Formed in Ontario, Canada, during 1963, the Carlton Showband began as an ensemble of Irish-Canadians whose original members were Fred White, Chris O'Toole, Christy McLaughlin, Seamus Grew and Sean McManus. Mike Feeney, Johnny Patterson and Bob Lewis came aboard shortly afterward. The group issued two well-received singles on Quality Records—“The Merry Ploughboy” and “Up Went Nelson”—before placing a self-titled album with CASL Records in 1966. In 1967 they became the resident ensemble on the Canadian CTV program The Pig and Whistle Show, remaining in that role for a decade and producing thirteen albums across those years: a second self-titled LP in 1967, A Night at the Pub (1967), The Carlton Showband on Tour (1968), The Carlton Showband at the Pig and Whistle (1969), Time Gentlemen Please (1970), Carlton Showband Special (1971), Carlton Country (1972), If You're Irish (Carlton Showband by Request) (1973), Any Dream Will Do (1975), Carlton Showband First Choice (1975), One up on the World (1976), Here We Go Again (1977) and 20 Gospel Favorites (1977), along with three greatest-hits collections.
Following the program's cancellation, additional releases appeared: Sixteen Most Requested (1978), Hard Times (1979), Back to the Sod (1980), Three Steps to Heaven (1982), Reflections (1985), We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1986), Carlton Showband's 25th Anniversary (1988), Catch the Spirit (1990) and 25 All-Time Favorites (1993). Gregory Donaghey, who entered as lead singer in 1974, now fronts a lineup that also features Fred White, Roddie Lee, Robert Benoit, Larris Benoit and Aaron Lewis.
