Brendan Bowyer

Brendan Bowyer
Born(1938-10-12)12 October 1938
Waterford, Ireland
Died28 May 2020(2020-05-28) (aged 81)
Las Vegas, United States
GenresRock and roll
OccupationSinger
Years active1957–2020
Formerly ofThe Royal Showband, The Big Eight
Websitewww.brendanbowyer.com

Brendan Bowyer (12 October 1938 – 28 May 2020) was an Irish singer best known for fronting the Royal Showband and The Big Eight, and who had five number one hits in Ireland. He was also renowned for having The Beatles open for the Royal Showband at a concert on 2 April 1962 at the Pavilion Theatre, Liverpool, England, some six months before the release of The Beatles first single "Love Me Do", in October 1962. Bowyer was regarded as one of the first headlining Elvis impersonators. Elvis Presley himself was a big fan of Bowyer's performances and would often attend Bowyer's concerts in the Stardust Resort & Casino, Las Vegas during the 1970s.[citation needed]

Although born in Waterford, he relocated to Limerick with his family when he was two years old. There he was educated at the Model School and Crescent College, singing with the Redemptorist choir before returning to Waterford with his parents.[1]

  1. ^ "Pop Star Joins Limerick" (PDF). Limerick Leader. 15 June 1964.