John Mac Nally
A Life In Song
The Early Years
John was born in Dublin, Ireland, the youngest of six children. Although his parents weren't professional singers, his was a very musical family. His first professional appearance was made at the age of eleven, on stage with Irish comedian Mick Heron in a town called Arglass in the north of Ireland. Despite nearly blowing up the science lab at school, John was given a day off for the occasion and was paid the princely fee of two shiny shillings by Micky on his triumphant homecoming!
Interrupted only by the fun of outdoor sports, the teenage years of John's life were spent completely immersed in music. John took his classical music training quite seriously, learning German Leieder music, opera arias and Irish ballads at Synge Street under the expert guidance of Father Brendan Lawless, or "Benny" as he was known to all the young lads of the school. Some of their days would begin at 7:00am and end in the early hours of the next morning, breaking only for meals. As John says himself of his days at the academy, "All I wanted to do was sing - anywhere, anytime, for anyone!" John went on to win a scholarship to study music full-time in Germany, but because his mother felt that he should train for a steady career, he didn't accept the scholarship.
Music and Medicine
There was never any question that he would continue to study voice and performing, yet John took his mother's advice and began to study dentistry at the University of Dublin. He soon realised that dentistry wasn't his cup of tea and began an optician's course at the College of Technology in Dublin. John found optics much more interesting than dentistry but continued to study singing, which he still found far more fulfilling than his medical career. He used his singing to make a living while studying, giving all types of concerts - golf dinners, charity concerts and most of all, weddings and funerals. Weddings were a tremendous and reliable source of income. In the busiest months, John could sing one or two during the week and three or four cermonies each day of the weekend! It was a hectic situation, running from chapel to chapel, but of course it was very rewarding to earn a living doing what he loved.
In 1963, John passed all his exams and qualified as an ophthalmic optician. He opened his practice and his patient list grew quickly. After two years in business, John married Anne, the love of his life since he first met her at a dance on June 27th, 1959. John cites the day of their marriage as the happiest of his life. A year after they married, he received a phone call from Fred O' Donovan, the original producer of the famed Jury's Cabaret in Dublin. A six-month contract ensued and John went on to work at the Gaiety Theater and the Dolphin Inn, all within walking distance of Jury's. The next two years saw John running between the three at such a pace that he expected to meet himself on the way back!
In the off-season in Dublin, John went to England to perform and it was there that he landed his first recording contract, with CBS records in London. John was ecstatic and suggested to CBS that he record a beautiful song he had been singing with the group We 4. The song was "Mary in the Morning" - it had received rave reviews in Dublin when it was performed live and CBS loved it. John recorded "Mary in the Morning" and watched it climb the charts. In Ireland and everywhere, it felt like a dream come true; every time John turned on the radio, they were playing his song. Numerous radio and television shows and even John's own television series, "The John Mac Nally Show", followed. In 1969, John sold his optician's business and delved into his professional career full-time. The boy soprano had made it to the top of the charts!
Taking Off Down Under
"Mary in the Morning," the song that opened so many doors for John, eventually took him to the other side of the world. In 1969, after a successful show at the Tokyo Hilton, John decided to visit Australia. He was escorted by Jack Neary, who was famous for bringing some of the biggest acts in show business to Australia. Jack went right to work and booked appearances on television programmes and in several shows, including performances in the Celebrity Room in Melbourne.
In 1971 John returned to Australia for a one-week tour. This time Jack Neary got John a spot on the "Tonight Show," a popular Saturday-night programme hosted by Simon Dee. John sang two songs on the programme, and was interviewed by Mr. Dee which went well. The following week Channel 9 called and asked John if he had any experience hosting a programme such as the "Tonight Show." John had a lot of television experience, but had never interviewed anyone on the air. The station managers decided to take a chance and asked John to host the following Saturday night's show. John did his research, selected the most popular songs in his repertoire, and did the show. He was asked to do it again the following week and so began John's three-year contract as host of the "Tonight Show." Soon after, John's wife Anne joined him in Australia together with their two young children.
In addition to the weekly "Tonight Show" appearances, John's first three years in Australia were filled with work in clubs, theaters, the Sydney Opera House, and on radio and television at ABC, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He performed throughout the country, from Perth to Melbourne, down to Tasmania, and even out to the country of New Zealand. John and his family have enjoyed living in the land "down under," with its friendly, generous people who took him into their hearts.
On the Road in the USA
In 1973 John accepted an invitation from the Irish Tourist Board to represent Ireland at a convention in Las Vegas. Very soon afterwards John was the opening act for Buddy Hackett in the Sahara Hotel and was, as a result, the first Irish singer to perform solo in a showroom in Las Vegas. John's success at the Sahara Hotel led to twenty-five continuous weeks in Las Vegas, performing additional shows at the Hilton with Myron Cohen and the Four Tops and at the Flamingo Hotel. Following his Las Vegas engagements, john traveled throughout the country to sing at St. Regis in New York City, the Fairmount in San Francisco, the Crystal Forest Room in Houston and the Diplomat in Miami. John's shows in these major cities were highlighted by guest appearances on television programmes including "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," "The Mike Douglas Show," and "The Merv Griffin Show." In spite of all his success in the United States John yearned for his family so much that he had to return to Ireland to be with them.
After some thirteen years of furthering his career in both Ireland and Australia, John returned to New York City in response to an invitation to perform a solo act in Carnegie Hall. The response he received was so overwhelming that John immediately received several engagements in New York City and it's surrounds - the highlight being a concert at Alice Tully Hall in New York's dazzling Lincoln Center. John met Bill Walker of BNJ Records in 1982, a man whose influence as a major force in the Nashville recording industry got John appearances on Ralph Emery's "Nashville Now" television programme. John's performances were well received and soon he became a regular on the show. When BNJ Records advertised some of John's recordings on American television, his career in the United States really came to life. John got a green card to work in the USA in 1989 and recorded twelve new albums with BNJ Records in their Nashville studio.
John had never worked in theatre before and so in June 1992 began a five-week engagement at the Cristy Lane Theatre in Branson, Missouri. Approximately six million visitors a year flock to this small town to hear their favourite acts and John's audiences at this venue included people from all over the United States, Canada and even Ireland and Australia. Between his recording and television work in Nashville, yearly tours to Australia and Ireland and concerts throughout the United States and Canada, John's time was well divided on an international scale. Unlike the days when their children were young, not only could John and Anne travel together but they could also enjoy every moment of it together.
You can Take the Man out of Ireland...
John Mac Nally and his wife, Anne, lived for 7 years in Nashville, Tenessee. He retains close contact with America and regularly corresponds with fans and friends in the US. In 1999, John sings in 3 states in the US and returns finally to the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland.
John and Anne now live in Sydney, Australia by the sea. There is no better way to appreciate outdoor life in beautiful Australia than walk, swim and exercise every morning by the beach and John enjoys these activities all year round. Whether at home or travelling, John spends as much time as possible playing golf. He plays off a single-figure handicap and is an honourary member of Nashville Golf and Athletic Club, which is owned and operated by his good friend Chuck Wittamore. When on a home visit to Ireland, nothing gives him greater pleasure than a game with the legendary Christy O' Connor Snr.
Recently, John signed a 10 year contract with Polygram records. His previous releases with Polygram have earned him 2 platinum and 4 gold records. Since signing John's latest contract, Polygram has been taken over by Universal Music and John enjoys an even more active and productive relationship with his new record label. With a busy performing schedule, John is thrilled to be fully active doing what he loves best - singing.