Rory Gallagher

Few rock guitarists are revered more in Ireland - or elsewhere - than the late Rory Gallagher. His mother was a singer and actress and his father was an accordion player and singer with a ceili band in Donegal, but the family moved south to Cork, where Rory developed his own love of music, initially playing ukulele before mastering guitar. After winning a local talent contest when he was 12, Rory bought a 1961 Fender Stratocaster and concentrated on playing electric guitar. His primary early influence was the skiffle of Lonnie Donegan, but he soon fell in love with the blues, the music with which he became primarily associated, adding harmonica and slide guitar to his exceptional skills; which went on to include everything from banjo to alto sax. His early career began as a teenager playing covers with Irish showbands, most notably Fontana who evolved into R&B band The Impact. He really made his mark, however, with blues rock trio Taste, supporting the likes of Cream and Blind Faith, and when Taste split, he launched his solo career with his self-titled solo album in 1971. Gallagher was amazingly productive throughout the 1970s, releasing nine albums and going on numerous tours as he built his reputation as one of the era's greatest live acts. Highly regarded internationally, he collaborated with many other artists, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Lonnie Donegan, Jimmy Page and Muddy Waters and in 1983 formed Box Of Frogs with former members of the Yardbirds. He remained hugely respected until his death from liver problems in 1995 and a tribute festival is held in Co.Donegal in his honour.