Ruby Murray Documentary and Little Revs 2 and gigs!
Happy New Year from Duke Special HQ!
Little Revolutions Vol 2 is due to be delivered here today (Friday) and orders will be sent out first thing on Monday morning.
See Duke and MayKay (Fight Like Apes) duetting this Saturday 8 January on RTE 1 – The Saturday Night Show with Brendan O’Connor from 10pm.
Live Appearances with the RTE Concert Orchestra
Feb 2 Dublin National Concert Hall
Tickets.
Feb 6 Cork Opera House
Tickets.
On Feb 12 Duke is also playing a more expensive gig at the Belfast Ulster Hall to fundraise the Education activities of the Ulster Orchestra.
For more information contact Heather Wright on 028 9026 0472 or email heather@ulsterorchestra.com
Ruby Murray Project
We’re also thrilled to announce a new Duke Special CD to accompany the TV programme and 2 Concerts about Ruby Murray. To recap, here’s the full information in what can best be described as the Ancient Language of the Press Release (!)
“In 2009, Belfast storyteller, Duke Special, was approached by production company Hardy Films to present a documentary for RTE about legendary Belfast singer Ruby Murray, who came to fame in the 1950’s and whose life was peppered with bittersweet triumphs and personal losses. Speaking about the project, Duke Special says:“The premise was that a contemporary Belfast musician would make a journey of discovery into the life of Ruby Murray, her music and the world she moved through. As I read about her, immersed myself in her music and interviewed people who knew her, including her family, I discovered a young girl who had been propelled into stardom from a very modest background at the dawning of television and the recorded music charts. She was someone who seemed to embody the innocence and warm accessibility of pre-rock and roll music.” Duke adds: “I discovered the unfortunate timing of her success as rock and roll soon arrived and swept away everything in its path and I discovered her struggles with addiction as she tried to cope with her fame and her slide into relative obscurity.”
The documentary ‘Ruby and The Duke’ will be broadcast on RTE One on Tuesday January 18th at 10.15pm.
Having spent so much time listening to the work of Ruby Murray and delving deeper into her life story, Duke Special felt it would be a fitting homage to her often overlooked achievements and talents to re-record some of the tracks that she is best remembered for and to make a modest effort to bring her work to a wider audience. Murray died a frail and broken alcoholic in the mid 90’s and Duke decided that it would be appropriate to link the recordings with an organisation whose clients lives reflect the struggles that Ruby lived with: “I decided to work with Depaul Ireland, an incredible organisation who reach out to some of the most vulnerable homeless people in Ireland, North and South.”
In order to build public awareness for Depaul Ireland, Duke has recorded a three track CD featuring three of Ruby Murray’s best loved songs, Happy Day’s Lonely Nights, I’ll Come When You Call, and Smile. The CD will be packaged with a set of unique note cards, designed by some of Depaul Ireland’s service users during art sessions. This limited edition collectable package will be available from January 21st from a host of music stores, bookshops and general retail outlets nationwide, priced at €6 and all proceeds from sales will be reinvested in Depaul Ireland’s on-going services to the homeless in the North and South of Ireland. Of the very special offering, Kerry Anthony CEO of Depaul Ireland says “We were delighted when Duke Special offered to do this in support of our work. We endeavour to ensure that the people we work with recognise their own talent and have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We also want people to see more than just the issues they present with but to see the whole person. The way in which Duke Special is remembering Ruby seems to celebrate her life in a way that ensures that her fantastic story is not overshadowed by her struggle with alcohol misuse, we aim to do this for those we support”.
On hearing about the documentary Ruby and The Duke, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra invited Duke Special to open their Signature Series 2011 at the National Concert Hall with a live celebration, inspired by the documentary. Ruby and The Duke Live will feature Duke Special, his band, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra conducted by David Brophy, along with a host of guests including Mary Coughlan, and Mary-Kate Geraghty (Fight Like Apes). The evening will feature a journey through the life and music of Ruby Murray, along with many Duke Special audience favourites. Two shows have been announced: The National Concert Hall in Dublin on Wednesday February 2nd and The Opera House in Cork on Sunday February 6th.”
To buy the CD and note cards, go here.
Just a reminder that you can order Little Revolutions Vol 2 and Songbook Vol 2 from the shop.
Duke Special Team.