Talking to the RTÉ Guide in 2007, Sonny Knowles recalled the early death of his father, who worked in Dublin Corporation and played drums in a band at night.
"He always seemed to be in a bow-tie, black trousers and shiny shoes, coming in and out with his drums." Sonny was too young to absorb the reality of his father's early passing from pneumonia.
"My dad was sick - that was all I knew, but the house was shattered, my late two brothers and my older sister, they knew all about it," he told Paddy Kehoe. "Later in I learned that my daddy had gone to heaven."
Sonny recalled the early years of his life, spent in tenement houses, since demolished in Chancery Lane in the Liberties areas of Dublin.
"We were all very poor. A lot of musicians came from the Liberties simply because the employment situation wasn't great, so everyone learned instruments and made up bands."
At the time of the RTÉ Guide interview, Sonny, then 75 years of age, had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer the previous year.
He had, however, undergone successful surgery at St James's Hospital and his wife Sheila had nursed him back to health. A devout man, the singer had also relied on prayers to St Bernadette. He mentioned too how he had been barred from his favourite drink, brandy and port, although he could drink Guinness.
He had absolutely no regrets about his musical career as he recalled nights in the Braemor Rooms, the Red Cow, both in Dublin, and summer spots at the Holiday Inn in Courtown, County Wexford.
"I had great times. You did your hour and you either won or lost. I very seldom lost - I always came out doing well with audiences."
Read an earlier interview with Sonny here
