JFK

Hello from Wexford

Well that was quite the week. I am sitting at home in my parents house, enjoying some peace and quiet after the a stellar but exhausting week of travel and performances. Looking back, it is all a bit of a blur. I can't quite slow at all down yet but luckily I have the photos and film to keep the memories forever.

It started with a quiet celebration as I never really acknowledged the 2 Emmy® Nominations. We didn't win but I didn't give a hoot. I feel like I have reached a standard that I have wanted to reach my whole life. I dont get the statue but for the rest of my days I will be known as Emmy® nominated singer, Michael Londra. How amazing is that!!!!  My friends and I had some champagne and talked about the road getting there. It was the start of a special 7 days.

Anthony Kearns and I with the Irish color party

I headed out on the road a week ago. First stop was Washington D.C. I had a hugely early morning as the ceremony at the grave of President Kennedy was at 10.30am and I needed to sound like my voice was somewhat awake. We all arrived with plenty of time to spare. The forecast was mixed but luckily I was wary and got a brolly to take with me. As soon as we arrived, the heavens opened so I opened up the Dupont Circle Hotel umbrella and breathed a sigh of relief. The rain subsided but was followed by 100% humidity which for some reason I managed to keep at bay during the ceremony. More about that in a while.

Carrying the Emigrant Flame

The whole service was dignified, calm, prayerful and quite perfect. The lighting of the torch being transported to Ireland was involved but meticulously organised by the Irish team from New Ross. I sang the Irish National Anthem. Let me say that while I am totally comfortable singing this piece, I was overwhelmed by the formality, by my business attire, by the Kennedys and the heat / humidity really did a number on me. I am not built for it. I didn't do a great job but for some reason, it didn't seem to matter. I was so proud to be from Wexford and to be there to honor a Wexford man who has a column in world history. Another Wexford man Anthony Kearns followed with the US anthem. Anthony is on of the Irish Tenors. His voice is thunderous, classical and at it's core, Irish. He sang beautifully. We make a great team.

Once the service was over we all returned to the Irish Ambassador's residence for a quiet celebration and some songs. I sang How Are Things in Glocca Morra as it was one of JFK's favorites. I followed it with an acapella version of Song for John. The whole party joined me in a rendition of The Boys of Wexford. Once we finished that, I could relax so I enjoyed a quiet pint of Guinness with friends.

Up the next morning at 5am to get a flight to New York and on to Ireland. I was truly exhausted at this point. I had no sleep at all really and once i landed I knew I had to face the mammoth weekend of festivities. I landed in Dublin, a wreck of a man but once I got home, it dissappeared. I was ready for anything the few days would throw at me.

On Friday night there was a celebration dinner which was a glimpse of the following day's festivities. I got to hear Judy Collins sing some of her greatest songs. We were introduced for the first time then. Time stood still when I stared into her azure blue eyes. I never say anything like them. Hypnotic. I told her how much I loved her song "In the Twilight" which seemed to catch her unawares. She started crying which in turn set me off. We had a magic few moments talking about how special the song was.

I got home early so I would be ready for the big concert on Saturday. I drove up with my sister Majella who shared the day with me along with my parents and manager visiting from Nashville. I warmed up and gradually the VIPS arrived. I however met noone before the show. Judy went on first. All I can say was that she was stunning. Her tone is clear as a ringing bell as she hit notes in the stratosphere.

I was up next. I walked onstage looking out at the ominous clouds which I thought were about to unload on us all. The rain stayed away as it turned out. I looked to the first row and Caroline waved at me as I waited for the TV crew getting ready. I waved back as if to say "Hey, Caroline - What Up?"

Beside her Jean Kennedy Smith gave me a regal nod. Class Act! Then....I looked directly behind them to the second row. There among the Kennedy clan was my mother, father, sister, manager and wife. How that happened I don't know to this day but they managed somehow to be placed in the middle of the one of the most powerful families in the world. Later I saw just how close when all my sister's photos had the back of Caroline's head blocking her. Every TV shot featured my father or sister.....or my mother leaning over to wave to family back in Wexford town. HILARIOUS!

Mam (chanelling Jackie O) and Dad arrive with VIPS

I sang Danny Boy with my lovely pianist Eithne. A singer knows when they have done a good job. I knew it couldn't have been more perfect so when we finished, I was delighted. On to Song for John which I was a bit nervous about. It turned out to be perfect. I ran off to meet Caroline and Jean for real whoch couldn't have been sweeter. I also got to chat to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend who I am a huge fan of. She was gushing me with praise which was a little awkward for me but a thrill.

I walked side-stage. Judy Collins walked up to me. She placed her delicate hands around my face and whispered at me " your voice is golden. When are recording my song? It is perfect for you". My heart stopped. It was the most magical moment ever.  I then got to walk back on stage with her and sing Amazing Grace with a legend.

My family with An Taoiseach (primeminister of Ireland) Enda Kenny

 I was on a high for the rest of the day but I couldn't celebrate as I had more events the following day. Once I finished those however I sneaked out of the formalities on my own and waalked up to my local pub Simon's Place. The pub was fairly empty. I sat up at the bar and had the most satisfying pint of stout ever. It was the perfect half hour sitting there recalling one of the most times of my entire life.

So now I am spending a week at home with my family in Wexford. I need the rest to be honest. I head to London next week as the lovely people at Shapiro Bernstein are sending me over to write with some brilliant writers including Bruce Wooley who has written so many hits from Video Killed the Radio Star to Slave to the Rhythm, Chris Elliot who wrote Moulin Rouge soundtrack and arranged Adele's last album. I also get to write with Matteo Saghese who wrote Magia Sara which I recorded a few years ago. I hope he didn't think my Italian sucked...which it did.

I head back to the US then to get ready for my big concert on Boston Common on July 19. Have I mentioned it is free and they are expecting 25,000.............. so be early!!!

When I left for America, JFK was front and center in my mind. He represented the American Dream to me. I have gotten to live that dream. This week I was able to thank him, honor him, sing for him.


It was perfect.

ML xo

March Madness and a Dream Fulfilled.

Last day of March after what was the mildest winter in Chicago history. No such thing as climate change? Please! Anyways, I am grateful for it. Usually i find January and February an opportune time to get out of town to sunnier shores but this time I managed to stay home. I love Chicago. Funnily enough, I don't get to spend too much time here so I always feel new in town even though it has been my address for 10 years.

I do have big news...well,for me it is big news. You will wonder what the fuss is about but I got to fulfill a dream of mine this week, more important to me than singing.....yes, that is saying something. You can read about it below but for now let's touch on March madness as Irish performers worldwide call it, it was a blast. It was the most arduous but funnest tour ever. I had 15 or so out on the road with me and we hit every corner of the US. It was hectic but hilarious. I have a lot of fun with my band and dancers who deal with tough circumstance with a sense of humor and joie du vivre.
Click here for an example of that humor.

A rainbow from my hotel room in Oregon on Saint Patrick's Day morning. Tis Glocca Morra - Faith n Begorrah! I always get a bit homesick on St. Patrick's Day but this year's tour was so fun that it didn't drag me down at all.

I cannot tell you how many miles we covered but we had standing ovations in many states, sold out in many cities and the reaction was the same; we give the audience a great night out. This audience in Wenatchee Toyota Arena has still to show up obviously but when they did, they certainly were the loudest on the tour. Awesome night.

Rob Schneider here is obviously endorsing our show.



I've a few bits of news for you. We have a few new people on board to help spread the word. First I got a new agent to get me out there. Parallel 49 is a brand new agency out of Santa Monica. A division of S. L. Feldman in Canada they are an incredible team who will compliment the work done by Harmony Artists. They've got great artists on their books like The Canadian Tenors who I think are just brilliant and the likes of Tracey Morgan. What a mix!

I signed a new manager in Nashville. Robert Williams is a veteran in the field. He manages John Oates (as in Hall & Oates) and Guitar Legend Larry Carlton. I met with lots of management over the past few months but I liked this guy a lot. He makes me laugh and has a proven record over the years so I am excited to work with him and his team.

So now to my big news....yesterday, I experienced the proudest moment of my career in entertainment when I signed a publishing deal with Shapiro Bernstein, one of the biggest, most renowned music publishers in the business. I like being a singer but being acknowledged as a writer is fulfillment of a dream for me. I get to work with some of the best songwriters there is, write songs for other artists and I get great songs sent to me. What's not to love? Anyways, in May I head to Nashville for a month to work with some of those great writers. It makes me feel like a grown up! I may also end up like I did last Sunday, walking up and down the streets of Nashville listening to amazing talent in all those honky tonks. LOVE THAT TOWN!

I ended up celebrating that and more by heading out to The Girl and the Goat. Love it there. It really was the proudest day for me, bigger than Riverdance on Broadway or my PBS Special. This was fulfilling a dream I had in my twenties that I thought would never happen; someone who knows what they are doing, saying that I am a good writer and should be writing great songs. AWESOME FEELING!

So what's next? Well, the winter tour dates are coming in hard and fast. A bigger tour and a bigger show. I won't announce dates until mid summer probably but it looks like we will hit every corner of the US again, ending on December 23 with a shuffle up to Buffalo. I will record some more new material. We have a a lot finished but I am looking for new songs to reflect my new place in the world. This year I feel like mixing it up a little.

By the way, I've been getting emails asking me if I am going country. Nashville is the heart of country yes, but it is also the heart of the music publishing business and the center of where it is all happening in entertainment these days. Aside from everything else, I like the place. I love country music, but I am certainly not going country. You just might see some influences in the next recordings.

I go to Ireland late April to see everyone in Wexford and when I am there I will do a concert on May 5 with some great guests like Daniel Furlong who I think is a huge addition to Celtic Thunder's new show. Have to say I love the new special. The arrangements for the new songs are fantastic and seeing Neil up front is great too. Emmet had big shoes to fill replacing Paul but his voice is stunningly clear and he's doing a fine job. The one to watch in the future in my opinion. Anyway's Wexford will be a lot of fun. I've also got Niall O Sullivan on board. He's an amazing trumpet player from Dublin who is destined for great things internationally, in my humble opinion.



Joining me on the night will be Brenda Brooks, an incredible singer/actress. One of my former singing partners in musical theater, she was always a lot of fun to work with. It will be fun to sing showtunes again and to hear her amazing voice live for the first time in many years. The night promises to be special.

Anyways, that is it for now. I will send you all a report from Ireland and lots more news from Nashville.

Thanks to everyone who sent me presents for Saint Patricks Day. The messages, cakes and Starbuck's cards are always a treat!

Big love

Michael

Hey Y'all

How great is inflight internet!! I am en route from South Carolina to San Francisco. I just had 48 hours in the lovely city of Columbia, SC.

The South has always intrigued me. I guess I've haven't spent that much time in the southern states and had preconceived notions that indeed, proved to be correct....in a good way.

I arrived in Columbia airport and was met by Debbie from the staff of SCETV.She made me feel like a million dollars with her warm welcome. What is it about Southerners and their hospitality? She left me at my hotel with time to get to know Columbia. I stayed in the nicest Hilton I've ever been in. The staff were so welcoming and when they accidentally sent me to a smoking room they were mortified and insisted on buying me breakfast....the way to my heart! Seriously, at this point I thought can everyone in the town be this lovely? The answer is YES!

First....and most importantly THE FOOD. The night before the pledge I went to a gorgeous restaurant called Hampton Street Vineyard. It was hot....really hot and that alone is my excuse for having a gorgeous glass of cool Rose. Now I lived in France so I know something about Rose. This type of wine is not so popular here and usually if I ask for it I get presented white zin which is not even close so I was very surprised to find a restaurant that had a choice. I ate at the bar and chatted with the very friendly locals while having the best Butternut Squash soup. It was totally random and fun.

Sometimes I try to hide my accent somewhat as invariably no matter where I go, people ask me the same questions about Ireland which can get repetitive if you just want to have some quiet time. Here, it didn't seem to matter. I talked, people chatted, we had a great time. A man at the bar recognised me from PBS so tried to buy me a round. I decided it was the best thing to make my excuses and get out of the place before things got out of hand. I have to have some sort of discipline when I am out on the road. I was singing live in the studio the next evening so I had to get some rest and stay away from the vino. What a lovely place though. The menu is remarkable and unexpected. Sophisticated, friendly and fun. a difficult thing to perfect.

I went for a run the next morning and swam in the gorgeous sea water pool at the Hilton. Badly needed in the Southern heat. I was ready to roll at 5pm for SCETV.

I have done a few pledges now so I am starting to be familiar with the process. SCETV was special. First the staff treated me like they knew me for years. Everyone from soundman to on screen talent were just lovely. The pledge was a success which was so great to know and I left with such a wonderful impression of the station. We chatted a lot off screen about ....well.....food. They had heard a rumor that I am a pie lover. It is the best thing about the south in my opinion. We talked about important things like my favorite pies...I have many.....coconut cream being the top.

If anyone has any new suggestions for pies , by the way, I want to hear them. eg. I had a raisin cream pie recently which was superb. I am not a lover of the fruit pie. I like a cream filling or pecans...or both! Any kind of custard is good too. OK I must stop talking about pies!

So I left this morning with a 4.30 am wake up. Oy! I didn't sleep well at all thru the night knowing i had this travel day ahead of me. I am fine with travel really but if I haven't slept at all it just kills me. The best thing however is inflight internet. I can actually get work done en route. Where am I off to? San Francisco to sing for the Giants game. I've to learn Take me out to the Ballgame as well as singing the Anthem. I was asked how it felt to be singing a foreign anthem this week. I was shocked. The US Anthem is not at all foreign to me. It is a thrill and an honor every time I sing it. I haven't done a Christina Aguilera on it yet !!!

I dont feel like a foreigner here. I have a green card and feel American. I don't know what I will do when I am eligible for citizenship. I want to vote but part of me wants to remain Irish. I think I can have dual citizenship so maybe I will do that.

So this week has been all about the launch of the the album and indeed I can tell you now that as of Sept Razor and Tie will release not only my dvd and cd of Beyond Celtic but a collection of other recordings called The Road Not Taken. On this album you will find studio versions of some of the songs of the live show. You will also however find several unreleased tracks. I will put up a teaser or two for you next week. I think you will be pleased. My producer Steve Skinner has done a great job as usual and he just makes me sound good. There are a few surprises on this. I listened to some of the tracks last night and I really am proud of them.

Sharon Browne from Celtic Thunder gave me a shout out on the forum this week which resulted in many loyal Thunderheads signing up to show me some support. I was just thrilled. I haven't a big machine to help me with this so to have someone as great as Sharon spread the word, it is HUGE for me. I've come to know the boys in CT so well and they've become friends. They have done nothing but be encouraging and I am delighted with their encouragement and recommendation to the fans. They head over to the US soon and boy have Thunderheads a treat in store for them.

More tour dates have come in this week, in the North West and North East. I will post them over the next few days.

Anyways, as I fly to San Francisco, I can't help thinking how lucky I am to be doing this. 10 years ago today I did my last show with Riverdance. It took me a few years to climb out from under it's protection indeed, it's harness. I am so grateful to the show for giving me my big break but also teaching my life lessons on being a performer on and off stage. I am very proud to have been part of it.

I played San Francisco in my first tour with Riverdance. Now I am coming back to the theater district in S.F. with my own show. A full circle moment. I am excited about it. but first.....

I have a few things to do this weekend while there, to plan for my holiday concerts but mostly i plan on enjoying the ballgame(once i figure out how it is played!) and the San Francisco atmosphere. Anyone got any recommendations for restaurants?

Gawd, now I am back to thinking about pie.

Danny Boy Stats

Facts About Michaels version of Danny Boy:

1. When you Google Danny Boy, Michael's video is the No 1 result
2. Approx 2-5000 people watch Danny Boy video every day
3. As of today approx. 1 and a 1/2 million people have viewed the video

Below are some statistics taken from Youtube

#1 - Top Rated (All Time) - Travel & Events - Ireland

#1 - Most Viewed (All Time) - Travel & Events - Ireland

#1 - Top Favorited (All Time) - Travel & Events - Ireland