Austin Durack

2. Hitting the scene

In 1975 Austin formed the group Jabberwocky. They won the international competition Musek 75 in Tralee Co. Kerry, appeared on The Late Late Show (Ireland's most popular TV show) and toured Germany a number of times. In the late 70's he went solo again and started to write and perform with the dulcimer (inspired by Richard Fariña) as well as guitar. His first album The Soldier was released in 1981 featuring songs and dulcimer tunes. A single from it, How Many Times, would bring him nationwide attention later on, thanks to airplay on RTE Radio 1 and 2. One of his dulcimer originals called Dance Around Gulliver was published in Anthology Of The Fretted Dulcimer by Lois Hornbostal (Mel Bay U.S.A.) in 1982.

He toured Holland and Germany solo in the early 80's but didn't turn professional until 1986 when he was signed to Crannog records for an album called Heroes. It was distributed by W.E.A. and the first single from it A Beautiful Flight became an airplay hit. He performed it solo on The Late Late Show that same year. The second single West Clare Coast featuring Andy Irvine (Planxty) was covered by a number of Irish singers. In 1988 an instrumental version of When All Our Days Are Gone from The Soldier album was used by RTE Radio 1 for their Just A Thought compilation with narration by Lee Dunne.

Austin continued to write songs and tour extensively and in 1989 his next album High Road To Glory, based on Mary Durack's book Kings In Grass Castles, was released in Australia and New Zealand by Larrikin records. He made two RTE television appearances singing songs from the album: To A New Land (Nighthawks) and Where Are The Horses (Evening Extra).