Grapevine Music Agency - representing some of the finest roots musicians from the UK and North America. Folk, Blues, Country, Americana.
Benny Gallagher
One half of the legendary Gallagher & Lyle, Benny has written more great songs than seems really fair. He remains one of the best players on the circuit.
For sheer quality and distinction you need look no further than the career of Benny Gallagher. One half of hit makers and blue chip songwriters Gallagher & Lyle; he began his career as a staff writer with the Beatles Music Pub. Co. Apple writing songs for lifelong friend and Apple Records biggest Solo Artist Mary Hopkin. Benny has always considered his early years at Apple, and, especially, the constant encouragement of Paul McCartney, as one of the most important factors in his development as a songwriter.
In 1970, Gallagher and Lyle's astute composing abilities propelled the legendary band McGuinness Flint to the top of the charts with hit songs "When I'm Dead And Gone" and "Malt And Barley Blues". Then came the duo's own string of successes with the richly romantic "Heart On My Sleeve" and "I Wanna Stay With You". Their Breakaway album was a huge success and, even more so when the title track was "covered" by Art Garfunkel.
On record he has worked with: Paul McCartney - Eric Clapton - Pete Townsend - Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood - Gary Brooker - Georgie Fame - Mary Hopkin - Elkie Brooks - Ralph McTell - Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention, as well as Blues legends Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (who wrote "That's Alright Mama" for Elvis Presley) and Champion Jack Dupree.
Between song-writing visits to Nashville, and composing soundtracks for film and television he has toured Australia, the Middle and Far East, Europe and the U.K. as bassist and vocalist with The Manfreds, and, more recently an In -The-Round Concert with Beth Nielsen-Chapman, Ricky Ross and Charlie Dore to celebrate the opening of BBC Scotland's new Headquarters in Glasgow, as well as a special guest spot with Legendary Jazz Guitarist Martin Taylor in his string of sell-out shows during The Lonon Jazz Festival.
In 2001 he was deemed a Companion of LIPA the world renowned Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and presented with his Award by LIPA's co-founder Paul McCartney, alongside fellow Companions Singer-Songwriter Joan Armatrading and Architect of Punk Malcolm MacLaren.
On March 1st 2005, as a guest of Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip, he was invited to attend a Celebration of British Music at Buckingham Palace along with: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Brian May, Peter Gabriel, Sir George Martin, Martin Taylor, Joan Armatrading, Eddi Reader, Roger Daltrey, Richard Thompson, Status Quo, Jamie Cullum, Courtney Pine, Charlotte Church
A number of artists have recorded and released Benny Gallagher songs:
Art Garfunkel - Bryan Ferry - Colin Blunstone - Donovan Frankenreiter - Don Williams - Elkie Brooks - Fairport Convention - Garth Brooks - Joe Brown - Judith Durham - Little Anthony and the Imperials - Mary Hopkin - Phil Everly - Ricky Nelson - Ringo Starr - Rita Coolidge - Status Quo - Simon and Garfunkel - The Fureys - and Jim Capaldi to name but a few.....
Our View: Very few singer/songwriters have achieved as much as Benny and it's heartening to see him inspiring a whole new generation of artists. A true gentleman, he continues to perform because he simply loves playing for an audience and because audiences love him!