The Story
In 1969, Ray Lynam was the lead singer in a local midlands band called The Merrymen. They played local hops and relief to the big bands. (Source: RTE) One of the most distinctive ‘real’ country singers to emerge from the Irish club and showband scene, Ray started out in ’60s singing covers of Rolling Stones’ hits when he was lead singer with his first band, The Merrymen, while still attending the local Carmelite College Secondary School in Moate. It wasn’t long before they attracted the attention of Mick Clerkin of Release Records who signed them to a recording deal and they changed their name to the Hillbillies, turning fully professional in early 1970.
