Benny Gallagher

BENNY GALLAGHER

For sheer quality and distinction you need look no further than the career of Benny Gallagher. One half of hit makers and blue chip songwriters Gallagher & Lyle; he began his career as a staff writer with the Beatles Music Publishing Co. Apple writing songs for Apple Records biggest artist Mary Hopkin.

Benny has always considered his "formative" days at Apple, and, especially, the constant encouragement of Paul McCartney, as one of the most important factors in his development as a songwriter.

In 1970 his and Graham Lyle's astute composing ability propelled the band McGuinness-Flint to the top of the charts with their hit songs "When I'm Dead and Gone" and "Malt and Barley Blues".

Then came the duo's own string of successes – the richly romantic " Heart on my Sleeve " and " I Wanna Stay With You ". Their Breakaway album was a huge success – and even more so when the title track was "covered" by Art Garfunkel.

On record he has worked with: Paul McCartney - Eric Clapton - Pete Townsend - Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood - Gary Brooker - Georgie Fame - Mary Hopkin - Elkie Brooks - Ralph McTell - Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention, as well as Blues legends Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (who wrote " That's Alright Mama " for Elvis Presley), and Champion Jack Dupree.

Between song-writing visits to Nashville, and composing soundtracks for film and television he has toured Australia, the Middle and Far East, Europe, and the U.K. as bassist and vocalist with The Manfreds, more recently he played an “In the Round Concert” along with Beth Nielsen-Chapman, Ricky Ross and Charlie Dore to celebrate the opening of the new BBC Scotland headquarters in Glasgow, and a special guest spot with Legendary Jazz Guitarist Martin Taylor in his string of sell-out shows during the London Jazz Festival.

Benny spent two years as founding Director and seven years as Chairman of P@MRA - The Performing Artists Media Rights Association - administering the right to equitable remuneration for U.K. Performers.

During his time at P@MRA Benny was able to achieve a long term ambition by visiting Japan to successfully negotiate and later conclude a deal with Geidankyo (The Japanese equivalent of P@MRA) which now provides all U.K. performers with Equitable Remuneration from Japan - for the very first time!

Under Benny's stewardship, between 1996–2002, P@MRA distributed over £20m to Performers as Equitable Remuneration for the use of their recordings.



In 2001 he was deemed a “Companion of LIPA” the world renowned Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and presented with his Award by it's co-founder Paul McCartney, alongside fellow Companions Singer-Songwriter Joan Armatrading and “Architect of Punk” Malcolm MacLaren.

Benny was more than a little surprised and very happy to give his consent, when approached by River Records for permission to release the recently discovered recordings of Gallagher and Lyle - The River Sessions (RiverCD001).

So much so, that he suggested a 'bonus' track ' The First Leaves of Autumn ' be included - as a special thank you to all of those who had supported Gallagher and Lyle and their music over the years.

As a consequence of the discussions with River Records the entire Gallagher and Lyle back Catalogue became available for the first time on CD.

On March 1st 2005, as a guest of Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip, he attended a Celebration of British Music at Buckingham Palace along with: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Brian May, Peter Gabriel, Sir George Martin, Martin Taylor, Joan Armatrading, Eddi Reader, Roger Daltrey, Richard Thompson, Status Quo, Jamie Cullum, Courtney Pine, Charlotte Church…

“It was not only a lovely day, but, a wonderful opportunity to catch up with a few “old musical friends” and meet some great Artists from all areas of the Music Business such as - Jamie Cullum, Guy Chambers, Dougie Maclean, Kathryn Tickell and Sheena Wellington.”

It is a testament to the enduring quality of Gallagher's songwriting that the hugely popular dance band Lemonjelly have recently sampled 'I Wanna Stay With You' on their latest best-selling release.

A number of artists have also recorded and released Benny Gallagher songs:

Art Garfunkel - Bryan Ferry - Colin Blunstone - Don Williams - Elkie Brooks - Fairport Convention - Garth Brooks - Judith Durham – Little Anthony and the Imperials - Mary Hopkin - Phil Everly - Ricky Nelson - Ringo Starr - Rita Coolidge - Simon and Garfunkel - Status Quo - The Fureys - and Jim Capaldi to name but a few.....