When the words “Miami Showband” come up in conversation, one’s mind immediately goes back to that terrible day in 1975, when news broke from Northern Ireland that an Irish showband had been ambushed by a loyalist terrorist group and three musicians had been murdered. Guitarist Tony Geraghty, who had only recently joined the band, trumpeter Brian McCoy and organist/vocalist Fran O’Toole were dead; saxophonist Des Lee and bassist Stephen Travers lay critically ill in hospital having been shot.

This was a sad last chapter to a story which had begun thirteen years earlier when a four-piece group called The Downbeats Quartet (pianist Joe Tyrrell, drummer Tony Bogan, guitarist Clem Quinn and saxophonist Martin Phelan) were approached by impresario Tom Doherty with an idea to create a top-class showband. Trumpeter Tommy O’Rourke, trombonist/vocalist Murty Quinn, bassist Tony Harris and vocalist Jim Harte were enlisted. The new band made their debut in The Palm Beach Ballroom, Portmarnock and chose the name The Miami Showband. Denis Murray were enlisted and a dynamic young singer named Dickie Rock came from one of Dublin’s top bands, The Melochords. Early changes in the line-up saw Denis Murray (bass) and a dynamic young singer named Dickie Rock from one of Dublin’s top bands, The Melochords joining The Miami.

Before long, The Miami, whose astute manager Tom Doherty left nothing to chance, were among the top draws at ballrooms all over the country. Their first single, Dickie Rock’s interpretation of a song which had been a hit in the U.S.A. for Elvis Presley, “There’s Always Me” shot up the charts to No.1 in December 1963. This was to be the first of seven number ones for the Dublin band, the others being “I’m Yours”, “From The Candy Store On The Corner” (both 1964); “Every Step Of The Way”, “Wishing It Was You” (both 1965); “Come Back To Stay” (Ireland’s Eurovision entry in 1966) and “Simon Says” in 1968. During these years they also had two No.2s with “Just For Old Times Sake” and “Round And Around”. Murty Quinn with “One Kiss For Old Times Sake” and Clem Quinn’s instrumental “Buck’s Polka” also made the charts.

They appeared on many television shows including the prestigious “Sunday Night At The London Palladium” in 1964,  ITV’s “Thank Your Lucky Stars” and “Adam Faith’s Christmas Show” as well as RTE’s “Showband Show”. (continued below)

In 1967 however, “the split” reared its ugly head and four members of The Miami handed in their notice and left to form another very successful showband, The Sands. Instead of spelling the end, this seemed only to rejuvenate The Miami and five exceptional young musicians were enlisted to fill the gaps. Fran O’Toole and Paul Ashford came in from Dublin’s top beat-group, “The Chosen Few”, trombonist Pat McCarthy joined from Arklow’s Columbia Showband, Des Lee(McAlea) was signed from Cork’s Arrivals Showband and a young trumpeter, Brian McCoy came from “The Secrets”. The new line-up made an instant impact and Fran O’Toole was seen to be a singer/songwriter of immense talent and potential.  Tony Bogan stepped down from the drum-stool and was replaced by Martin Brannigan. Danny Ellis joined when Pat McCarthy left for The Dreams. Such was the success of the “new” Miami that after a couple of years, management decided that they could afford to put a new band behind Dickie Rock, called simply “Dickie’s Band” and promote The Miami as a young, vibrant pop-band led by Fran O’Toole.

Unfortunately for Irish musicians, dancers and fans of The Miami, a small group of loyalist terrorists had other ideas and The Miami Showband met a bloody end at their hands on a roadside near Newry in July 1975. Two terrorists were killed by their own bomb as they attempted to plant it in the back of the band’s bus. The remaining members of the UVF group then turned their guns on the innocent musicians. Stephen Travers was left for dead and Des Lee, though injured, escaped across fields. Drummer Ray Miller was not travelling in the bus having gone to visit his parents in Armagh after the dance. Two members of the UDR were each jailed for 35 years for their part in the murders.

Today, Dickie Rock continues to perform and his son Brian played the part of his father in the musical “Dancehall Queues & Hucklebuck Shoes”. Des Lee has settled in South Africa and both he and Stephen Travers have recovered from their injuries and are still involved in music.

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The ill-fated line-up who played in Banbridge on the night of the UVF murders. From left: Stephen Travers, Tony Geraghty, Ray Millar, Brian McCoy, Fran O'Toole and Des Lee.