Tommy Fleming, a native of Aclare, County Sligo, is one of the finest singers to emerge out of Ireland in many years. He will perform at The Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre on Saturday January 10.
The flame-haired talent’s first foray into the world of entertainment was as a member of a rock band while still at school. A chance encounter with renowned producer and composer Phil Coulter was a huge step forward for Tommy and a few short weeks later he was touring Ireland and America as special guest performer for the tour.
Tommy’s career took another twist when he was invited by legendary Galway traditional group De Danann to join them as lead vocalist. This collaboration lasted until early 1997 when Tommy embarked on a solo career. In 1998, Tommy released his Restless Spirit album which achieved double platinum sales. However Tommy was involved in a serious car accident during a promotional tour of the album, sustaining life-threatening injuries including a broken neck.
In true Fleming spirit, he fought against the odds and bounced back to good health and his fine voice seemed fuller and more haunting than ever. Looking back at that fragile time, the now fully recovered Tommy describes that dark period as “scary, the worst time of my life”. A year later the determined Tommy was back on the road touring, and in the summer of 1999 he started work on his next studio album. The Contender became a huge seller, achieving multi-platinum sales, and making Tommy one of the most sought after acts in Ireland and abroad.
Tommy has gone from strength to strength in the intervening years; releasing successful albums Sand and Water, A Life Like Mine, and A Journey Home. As well as these works, an unforgettable night took place in December 2004 when Tommy performed in a unique concert in the Basilica at Knock Shrine for a capacity audience of 5,000. The concert was recorded for posterity and the resulting CD and DVD entitled Voice of Hope was an international best seller.
Tommy Fleming has been blessed with a voice that soars in every song, and one of his live concerts is a musical experience not to be missed.
Tickets are available on www.ticketmaster.ie as well as from the Royal Theatre Box Office on 0818 300 000. For further information check the Royal Theatre website on www.royaltheatre.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie
