Tommy Fleming – is Ireland’s biggest selling Irish artist over recent years.
Tommy Fleming was born in 1971 in Aclare, County Sligo. His singing talent was apparent from a young age, when he took part in talent competitions and concerts. Started a rock band (!) whilst at school.
After leaving school (in 1990) Tommy started to establish himself as part of a Castlebar quartet known as “Jarog” performing in pubs and clubs around the country. Tommy was also attracting attention at their many festival appearances across the country.
However, despite this success in many venues through the early 1990’s, record companies didn’t appear to be interested in his work. Then a chance encounter with renowned producer and composer Phil Coulter changed all that.
In July 1993, Phil overheard Tommy performing at a charity event in Westport, County Mayo and within days he was ‘guesting’ with Phil and his Orchestra at the Opera House (Cork), the National Concert Hall (Dublin) and The University Concert Hall (Limerick). Four months later he was touring North America, playing to huge audiences all across the USA and Canada, culminating in two shows in the Boston Symphony Hall and the legendary Carnegie Hall, New York .
From then on there was no looking back, and Tommy joined De Danan as lead vocalist. He was with De Danan for three years before starting his solo career. In 1998, however, his career and life was threatened following a car accident in which he sustained serious injuries including a broken neck. He did have doubts whether he would be able to return to singing, but a year later he had fought his was back to health and the music scene in Ireland. If anything it has added even more depth to his voice.
Tommy's material varies from traditional to contemporary, but it is predominantly Irish.
Tommy was nominated for Best Irish Male Vocalist in the national Meteor Music Awards 2000 and 2006, and in 2005 he was awarded Best Irish Male Singer by Irish Music Magazine. His force, apart from the extraordinarily pure and powerful tenor voice, is his ability to load his singing with emotion. You cannot leave a Tommy Fleming gig unmoved - even should you have a heart of stone.
(Combination of own experience and - not least - information found/confirmed at http://tommyfleming.net)
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