Tommy Fleming

Hailing from County Sligo, in the west of Ireland, flame-haired singer Tommy Fleming took the roundabout route to international stardom. He spent much of the 1990s as the on-stage mouthpiece for Irish musical institutions Phil Coulter and De Dannan before establishing himself as a solo artist of repute in the latter part of the decade. Despite a brief flirtation with a more internationalized sound, Fleming has found greatest success interpreting traditional Irish music (both old and contemporary) with his forceful and dynamic bel canto tenor. His success has hinged upon his ability to take traditionally elite music styles to pop audiences in much the same fashion as Andrea Bocelli and Russell Watson have their respective styles. Tommy Fleming was born in 1971 in the town of Aclare, in County Sligo, near Ireland's west coast, an area renowned for its musical and singing traditions. Fleming began his music career in earnest while still at school, performing at local talent contests before forming his own rock band and gigging in the local area's pubs and clubs. Upon leaving school, he toured Ireland as the frontman of the five-piece Jarog, but attracted little interest from record labels. Fleming's luck changed dramatically in July 1993, when a chance meeting with legendary composer Phil Coulter ("Congratulations," "Puppet on a String") won Fleming a prestigious slot singing with Phil Coulter & His Orchestra, leading to a North American tour later that year. Upon returning to Ireland, Fleming was offered the vacant vocalist position with folk luminaries De Danann, a demanding position previously occupied by Dolores Keane, Mary Black, and Johnny Moynihan. He performed with the band for three years, appearing on its 1995 album Hibernian Rhapsody, before leaving to pursue a...