Legendary Phil Coulter for extra show at Town Hall
Date Published: 14-Feb-2013
Derry singer-songwriter Phil Coulter is one of the most enduring voices in Irish music, having contributed at least four titles to the list of great Irish songs. They are the anthems The Town I Loved So Well and Ireland’s Call, and the haunting Scorn Not His Simplicity and Steal Away.
Aged 71 and celebrating 45 years in the music business, Phil will play two concerts in the Town Hall Theatre on Saturday February 23 when he will be joined by special guest, his wife Geraldine Branagan. He has added an extra show at 3pm on Saturday as his 8pm show sold out well in advance.
His career has spanned five decades and has earned him a tally of 23 platinum, 32 gold and 51 silver discs.
One of his earliest song-writing successes was Puppet on a String, which he co-wrote with Bill Martin. Performed by Sandie Shaw it won the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest for the UK. The duo also co-wrote Congratulations, the 1968 UK entry to the Eurovision, which was performed by Cliff Richard and came second Since then it has become one of the most performed songs in the world.
Phil Coulter also wrote songs for bands such as the Bay City Rollers and legends such as Elvis Presley (My Boy).
As a producer Phil has worked with several musical legends including Van Morrison. On the tribute album No Prima Donna, which he co-produced with Van, he worked with the likes of Elvis Costello, Lisa Stansfield and Marianne Faithfull. His work on Sinead O’ Connor’s fourth album, the 1994 Universal Mother won him a nomination as Producer of the Year.
His subsequent work in the field of instrumental and classical crossover has brought him a legion of new fans and sustained critical acclaim. His 2000 album Highland Cathedral was nominated for a 2001 Grammy as Best New Age Album, while two collaborations with James Galway, Legends and Winter Crossing spent more than a year in the Billboard New Age chart and led to sell-out concert tours in the United States as well as performances at the White House and the Nobel Peace Awards.
In 2009 Phil Coulter was awarded the Gold Badge from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
His Town Hall concerts are at 3pm and 8pm on Saturday, February 23. Booking is at the Town Hall Box Office, online at tht.ie or by phone at 091-569777.