In 1962, in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, a group of schoolboys at Omagh Academy got together and formed a band called The Strollers. Having played locally for a couple of years, and built up a following, they added some musicians and changed their name to Sounds Anonymous. Their handsome young keyboard player Derrick Mehaffey took most of the lead vocals and in 1966, managed by Bobby Platt, they went professional as Derrick & The Sounds.

Along with Derrick in the band’s line-up at this time were Richard McCracken (lead guitar), Richard Sharpe (bass), Mervyn Martin (drums), Raymond Gourley (guitar), Bill McCracken and Ralph Lyons (saxophones). Their programme was made up mainly of chart hits and big ballads with strong brass arrangements and harmonies. They were unique in that they had their own musical director, Jimmy O’Neill, who was not a member of the band. Jimmy arranged some of their popular brass instrumental numbers such as “Hall Of The Mountain King” and “The William Tell Overture”.

Their first single Power Of Love gave them an Irish Top 10 hit in 1968 and this was followed by My Sly Sadie, Morning Papers And Margarine (1969), Needing You an original composition by trumpeter Damien Given (1970) and My Guitar (1971). All their singles proved to extremely popular on national radio and still stand the test of time today. The Sounds made many television appearances both in Ireland and Britain and also toured Canada and Germany. They had a huge following in Northern Ireland, but also packed the crowds in in places like Cork, Limerick and Dublin.

In 1970, The Sounds almost made it to Top Of The Pops, but not as Derrick & The Sounds. A record producer had recorded a single called Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) with session singers and musicians and released it under the name Edison Lighthouse. However, when the single began climbing up the charts and Top Of The Pops beckoned, there was no band to perform the song on television! Frantic phone-calls were made and the Omagh lads flew to London to become Edison Lighthouse. However, on the same day, someone else from the record company had signed a British band to do the job and the transformation never materialised. The song reached No.2 in the charts.

Like most bands, The Sounds had some changes in personnel during their years on the road. Unusually, at a time when some beat-group musicians were joining showbands, two members of The Sounds teamed up with blues-guitarist Rory Gallagher to form Taste. Richard McCracken, who switched from lead guitar to bass and drummer John Wilson. They were replaced by drummer Vic McNamara from Dublin beat-group, The Strangers and guitarist John Murphy. Later Séamus Quigley (tenor sax), Johnny Blackledge (bass guitar), Malachy Kearns (tenor sax/vocals) and Séamus Caulfield (drums)  joined the band.

Derrick Mehaffey left the band in 1971, spent a while with The Royal Showband and The Conquerors and then emigrated to Canada where he continued to perform and record. These days he sings with The Foyle Showband. After Derrick left, Malachy Kearns took over lead vocals and released a single called “Twilight Time”, a revival of a ballad which had been a big hit for American vocal group The Platters.

All text is strictly copyright of Irish Bands Archive and should not be copied or published anywhere without written permission

The Irish Bands Archive is an ongoing work in progress. Photos, cuttings, posters, adverts, line-ups, etc. to be added are always welcome and appreciated. If you have anything to contribute, please contact us by email.