Carl Corcoran

In Carl's teens in the 1970s, rock and roll, folk and pop lured the young Dubliner to the pubs, clubs and coffee shop venues in a blossoming singer songwriter scene. A 'surprise' offer from EMI to sign a recording contract produced three original albums containing songs written by Carl and various collaborators. Record company marketing folk decided that Carl should adopt a new moniker and so Jamie Stone was born. Carl's first album 'New Day' gathered six awards at the RMI Awards in 1974, including Artist of The Year. His songs 'Gulliver' and 'I Believe in Love' were chart toppers in the Irish market.

In 1978, Carl headed for New York. The American sojourn, which lasted 20 years, brought experiences of a varied nature in the world of entertainment and, in the latter five years, the passion for radio was irresistible. Carl played an anchor role in a successful commercial radio station 60 miles outside New York, where Carl presented Irish specialty shows whilst maintaining the Morning Shift weekdays 9am-12 noon at WTBQ....playing music from the 50's through the 90's.

On returning to Ireland in 1998, a move which coincided with the setting up of RTÉ lyric fm, Carl was asked to host 'The Third Wave' late night on Lyric (Sat and Sun), which he presented for three years. Simultaneously, Carl became a regular presenter on RTÉ Radio 1 until the slot at The Lyric Breakfast came his way. Carl remained in that early morning role for four years, until October 2007 when the Breakfast Man returned to the once familiar night hours at RTÉ lyric fm taking over the role of Presenter for The Blue of the Night. Five nights a week (Sunday - Thursday), Carl takes you into the Blue of the Night with the broadest musical brush stroke on the airwaves.

As well as maintaining his radio position, Carl still enjoys singing the odd song, and from time to time is found, dressed in a tux, warbling a few standards fronting the popular Cork Pops Orchestra at various society gigs. And writing is still a keen interest. In 2005 Carl, along with co-writer Art McGann, penned a children's choral anthem for the celebration of Cork's designation as Europe's Capital of Culture.

In September 2006, Carl was awarded a Master's Degree (First Class) in Community Music at the University of Limerick.
Summer 2007 saw Carl as Director of Blas International Summer School of Traditional Irish Music and Dance. This event, hosted by Prof Micheál Ó Súilleabháin of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, was held on the superb campus of the University of Limerick from June 26th til July 6 2007. Carl has accepted the role of Director for 2008.

Hear Carl on:

The Blue of the Night - Click here for programme website
Monday to Thursday, 10pm-1am