DAILY GAZETTE
Schenectady, NY
8th May 2009
IRISH KARL
By Jeff Wiklins
I interviewed Karl Scully of The Irish Tenors this morning, and am happy
to report he’s a true gentleman.
Scully was in town to promote the Tenors’ June 4 concert at the Saratoga
Performing Arts Center to benefit the Adirondack Saratoga Chapter of
the American Red Cross.
You can read all about it, as we say in the newspaper business, in Saturday’s
Daily Gazette. Karl was on the promotion tour, and taped a few minutes
at WMHT before he shot the breeze with me for a little while.
The WMHT sign-in book had listed the singer as “Carl Scully,” and I
began to wonder if the press releases announcing the Tenors’ appearance
had made a mistake. If “Carl Scully” had signed in, he wouldn’t have
messed up his own name!
So that’s the first thing I asked him. And felt like a dope when he
said, “No, Karl with a ‘K.” Turns out the receptionist had signed in
the station’s famous visitor.
Still ... better safe than sorry.
Karl was a sport about everything. I thought I’d ask him about the Tenors’
concert apparel — always black tuxedos and white shirts, white bow ties.
I’ll bet the guys swelter during the summer time.
“The only time it was uncomfortable,” Karl said, “it was an outdoor
venue in Philadelphia, it was 110 and it was like I had gone for a swim
in the outfit. Otherwise, no. I feel like Pavlov’s dog sometimes. Put
the outfit on, the voice clicks into gear, time to start singing.”
Karl was even more gracious when we asked for a few video snippets for
the newspaper’s Web site. Sometimes, this can be tricky: If I interviewed
Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, I’m not sure if he’d peel off a few
lyrics from “Satisfaction” for the old newspaper. And if I talked to
Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, I doubt I’d request a batting demonstration
... although Jeter might go for it.
Anyway, Karl was more than willing to sing the mournful first verse
from “My Lagan Love.” And you can check it out by checking out the videos
at www.dailygazette.com. Great voice, great composure.
The melody sounded familiar. On my drive back to Schenectady, I remembered
the old song had been modernized by the Celtic rock band Horslips in
1976. Had the album — “The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony” — and
felt truly ahead of the musical curve. Loved the song then, and Mr.
Scully offered a completely different interpretation.
Funny, we “filmed” Karl inside one of the WMHT’s studios, and it only
lasts 1:24. But boy, when he started to sing! The WMHT staffers and
technicians, and Eileen Reardon of the Red Cross, watched nearly in
awe as the tenor gave the tune a lush, full treatment. Not a sound from
anyone. I guess it’s respect ... or just really appreciating what a
true artist can do.
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