Our Man Friday always hits the Wright note
Friday, 18 January 2008
Our Man Friday is a tenor, songwriter and poet who has toured around the world and is just about to embark on an Irish tour.
He hails from Kinsale in beautiful West Cork our Man Friday today is Irish singing legand Finbar Wright
Finbar Wright
Finbar Wright, tenor, songwriter, and poet, was born in Kinsale, Co.Cork, Ireland.
Growing up on a farm, his musical education began at the age of six when he received instruction on the piano from the dedicated and well-loved teacher, Maura Hourihane. He later studied theory of music with George Dunne at one of the oldest schools of music in the world, The Cork School of Music, where he also studied singing with Robert Beare, and piano with distinguished Spanish pianist Angel Climent, who was to be his accompanist for many years. On his path to becoming a professional singer, Finbar studied with such renowned performers as Ernst Haefligger, the beautiful & accomplished Romanian soprano, Ileana Cotrubas, and, finally, with Ireland's legendary Veronica Dunne
Having won all of the major singing awards at Feis Ceoil, Dublin and having represented Ireland at the BBC's Cardiff 'Singer of the World' competition, he began his solo career in 1990 with the release of his first best-selling album 'Because' ,(produced by Phil Coulter), on the Sony label.
Since then he has recorded six solo albums, one of which, 'Whatever You Believe', (produced & conducted by the renowned Mike Batt), was a Christmas Number 1 in 1992, selling more than 100.000 units in the island of Ireland alone.
He has also recorded six albums with the world famous 'Irish Tenors' who have enjoyed phenomenal success all around the world, dominating the American Charts for the past five years.
He presented a hugely successful television series with actress Angeline Ball on RTE in the 1990's: 'Music of the Night'. He has also recorded numerous television specials, including one for UTV 'Live from the Belfast Opera House', which has been regularly broadcast in the USA & Canada. In 2006, as part of The Irish Tenors he recorded a ten-part series for RTE television which has been broadcast with great acclaim and includes, among its guests, the renowned composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
He has performed at many historical world events in recent times, including the reading of the Gospel at Pope John Paul II's legendary first Papal Mass at the Phoenix Park, Dublin, in 1979; the impressive State Dinner given in honour of U.S. President Bill Clinton at Dublin Castle in 1995; and he performed live for 'Good Morning America' during its coverage of President Reagan's funeral on Capitol Hill, Washington in 2004.
Some of the more unusual undertakings in his career include recording an official anthem for the Arsenal soccer club in 1998, together with player Ian Wright.
He has appeared in concert with such music legends as Monserrat Caballé, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and rock & roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis.
He has won several of the major awards of the Irish Music Industry, including 'Best Artist of the Year' in two consecutive years in the mid 90's.
Finbar on his musical background - Parents - Family background
. Finbar is from a family of 8 kids. He is the youngest. His mother is still alive and his father has passed away. His mother is 94 years old.
. His first real performance was in stage at the village singing the song - The Merry Ploughman
. After this at a young age he went to Spin to be a priest as did one member of every Irish family years ago.
. He studied in Spain and also in Maynooth; He was ordained as he age of 22. Prior to his ordination he read the gospel at the Pope's visit in Ireland in 1979 in Phoenix Park.
. He was based as a teacher for 7 years before he left the priesthood to follow his career as a singer.
His famous friends
Pavarotti / Pope John Paul II / Bil Clinton / Jerry Lee Lewis / Gregory Peck and his wife
. Finbar met Pavarotti for the first time in Dublin in 1979 when Pavarotti was in Ireland doing a small gig in the Gaiety Theatre. He met him again during a show in the RDS and said he was very gracious.
. He met Gregory Peck in 93/94 at a special Dinner in the states, They chatted for a while and Finbar is a bit of a Gregory Peck Fan.
. Bill Clinton - He also received a letter recently from Bill Clinton thanking him for all his performances. Finbar will bring this in with him on Friday. He has sung a number of times at his gala dinners in the states. A very charismatic man Finbar said and always listened to the entire performance while he was singing.
The Tenors
. Finbar will talk about his time with the Irish Tenors; He joined them in 2000 after John McDermott moved on. Finbar, Anthoney and Ronan have just returned from a tour in America - see below.
. They generally tour America 3 times a year.
Hobbies / Interests outside of Singing
. Tries to paint a little but not too much
Family Life now
. Married to Doctor Angela - (a lecturer not a physician) they met in the College of Music in Cork many years ago. They are married 18 years.
. Two children - Fergus who is 15 and Ileana who is 13 years old.
What's Next
. Mini Tour as below in February
Also another tour in the states in March with the Irish Tenors and some dates in the North TBC in April