time. We are forced to pay for an ex minister to get some free PR, WTF.
I would rather see him in prison.
Late late. Is that rubbish still on.?
Shatter the man who loves the sound of his own voice. I wonder will he turn on Enda?
That is going to be at least a 2 spliff interview…
Alan Shatter needs to get a life, he loves to hear himself on TV, he must of had a deprived childhood, or his mammy didn’t give him enough hugs,.
This guy is so pathetic, and weird.
That Laura novel he put out is creepy. He makes me cringe.
He just won’t go away.
This fumbling clown needs to be retired and put to grass out of harms way.
Ireland’s own Mr Bean.
It’s Tubridy so it’ll be a fluffy puff piece of vomit inducing proportions!
I’d rather shove ice picks in my eyes
Joe Duffy and his planted FG political callers, Tubridy and his Govt crony interviews. They’ll be showing up on Spongebob Squarepants next lecturing about water meters and fishing quotas.
Ryan Tubrity should pack his Kahoonas and backbone and go all out and give him a Guantanimo bay type interrogation. …
Is there a Star Trek convention on..
No,but your welcome to drop over to my “let’s watch the paint dry” convention.
We’ll be going further than that at our convention,Mike . “We’ll be watching the grass grow after watching the paint dry” .
Thomas,talk about living the dream…. Your the man! ;)
I’ll be taking part in a beer consumption competition tomorrow night so I chose option 4, record the show on my (at the time), expensively purchased VHS video recorder. I might even use a new tape and write “Tubbs brill interview with Shatter” on the label. Exciting isn’t it !!!
I can’t get rte in my area, I can get all the British channel with an old astra satellite, so I think I’ll watch some good programming instead.
Jammy dodger.
I still have to pay a license fee for some reason though, but like most people I would glad pay 160 a year not to look at Ryan Tubridy
I think the Zoo are having a “Let’s watch the Zebra turds go hard” evening.
You’ve got me so, Mike. I am well up for that extravaganza, considering the alternative.
I’m sure RT won’t put his job in jeopardy by asking the tough questions :(
You can bet anything you have that shatter has a copy of the questions that he will be asked.
His PR (porn reviewers) will tell him what to say.
prearranged questions from RTE and ryan with his tongue so far up shatters hole it would make you sick.
I’ve just painted me sitting room wall .il watch that dry .thanx very much.
Fingers crossed he is there to launch the even steamier sequel to “Laura.”
Oh John,John,John…. fingers crossed your joking.
I’d prefer to be crucified than watch the late late show
So thats where our licence money goes
I’d rather clean the toilet or pick up my dog’s poo in the garden which I do every Friday night, at least I’ll see less sh*t around and won’t see bullsh*t definitely!
He reminds me, in some respects, of Lowry. Continue to brazen it out, continue to blame everybody but yourself and, by dint of sheer persistence, win out in the end. We have seen it too many times. I wish not be watching this “show”.
Alan needs to watch frozen and especially take this song on board.
Sounds like it’s going to be a Dracula covention with both Shatter and Tuberty together in the same studio. There is ‘something of the night’ about both of them.
Well my Friday night plans consisted of scrubbing the house within an inch of its life before water charges kick in . It’s likely I will be up to my eyes in cleans and sorting crap which is honestly still more appealing than watching Alan Shatter .
What did Alan do after he ate her?
Alan Shatter
Why not ask him his opinion of the Torah telling him to rule the nations
Sure tis Only Tubridy thats gonna b interviewing him.Probably ask him everything but the obvious.
Shatters mea culpa? Doubtful!!
I wonder will he answer any questions on the way he treated the Stardust families…. Or will it all be about the “hurt” he felt as MOJ?
I’ll be too ‘shatered’ to watch it lol
Shatters mea culpa? Doubtful!!
I’m looking forward to hearing the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
“Will Alan get his appearance money in pieces of silver? ” I heard somebody say this evening.
What’s he got to sell
I’ll be too busy washing my hair
have your say