McNamara's Band
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McNamara's Band is the title of a popular song recorded in late 1945 by legendary crooner Bing Crosby. It's the tongue-in-cheek story of a small Irish band penned by the song writing team of O'Connor and Stanford.
Released on Decca Records in early 1946 the song became a top-ten hit for Crosby. It's still one of Crosby's most popular songs and is sung loudly and often at St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the United States and Ireland.
The tale is based on an actual band, the St. Mary's Fife and Drum Band [link], formed in Limerick, Ireland in 1885. In the late 1800s the band featured four brothers, Patrick, John, Michael and Thomas McNamara, and became famous for playing shows all across Ireland. [link]
In the early 1900s Patrick and Thomas emigrated to the United States and formed the "McNamara's Band" with Patrick "Patsy" Salmon, another Limerick emigre.
After Salmon left the group Patrick and Thomas formed "McNamara's Trio" with Thomas on piccolo, Patrick on violin and Patrick’s daughter, Eileen, on the piano. The trio recorded and released several songs for Voralion Records.
Trivia
- Thomas McNamara, born in 1865, was the last of the McNamara brothers to pass away. He died in May 1978.
- John McNamara served with the Royal Munster Fusiliers during the Second Boer War and First World War. He was killed in action on the 9 May 1915 and his body was never recovered after the war, his name is today commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
- Crosby's backing band on his hit single was The Jesters.
- McNamara's Band is a nickname for fans of Syracuse University basketball star Gerry McNamara.
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