Brendan Shine

From an upbringing steeped in music, Irish-born vocalist and accordionist Brendan Shine emerged as one of the British Isles’ most respected and enjoyed performers, releasing numerous hit singles, fronting several television specials, and entertaining crowds across more than three decades. His initial steps occurred within Kieran Kelly’s Ceili Band, where he spent six years refining his craft. Later he balanced two pursuits, working days as a market farmer while spending evenings on the road delivering both original material and traditional songs. With fellow former Kelly’s Band member Johnny Dawson handling drums and his brother Owen on keyboards, the group began performing in pubs and smaller clubs, eventually securing a recording contract that yielded a steady stream of successful singles. Their debut effort for Noel Carty Productions, “Treat My Daughter Kindly,” proved popular enough to open further studio opportunities, and after additional chart successes Shine issued his first album, the compilation The Best of Brendan Shine, by which time he had amassed roughly 35 hit singles across England and Ireland. He progressed from intimate venues to theaters and, in 1982, hosted his own television special. The following year that one-off program expanded into a series; Nice and Easy ran for twelve well-received episodes. Shine maintained an active schedule of global touring and album releases, and in 2008 he was promoting Seasons of the Heart while performing throughout the Isles.