The Shamrockers are an Irish band with a classic-rock problem; merging raucous Irish drinking songs with memorable rock tunes. Covering a variety of music from Irish traditional and rock to 60’s surf tunes and classic garage rock, the Shamrockers love to just get out and play – for as long as they can stand and as much as they can remember.
First formed in 1983 for the burgeoning St. Patrick’s Day parade in San Diego, then it it’s third year, the band has a long history that traces its roots through the streets, backyards, pubs and music venues of San Diego. Over the last thirty plus years, some of the faces have changed, but the focus remains the same: to have a great time and play some great music.
You could start this journey from the earliest days of being raised in a Navy town in parochial school sing-a-longs, to back room bars and troubadours of the early seventies. But the real core of the band meets as part of a babysitting co-op in Normal Heights neighborhood of San Diego in 1975. Terry Daly (mandolin, vocals) and Bob Redelings (guitar) would set on a course of raising their kids around backyard bbqs and camping trips with a few Martin guitars around a campfire. They shared a love of music and the need for an excuse to drink a few beers in the name of parental supervision. Whatever it was, it worked and a lifelong friendship was formed.
The Shamrockers, in their first year, would find Terry leading an unplugged trio on the back of a convertible VW Rabbit to croon out Irish ballads and sailing songs for the crowds on 6th avenue. Two years later, they changed the format, plugging in to go electric with a gas powered generator on the front of a truck (maybe an innovation at the time for the parade) and a full PA system on the back. An investment in a fifth grade music class and some cello lessons found the band an indentured bass player – Terry’s son Kevin. “His mom wanted him to play the clarinet, but I started seeing a bigger picture” remembers Terry.
As success and the need to get a bigger sound evolved, Terry recruited other co-workers to join in. Don Hicox (fiddle) and Moises Ortiz (keys, trumpet, percussion) brought the Shamrockers the signature melodies and a bigger repertoire.
To be continued…
The Shamrockers feature: Terry Daly (mandolin, vocals), Bob Redelings (lead guitar), Don Hickox (fiddle), Moises Ortiz (accordion, keyboards, trumpet), Kevin Daly (bass), Gil Koury (guitar, vocals), Brendan Daly (banjo, vocals), Jim Brown (drums) and occasionally Mike Daly (harmonica) and any other family member or friend that can play a spoon, bang a drum or humm a few bars for us.
The Shamrockers 