Big Tom

From the CD Booklet "The Irish Collection "

Big Tom is the most enduring of Ireland's country stars. The gentle giant from Castleblaney in County Monaghan has been one of the most popular, if not the most popular, country ballad singer since the mid-sixties. He has still the biggest following, just after Daniel O'Donnell, and still draws huge crowds to his live performances. He has successfully married the best of both traditions of Irish Ballad singing and Country and Western. Indeed Country and Western owes more than a little to the ballads and folk songs of Irish emigrants brought to America.

This marriage of different traditions, different generations and different countries gives the music of Big Tom a universal quality, but without forgetting the ould country and its Celtic values.