On the stage with Dino McGartland

Recall for us an early memory you have of music.

Hearing records my parents were playing on an old ‘Dansette’ record player. My father played clarinet in St Eugene’s band, and he played a lot of Big Band music, as well as Jim Reeves; Andy Williams; Dean Martin; and my mother, being Italian, listened to a lot of opera; Mario Lanza; and traditional Italian songs; and they both loved musicals like ‘West Side Story’, ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’, and ‘Oklahoma!’, so there was always music going on in the background at home.

Which artists did you listen to growing up?

Initially, I was caught up in the Glam Rock era with bands like T-Rex; Slade; The Sweet; and David Bowie, but later I discovered bands like Status Quo; The Rolling Stones; Deep Purple; Led Zeppelin; and Free. ‘Classic rock’, they call it today. A great era for music.

Give me the name of the first album that you ever bought?

The first album I ever bought cost £2.20 – it was ‘Live In Europe’ by Rory Gallagher. I bought it in McGread’s record shop, which was above McGread’s pharmacy in John Street. It changed everything for me, and got me searching out blues music, which I became a huge fan of and still am to this day.

Tell me a song that makes you feel nostalgic.

I can’t really pinpoint ONE song that makes me feel nostalgic, but a certain era/genre of music brings me back to when I was about four or five years old, maybe even younger, when my mother worked part-time in the Café Rex in Omagh for the Battistti family who made traditional fish and chips and ice cream.

They had an old juke box in the corner that played all the old rock’n’roll records like Chuck Berry; Fats Domino; Little Richard; Buddy Holly; Elvis; Bill Hayley; and other songs from that time.

I used to stare at the juke box and watch a man come every so often to put in new records to keep it up-to-date. So, hearing songs from that era nowadays brings me back to that little child watching the juke box.

What are you listening to at the minute?

At present, I’m listening to a lot of John Prine records, especially ‘The Tree Of Forgiveness’ – his last record before he passed away, and also my own solo EP of my own songs which came out last week called ‘On The Road’. I’m very proud of that and the work that went into it.

Who is your favourite artist currently?

I’m not well up on current artists in the charts but my two daughters Nicola and Ciara sometimes try to get me to listen to some their favourites like Ed Sheeran, Dermot Kennedy, The Coronas, my wife Annie is trying to get me into Rag and Bone Man.

Give us the name of the last song you listened to?

Last song I listened to was ‘I Remember Everything’ by John Prine…

What are your feel-good tunes?

All the old classic rock songs from Thin Lizzy; Rory Gallagher; Tom Petty; The Rolling Stones; ZZ Top; and a lot of old blues greats, like Muddy Waters; Howlin’ Wolf; John Lee Hooker; BB King; and Freddie King.

Which song has make you cry?

A song by Australian band, Cold Chisel, called ‘When The War Is Over’. It is a great song with great lyrics, that brings a lump to my throat sometimes. It was also recorded by John Farnham who recorded ‘You’re The Voice’, that some people may be familiar with. He’s a brilliant singer.

Are there any songs you really dislike?

I’m not a fan of any rap songs… If you can call them songs!

What tracks do you always have on repeat?

Anything by Rory Gallagher, or ‘The Weight’ by The Band, or ‘I Shall Be Released’ from ‘Angel From Montgomery’, sung by Bonnie Raitt.

Any guilty musical pleasures?

I suppose the singer P!nk. We missed out on seeing her in Madison Square Gardens, New York some years ago, as the ticket prices were astronomic. She is a great artist and performer.

Do you have a favourite lyric?

‘A Million Miles Away’ by Rory Gallagher:

“This hotel bar is full of people

The piano man is really laying it down

The old bartender is as high as a steeple

So why tonight should I wear a frown

The joint is jumping all around me

And my mood is really not in style

Right now the blues flock to surround me. But I’ll break out after a while”.

And finally… Give us the name of a brilliant, but underrated, song.

This is a tough question, so but I’ll go for ‘Two of Us’ by The Beatles.

A little about you

What is your age, and where are you from?

I am 21 plus VAT! I’m from Omagh, but I’m living in Killyclogher.

What is your occupation?

Retired, but working part-time in a residential care home, driving a mini bus. I’m also involved with activities, such as bringing music to the residents; playing guitar; and singing. It’s great seeing the reaction that music brings to people.

What are your hobbies?

Playing music; listening to music; making music; and walking our dog, Charlie.

Tell us a fun or surprising fact about you that people may not know.

I was the outstanding athlete at the ‘Ulster Schools Sports’ in Belfast, and set up new records in the long jump; triple jump; and sprint. Those records still stand to this day!