WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR 13 MAY 2023

278 Entertainment Memorabilia 540 Rory Gallagher. A valuable archive relating to Rory’s time in the Fontana Showband including an unpublished recording. Includes a reel to reel tape by Kingsway Recording, London, with tracks entitled All The Time, I Want You To Be Happy, Slow Down, My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean and Valley Of Tears., with a CD copy of same. Also a collection of original monochrome photographs (34) of the band including Rory Gallagher, his original passport photographs from a photo booth in the early 1960s, also some promotional cards (3) New Spotlight June 1965, 1965 Evening Echo news cuttings, Rory’s harmonica given to him by Phil Prendergast, manager of Fontana, and his pair of sunglasses (seen in two of the photographs q.v). A unique and wonderful collection of collectibles from Rory Gallagher’s early career as an outstanding guitarist. Condition: Excellent condition. From Hot Press, 4 April 2012: “Donal Gallagher has been talking exclusively to Hot Press about the unearthing of what may very well be the first recordings of Rory Gallagher in 1964 when he was a member of The Fontana Showband. It was found gathering dust in an old filing cabinet by Cork music fan Tim O’Leary who was given a cache of material to look after by the wife of Phil Prendergast who managed the Fontanas. “Yes, I am aware of the recordings and have some of them on tape and 45 RPM test pressings,”Donal tells us. “The version of Larry Williams’‘Slowdown’ was intended to be the single and the band performed the song on RTÉ’s Saturday evening Pickin’The Pops show. Rory got lacerated for having long hair by the ‘music’ panel! Two of the songs are early Rory compositions, ‘You Fooled Me All The Time’, and ‘I Want You To Be Happy’. The other songs being ‘My Bonnie’ á la Tony Sheridan/The Beatles and Buddy Holly’s ‘Valley Of Tears’. The recorded material was also to be used as a ‘showcase’ for soliciting residencies at clubs and US airbases overseas.” Estimate €15000-€20000 (approx £13,160-£17,540) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 540