The Stars from the Commitments
The Stars From The Commitments is a nine-piece Dublin based soul band. Featuring original cast members and musicians from the BAFTA Winner, Golden Globe & Oscar® nominated smash hit Sir Alan Parker film The Commitments and multimillion selling sound track.
History of the band
The band was formed shortly after the release of the film, which itself was based on the Roddy Doyle novel of the same name. Since 1993 The Stars From The Commitments have toured extensively across Canada, USA, South America, Europe, Scandinavia, Africa, Asia and Australia. They have entertained and enthralled audiences for over 20 years at festivals, clubs, theatres, high-profile corporate events and VIP parties, including a US President! The Stars From The Commitments have continued to spread the word of Dublin Soul receiving rave reviews from fans, music critics and promoters worldwide.Original Cast members: guitarist Kenneth McCluskey Aka Derek "The Meat Man" Scully, Piano Player Michael Aherne Aka "Steven The Soul Surgeon" Clifford, Ronan Dooney, Trumpet. The following members: Plus Myles Hyland, Andreas Nolan, Sandra Hyland and Antoinette Dunleavy, Abraham Hampton and Serge Stavila – Saxophone, joined later.
Their open air concert at the Party in the Park in São Paulo, Brazill were attended by over 100,000 people where they were performing with legendary with blues guitarist and singer B. B. King. The soundtracks to the Alan Parker film such as In The Midnight Hour, Try a Little Tenderness and Mustang Sally became famous in one night and, 12 million copies of them were sold since the film issuing.
The original members of the group, Dick Massey and Kenneth McCluskey, since the film release have formed their own band called "The Commitments",
but only two of them remained from the original staff of the band. All the others made their own personal careers.
After the film success Andrew Strong, the lead singer, was performing with the likes of Elton John, Bryan Adams, Ray Charles and The Rolling Stones, and signed a solo record deal with MCA Records worth of half a million dollars. He continued touring before moving to Copenhagen where in 2000 his single cover of Ain’t No Mountain High Enough became hit number one.
Discography
Year | Title | Recording company | Notes |
1991 | I Never Loved A Man / In The Midnight Hour | MCA Records, Beacon Records | - |
1991 | Destination Anywhere / I Can't Stand The Rain | MCA Records, Beacon Records | - |
1991 | Try A Little Tenderness | MCA Records | - |
1991 | Mustang Sally | MCA Records | - |
1991 | Bye Bye Bye / Slip Away | MCA Records, Beacon Records | - |
1991 | The Dark End Of The Street / Chain Of Foo | MCA Records, Beacon Records | - |
1991 | Treat Her Right | MCA Records | - |
1991 | Treat Her Right | MCA Records | COM 1 |
1991 | Medley \\ | MCA Records | CD45 2107 |
1992 | Hard To Handle | MCA Records | - |
Unknown | I Never Loved A Man / Slip Away | Collectables, MCA Special Markets & Products | COL-90077, MSS-35704 |
Unknown | Chain Of Fools / Treat Her Right | Collectables, MCA Special Markets & Products | COL-90119, MSS-35865 |