Roisin Doherty, curator, Tower Museum, at the launch of an exhibition of Irish born tenor Michael O’Duffy “The Golden Voice” collection, with his son Paul. (Photo – Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)
A special new exhibition featuring memorabilia highlighting the life and work of popular Derry singer and musician Michael O’Duffy, best known for his renditions of the popular Irish ballads “I’ll Take You Home Kathleen” and Come Back Paddy Reilly” has opened at the city’s Tower Museum.
Memorabilia has been loaned to the museum by the family of the singer once known as “Ireland’s Ambassador of Song,” who sang at venues worldwide including Carnegie Hall, and whose singing was featured in several films including John Ford’s “The Rising of the Moon” and “The Quiet Man,”e; starring John Wayne.
Born in Derry in 1918, O’Duffy spent his childhood living above the family grocery shop in Brook Street outside the City Walls.
He attended the Long Tower Primary School before moving on to St Columb’s College and eventually joing to work with the Great Northern Railway where he became member of the GNR Company Choir.
From there, his vocal career flourished and after moving to Dublin he won the prestigious “Golden Voice” competition held at Dublin’s Adelphi Cinema in 1939.
After marrying talented musician Veronica Staveley, O’Duffy moved to the America where he presented his own popular radio show on New York Radio station WOR.
By the 1950s he was considered a priority act in the US for the HMV label and was regularly promoted alongside label mates Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dinah Shore and Jeanette McDonald.
He also starred in a number of films including The Rising of the Moon (1957), Johnny Nobody (1961) and Gideon’s Day (1958).
The items on show at the Tower Museum include his first gramophone recording, which he dedicated to his parents, and a special award presented to him by the Irish Post newspaper for his outstanding services to the Irish community.
The Golden Voice Collection will remain on show at the Museum for the next six months.
Roisin Doherty, curator at the Tower Museum, said the Golden Voice Collection would appeal to anyone with an interest in the city’s rich musical heritage.
She added: “Michael O’Duffy was such an important figure in popular culture from the 1940’s right through to the 1980’s and his unique musical style was known throughout the world.
“I am delighted to feature the memorabilia in this fascinating display at the Museum and I would like to thank his family for kindly showcasing these items in Michael’s home town where I have no doubt they will be of great interest to anyone with a knowledge of our city’s musical heritage.”
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