Ray Lynam

Born on 29 November 1951 in Moate, County Westmeath, Eire, Lynam took up saxophone in the Merrymen during his school years. George Jones and Buck Owens recordings shaped his approach so strongly that he initially mirrored their phrasing and tone in his own performances. By 1969 he had become lead singer for the Hillbillies, a unit fronted on guitar by Kevin Sheeran and also featuring Billy Condon, both of whom would later join Daniel O’Donnell’s band. The 1970 release of “Busted” drew early notice, and the subsequent singles “Sweet Rosie Jones” and “Gypsy Jo And Me” secured his place on the Irish country circuit through their chart performance. In 1971 the group impressed audiences at London’s Wembley Festival, opening the door to further UK live dates. Around the same period Lynam began collaborating with Philomena Begley; their appearance at the 1974 Wembley Festival earned them the British Country Music Association’s title of Top European Duo. The partnership also yielded two duet albums and Irish chart entries with “You’re The One I Can’t Live Without” and “My Elusive Dreams.” Later that year Lynam traveled to the United States to cut his debut Nashville album, Something Special. Returning to the studio in the early 1980s, he completed Music Man, which secured an American single release for “There Ought To Be A Law.” A subsequent Ritz album reunited him with Begley, while his version of David Allan Coe’s 1984 hit “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile” brought him UK success. He has continued to perform regularly and remains a familiar presence on the Irish and British country circuits.