The very sad news is that Irish music legend Brendan Bowyer passed away yesterday in Las Vegas.
His death was revealed on Facebook by his family who say: "It is with deep sadness and regret that we announce the passing of Brendan Bowyer, Ireland’s most beloved international entertainer for 62 years. Brendan passed away peacefully in Las Vegas on the late evening of May 28th. He was surrounded by the unending love of his wife of 53 years, Stella, his three children, Brendan Jr, Aisling, Clodagh, and his two grandchildren, Liam & Nora Stella. Brendan was hoping to get back to his homeland, Ireland, one last time. He was 81-years-old.”
Brendan began his remarkable career in 1957 with Waterford's Royal Showband who in April 1962 were supported in Liverpool's Pavilion Theatre by a bunch of scruffy unknowns called The Beatles. Their 1965 cover of 'The Huckelbuck' topped the charts here for months and to this day is a staple at Irish weddings and parties.
In 1971, he quit the Royal Showband to join The Big Eight who spent six months of every year playing in Vegas which eventually became the family home.
Elvis Presley absolutely adored him, and he also got the thumbs up from Frank Sinatra.
One of the first to pay tribute is the Miami Showband's Stephen Travers who rightly calls him the 'King of the Showband Era'. Adds broadcaster Gerry Kelly: "So very saddened to hear of the death of Brendan Bowyer - an absolute gentleman and a true showband legend who led the way for thousands of budding musicians throughout Ireland in the 60s and 70s. RIP Brendan."
Stay tuned to hotpress.com for a classic interview with Brendan in which his legendary storytelling abilities shine through. You might also want to sign the Book of Condolences, which Waterford Mayor John Pratt has opened online: https://forms.zohopublic.eu/cpower/form/BookofCondolenceBRENDANBOWYERRIP/formperma/-SFm2-kOTSif_g4d2g1QQQ9yHW0WRvrrYkPlQvm2KRY

The King is dead: Brendan Bowyer was, and always will be, King of The Showband era when more Irish musicians were in full-time employment than ever before or since and could draw crowds of two to three thousand people a night. Seen here with The Miami Showband in Belfast in 2008. pic.twitter.com/hGOYUgkhlE

— Stephen Travers (@MiamiShowband) May 29, 2020

Very very sorry to hear of the passing of Brendan Bowyer. A Freeman of #Waterford City and a gentleman. Awarding the Freedom to Brendan and the late Val Doonican was one of the highlights of my year as Mayor. Rest In Peace Brendan. There'll be Huckle-Bucking in heaven tonight💙 pic.twitter.com/782vHjCAVf

— Mary 🙌🏻 WASH YOUR HANDS 🙌🏻 Roche (@maryroche) May 29, 2020

Brendan Bowyer RIP. He was playing when my parents met in the Gresham Ballroom on London’s Holloway Road in the early 60s. My Mum met him 30 years later at the Rose of Tralee festival and asked him to sign her programme: “Woe the day”. He duly obliged, much to my Dad’s amusement. https://t.co/sxDZHHrBll

— Martin Doyle (@MartinDoyleIT) May 29, 2020

R.I.P. Brendan Bowyer, I had the great pleasure of interviewing him a few years back, a lovely guy to chat with a true legend of Irish entertainment. pic.twitter.com/ThoxITKZYd

— Jonathan Ryan 📷 🎙🚨 (@Tipperaryphotos) May 29, 2020

For the day that it is, I have dug out this interview from August 1988 that 16 year old me recorded with Brendan Bowyer in the sitting room of my parents home in Waterford. I broadcast it on a show on WLR at the time. RIP #WaterfordLegend https://t.co/ZONsyNIL0R

— Kieran McGeary (@kieranmcgeary) May 29, 2020

Booked this legend a few years back on a tv show for RTE, the Beatles supported him and he was an utter gentleman to deal with from start to finish. Rest easy Mr. Brendan Bowyer Hucklebuck in heaven x pic.twitter.com/cZgUd0VJPE

— caroline henry (@cazhenry) May 29, 2020