Track Listings
| 1. Scotland the Brave | ||
| 2. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling | ||
| 3. Danny Boy | ||
| 4. The Lass of Aughrin | ||
| 5. How Are Things in Glocca Morra? | ||
| 6. My Wild Irish Rose | ||
| 7. Mother Machree | ||
| 8. Irish Blessing | ||
| 9. The Rose of Tralee | ||
| 10. Lida Rose | ||
| 11. Sincere | ||
| 12. It’s You | ||
| 13. That’s an Irish Lullaby (Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral) | ||
| 14. The Story of the Brothers Flanagan |
Editorial Reviews Bill Karukas remembers listening to his father improvise "Coney Island Baby" at the company picnic when he was still a wee lad. In high school, he joined the local barbershop chapter and was soon discovered by a talented group, the Chesapeake Express. With Bill on tenor, they became one of the top competitive quartets in the country in 1974-5. Bill is frequently seen in Washington D.C. area theater productions as a leading man in musical comedies. He has also been a contributing writer for many theater groups and shows, including the Hexagon show and British Embassy productions. Bill combines his love of close harmony and his desire to obtain VIP access to the top local Irish bars by touring with the Brothers Flanagan each St. Patrick’s Day. He expects the great chords and great times will continue. The variety of Clarke Maylone’s artistry is bewildering and astounding. He caught the stage bug as a child in musical productions. The head swelled dangerously playing lead saxophone in a dance band, touring through his high school years. Theater at Northwestern University was spiced with sidelines of piano gigs around town and madrigal singing, one group with young Darrell Parsons. Songwriting, directing, acting, and playwriting followed, including composing an award winning musical revue "One Perfect Rose," a portrait of Dorothy Parker. Vocal work at nightclubs and with choral groups reached a pre-Flanagan’s pinnacle with a classical vocal solo at Carnegie Hall. Irish rooted, he has put many Yeats poems to music. He draws inspiration from his talented wife, singer and actress Joni Maylone. His parents knew Darrell Parsons was destined for singing when at two years old, he stood up in his crib and sang, I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover. Mr. Parsons comes from a long line of Welsh/English tenors, having learned his first Irish songs at the knees of his father and grandfather. Denying his destiny, he got formal degrees in classical voice from three institutions, most notably the Music Academy in Vienna. Vienna was the base from which he traveled to concertize in Western and Central Europe, eventually returning to the Washington, DC area to continue his singing career. But his heritage grounded in the British Isles, and his love of Irish music led inexorably to the Brother’s Flanagan, where he has finally embraced the opportunity to express himself in the music of his ancestors. He lives in University Park, Maryland with his wife, jazz vocalist/pianist Julie Parsons.
About the Artist
Robert Bunning’s early musical efforts were at the piano, guided by his father and influenced by Erroll Garner. His interests led to a degree in music from Princeton University. There he started Harbour Lights, a successful dance band which provided a musical outlet for many years. Later in life he discovered the pleasures and challenges of close vocal harmony. Founder and director of the Brothers Flanagan, Robert has truly enjoyed the past ten years with his colleagues, developing their sound and guiding their success.
Album Description
The Brothers Flanagan, Robert Bunning-bass, Bill Karukas-tenor, Clarke Maylone-lead, and Darrell Parsons-baritone/lead perform vocal quartet arrangements of Irish American music. Most of the selections are classic oustanding barbershop arrangements, such as Danny Boy and That’s an Irish Lullaby. Others have a jazz influence, such as How Are Things in Glocca Morra, and Scotland the Brave, from the show Forever Plaid. There are three numbers from The Music Man including Lida Rose, with Beverly Benda on soprano. The Lass of Aughrin is a haunting ballad sung solo by Darrell Parsons, with Clarke Maylone on piano. One of the group’s most requested songs is a beautiful arrangement of The Irish Blessing. This is the first CD for the group, although they have been entertaining audiences in the Washington DC area for the past ten years. Their harmonious sound had been beautifully recorded and mastered at the Warm Valley Studio by Louis Scherr.
The Brothers Flanagan, Music, The Brothers Flanagan
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The Brothers Flanagan
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ASIN: B0000664HZ Release Date: 2002-03-17 |
Tracks:
Album Description
The Brothers Flanagan, Robert Bunning-bass, Bill Karukas-tenor, Clarke Maylone-lead, and Darrell Parsons-baritone/lead perform vocal quartet arrangements of Irish American music. Most of the selections are classic oustanding barbershop arrangements, such as Danny Boy and That's an Irish Lullaby. Others have a jazz influence, such as How Are Things in Glocca Morra, and Scotland the Brave, from the show Forever Plaid. There are three numbers from The Music Man including Lida Rose, with Beverly Benda on soprano. The Lass of Aughrin is a haunting ballad sung solo by Darrell Parsons, with Clarke Maylone on piano. One of the group's most requested songs is a beautiful arrangement of The Irish Blessing. This is the first CD for the group, although they have been entertaining audiences in the Washington DC area for the past ten years. Their harmonious sound had been beautifully recorded and mastered at the Warm Valley Studio by Louis Scherr.Music Album:
