By John McCusker
THE dice is rolling right for Omagh singer-songwriter Gary Quinn at present. The 27-year-old has just released a three-track CD, he's bagged a couple of support dates to top touring US artists, and local DJs have warmed to his self-composition entitled 'Tin Man.'
Although still in his 20s, it's already been a long haul for the locally-based vocalist and guitar player. Gary started off singing in his teens at family get-togethers in Strathroy and Clanabogan with the encouragement of mum Dorea, dad, Sean, and sister, Shauna. Moving to Manchester Metropolitan to study Exercise Science, he supplemented his income by singing in Irish folk bars in the city.
After returning home for 18 months, lack of work locally drove him and his girlfriend (now wife) Emma back to Manchester. It was there, through the help of father-in-law, Ken, that Gary took on gigs on the pub and club scene throughout the entire North-west of England.
"I learned an awful lot there. How to present yourself on stage and how you should tell a joke or two for an audience that paid good money to be entertained for the night."
It was here that Gary made his first foray into the country music club scene. "That's what planted the seed for country music," he laughs.
Throughout this time, Gary was constantly writing self-penned material. Through contacts, he was put in touch with record producer Phil Haywood who took him into the studio in early 2008.
"He asked me to demo a song I'd written called 'Tin Man' and also added two others, 'Keep on Playing' and 'Don't Be Sad I'm Gone' which I had written about eight years ago and these three tracks made up the current CD."
'Tin Man' caught the attention of James McGarrity, of Irish-based JW Promos, who booked Gary on a support slot with Justin McGurk in the Strule Arts Centre in February. He's also opening for American country star, Collin Raye, in St Joseph's Hall on May 22 and will support Hal Ketchum when he comes to Omagh at the end of October. And the first weekend in August sees him joining the line-up of the UTV CountryFest bonanza at the King's Hall in Belfast.
Recently, Gary was also performing at the launch on the Late Late Show of the country single, 'The Ties That Bind' in the company of the likes of Mick Flavin, Jimmy Buckley, Eamon McCann and Anthony McBrien. And his 'Tin Man' track has been on the playlists of the likes of Hugo Duncan, Pio McCann, Malachi Cush and Q101.
An album is the next project in the pipeline but in the meantime Gary's current three-track CD is available at gigs or on download from http://indiestore.7digital.com/garyjpquinn/
Alternatively visit his website at www.myspace.com/garyjpquinn and find out where he's playing any weekend.
