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Sunday 18th September 2005

Lucky Charmers
Irish eyes are singing - at the Peace Center
By Ann Hicks ARTS WRITER

Their diehard fans, oops, enthusiasts — they much prefer the latter moniker — are known to travel whatever distance it takes to see those Irish eyes smile and hear those Irish voices ring.

Second only to U2 among Ireland’s most popular touring acts, the Irish Tenors — Anthony Kearns, John McDermott and Finbar Wright — not only sell millions of albums worldwide, but also command a fan base to rival their rocking countrymen’s.

The three have managed to spawn a movement of “tenorevangelists” who roam the globe to make sure THEIR celebrated vocalists not only feel the love, but also wear the boutonnieres delivered to them for every show.

So, look for that flower power in bloom as the Tenors open their show at the Peace Center on Sunday afternoon at 3.

Alice Ferguson of Aiken will be there: She’s in charge of the celebrated buttonholes. And she’ll be joined by Sheryl Madeloni from Tampa and to quote Alice, “people from New York, North Carolina, Indiana, Georgia, Florida, Texas and some other states, too.”

The Tenors plan to wow the crowd with selections from their latest release, “Sacred: A Spiritual Journey,” which as of last week was No. 1 on the Amazon’s Movers and Shakers chart, according to Madeloni.

That winning and unmistakable Irish lilt is full-blown in a phone interview with Wright, who says, “We give our concerts in the spirit of enjoyment. We always work with a full orchestra, which brings its own richness to the performance.”

Expectations aside, Sunday’s program will be inspirational, Wright says, and will be wide-ranging, from a Gregorian chant, “Deus Meus,” to Cat Stevens’ “Morning Has Broken.” There also will be a fervent rendition of “Amazing Grace” and the soul-stirring “Hail Glorious St. Patrick.”

Wright, the newest member of the trio studied for the priesthood before a more urgent calling, music, took him to a solo career and a 1992 triple platinum release in Ireland, “Whatever You Believe.” He joined the tenors in 2000.

McDermott, of Scottish heritage, grew up in Canada and hit his top note with a 1993 EMI recorded album “Danny Boy.” It earned him double-platinum sales in New Zealand and eventual recruitment to the Tenors in 1998.

Kearns gained national attention when he won the top spot in “Ireland’s Search for a Tenor” in 1996. He’s one of the original tenors (McDermott being the other).

At the gut level, the Irish Tenors repertoire probably contains some of the most beautiful music ever been written — some of it actually composed in America by homesick Irish immigrants, Wright adds.

That immigration story, of course, is part of the attraction of the Irish Tenors and their program, since millions of Americans have Irish ancestry, the tenor says.

“I think that’s where the magic walks in.”

Madeloni says she’s been attending most of the concerts since she discovered the Irish Tenors in 2000. “My grandmother came from Ireland — a lot of us are like that.”

The 52-year-old Web designer and muralist says that besides the Irish Tenors, her other hobbies include biking. As a matter of fact, she was in the hospital recovering from a bike injury in 2000 when she saw the Tenors for the first time, on a PBS concert from Belfast.

“They were so personable and charming,” she says. “Their allure was a combination of the Irish songs, their personalities, their terrific voices and the emotion they pack into their performance (that) held me captive. And when you go to their concert, it’s a sort of escape.”

Part of the fun — outside the travel — is meeting with other fans in other cities and enjoying the concerts with them, says Madeloni.

She’s been to Tenors concerts from Tampa to Dublin.

“You’ll hear us whooping and hollering in the beginning of every show,” she says proudly.
“We also add some ‘woo-hoos’ to lets them know we’re there.”

The fans and the Tenors also communicate by e-mail.

Wright, for example, sends missives on happy occasions as well as at times when a fan needs a lift.

It works in reverse as well. When Wright had a death in his family, fans sent flowers and cards to his home in Ireland. The fans also donate to the Tenors’ favorite charities, such as the McDermott Houses, which support veterans worldwide. Or, to Kearns’ project, which supports the Secondary School at Bunclody, a performing arts school famed for its music program. It’s where Kearns received his training.

Wright says, “It’s the good side of show business. It makes the whole activity so much more enjoyable when you go to each place and there are people who you only meet on their home turf, but because we return with some regularity you get to know them and they become your extended family.”

And one more thing: The Tenors love chocolate, so take some along and deliver it backstage if you’re so inclined.