Irish Tenors promise varied performance at concert
By MARK MARYMONT Special to The News-Press


The Irish Tenors may have been inspired by that other famous trio of Italian tenors, but they have long since established their own identity, racking up an impressive list of popular albums and sold-out concerts.

The Irishmen — Ronan Tynan, Finbar Wright and Anthony Kearns — return to the area for a show Nov. 28 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.

The "We Three Kings Christmas Spectacular" tour title is based on their new album featuring 17 holiday or patriotic-themed songs. It was recorded a year ago with the 55-piece Czech National Orchestra.

Material from the CD, their second Christmas set, will be the centerpiece of a 17-city tour which kicks off here in Fort Myers.

"We do, more than likely, 25 songs in the whole show and we'll cover much of the new album," says Tynan from the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, where he's singing a few songs for an old friend's birthday party. "We know people want to hear the Christmas songs but we will also do some of the old favorites as well".

The tenors will be backed by a 47-piece orchestra featuring players from Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota and West Palm Beach. Most of the players, conducted by Arnie Roth, were also in the 42-piece orchestra that backed Peter Cetera during his recent local concert.

When it comes to material for their current tour, the Irish Tenors have plenty to choose from, with six albums to their credit and plans for a new one to be recorded early next year.

"When we are planning an album we all bring in songs we are interested in," says Tynan. "We have been together over five years and we know each other's strengths. We kind of decide what to do and then we equally divide up the leads."

Tynan also has solo projects, including his own albums and tours. His second record, "The Impossible Dream," was released last year on Jive Records, home of Britney Spears, and featured Spears, 'NSync and the Backstreet Boys on backing vocals. A huge fan of the New York Yankees, he sang "God Bless America" at all the team's recent playoff and World Series appearances.

Asked about a new Tynan album, he laughs, acknowledging a concept, "but I can't really say now what it is. These things have to be worked out all in good time, so I can't say anything now."

The Irish Tenors were formed in 1998, debuting at the MIDEM Festival in Cannes, France, an international music event. All three singers had rich backgrounds as vocalists, but none was as varied as Tynan.

"I sang as a youngster with my father, but I'm a qualified medical doctor and didn't take any professional singing lessons until I was 33," says the Dublin native, who specialized in sports injury rehabilitation and had an orthopedic residency. Tynan is also an accomplished athlete, despite having both of his legs amputated below the knee when he was 20. He has won 18 gold medals and set 14 world records at the Disabled Games