Biography
Formed in 1960, the Capitol Showband stood among Ireland’s foremost showbands throughout the 1960s. Butch Moore supplied lead vocals, Jimmy Hogan played lead guitar, Des Kelly handled vocals and bass, Johnny Kelly sat behind the drums, Eddie Monahan manned the piano, Paul Sweeney took the trumpet, Patrick Loughman covered trombone, and Eddie Ryan performed on saxophone. The group turned professional in 1961, at which point Don Long and Paddy Cole stepped in for Loughman and Ryan. Dublin-based, the Capitol earned the distinction of becoming the first showband featured on Irish television. A contract with Pye Records brought aboard the still-unproven songwriter Phil Coulter, whose composition “Foolin’ Time” carried the band into the Irish Top Ten. Like Coulter, the musicians came under the wing of manager and agent Phil Solomon, whose clout secured them a high-profile slot at the London Palladium.
By November 1964 the Capitol topped the Eire chart with “Down Came the Rain,” then repeated the feat with Coulter’s arrangement of “Born to Be with You.” When Eire debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965, the Capitol served as Ireland’s representatives. Moore delivered the stirring entry “Walking the Streets in the Rain,” which placed sixth in the final yet delivered the band its third consecutive Irish number-one hit. At their height the Capitol ranked second in popularity only to the Royal Showband; their crisp uniform of white trousers, white shoes, and blue jackets reinforced a polished image. Hits continued through 1965 and 1966 with “Born to Be with You,” “Our Love Will Go On,” “So Many Ways,” and “Christmas,” although Moore’s departure for a solo cabaret career noticeably diminished their momentum. He later performed with the Kings, married singer Maeve Mulvany, and relocated to the U.S.A. Noel McNeill and subsequently John Drummond filled Moore’s role, while Des Kelly remained as vocalist. The refreshed lineup mounted a solid comeback with “The Streets of Baltimore,” yet by the late 1960s the original ensemble had disbanded. Paddy Cole later joined the showband supergroup the Big 8 Showband, and Des Kelly established himself as manager of the Irish folk act Sweeney's Men.
By November 1964 the Capitol topped the Eire chart with “Down Came the Rain,” then repeated the feat with Coulter’s arrangement of “Born to Be with You.” When Eire debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965, the Capitol served as Ireland’s representatives. Moore delivered the stirring entry “Walking the Streets in the Rain,” which placed sixth in the final yet delivered the band its third consecutive Irish number-one hit. At their height the Capitol ranked second in popularity only to the Royal Showband; their crisp uniform of white trousers, white shoes, and blue jackets reinforced a polished image. Hits continued through 1965 and 1966 with “Born to Be with You,” “Our Love Will Go On,” “So Many Ways,” and “Christmas,” although Moore’s departure for a solo cabaret career noticeably diminished their momentum. He later performed with the Kings, married singer Maeve Mulvany, and relocated to the U.S.A. Noel McNeill and subsequently John Drummond filled Moore’s role, while Des Kelly remained as vocalist. The refreshed lineup mounted a solid comeback with “The Streets of Baltimore,” yet by the late 1960s the original ensemble had disbanded. Paddy Cole later joined the showband supergroup the Big 8 Showband, and Des Kelly established himself as manager of the Irish folk act Sweeney's Men.