Munster Express Online

Tommy Fleming is Ireland’s biggest selling Irish artist in recent years. He is now set to release The Best is Yet to Come, a double compilation album which will feature some of his favourite recordings over the past

15 years and will include duets with Phil Coulter, the late Christy Hennessy, De Dannan and a host of other artists that he has collaborated with over the years. The album was released on the 30th of January 2009.Tommy Fleming was born in 1971 in Aclare, County Sligo, the youngest of six children to Anne and Paddy Fleming. His natural singing ability was evident at a young age whilst participating in local talent competitions and concerts and his performances always delivered something quite special. While still at school his first band was born – a rock band called “The Face of February” and thus began the a life of “gigging” in local clubs and pubs. After leaving school (in 1990) Tommy started to establish himself as part of a Castlebar quartet known as “Jarog” performing in pubs and clubs around the country and regularly packing in the fans wherever they appeared. Their flame haired vocalist was also attracting attention at their many festival appearances across the country. In July 1993, Phil Coulter overheard Tommy performing at a charity event in Westport, County Mayo and within days he was ‘guesting’

with Phil and his Orchestra at the Opera House (Cork), the National Concert Hall (Dublin) and The University Concert Hall (Limerick). Four months later he was touring North America, playing to huge audiences all across the USA and Canada, culminating in two shows in the Boston Symphony Hall and the legendary Carnegie Hall, New York. Upon returning from the successful US tour, Tommy’s career took another leap forward when he was invited by Galway traditional group De Danann, to join them as lead vocalist, following in the footsteps of such living legends as Mary Black, Maura O’Connell, Dolores Keane and Paul Brady. This collaboration lasted three years and introduced Tommy to a worldwide audience touring Australia, Hong Kong, China and the U.S.A. Tommy also featured on the De Dannan album “Hibernian Rhapsody”. Tommy still had ambitions of a solo career and moving on, he finally recorded his first solo album in 1996, entitled “Different Sides to Life”, and as they say “The rest is history”….. Tickets priced at €32.50(incl booking fee) are available through Next Door Forum Waterford, 051-871133 or online at www.forumwaterford.com