Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher (1948–1995) was an Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter whose blues-rock lives on through concert films, archival recordings and an estate-run online archive.
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Latest
Rory’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Born
- 2 March 1948, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland
- Raised
- Cork, Ireland
- Work
- Guitarist, singer, songwriter and bandleader
- Breakout
- Taste, followed by a solo career beginning in 1971
- Died
- 14 June 1995, aged 47
Mini bio
How it started.
Born in Ballyshannon and raised in Cork, Rory taught himself guitar. In an archived interview, he recalled getting his first wooden guitar at nine and learning through rock ’n’ roll, skiffle and blues. Showbands gave him a place to plug in and learn the demands of performing.
Finding his sound.
Taste took him from the Irish club circuit to London’s Marquee and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. When the trio split, he started his solo career with a self-titled album in 1971. Deuce followed that same year.
Songs made for the stage.
Tattoo includes Tattoo’d Lady, Cradle Rock and A Million Miles Away. Irish Tour ’74 captures his band in Cork, Belfast and Dublin, with Rory producing and playing alongside Gerry McAvoy, Rod De’Ath and Lou Martin.
The music carries on.
Rory died on 14 June 1995. His family maintains an official archive, while recent books, museum displays, tribute concerts and recordings give fans ways to keep exploring his work.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 1974Irish Tour ’74Producer; vocals, guitars, mandolin and harmonica
- 1973TattooGuitars, vocals, harmonica, saxophone and mandolin
- 1971DeuceProducer; guitar, vocals and harmonica
Awards
Quotes
If a song comes I accept it and just sit down and write it out.Rory Gallagher, Me and My Music, official interview archive
Discussing how songs came to him while he was in Taste.
Trivia
- His first wooden guitar arrived when he was nine; before that, he had plastic Elvis Presley guitars.
- Tattoo rehearsals took place at a rowing club in Cork before the band recorded in London.
- His instrument collection extended beyond the famous Stratocaster to lap steels and mandolins, documented in Gallagher’s Guitars.
Find Rory
Explore his music and follow updates from his estate.
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