Big Tom was an award winning country singer, musician and songwriter who was a native of Co Monaghan, Ireland. He became famous as the frontman of the showband, Big Tom and The Mainliners. Big Tom’s career spanned over five decades and he was inducted into the Irish Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
Big Tom was born Thomas McBride near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan in 1936. Having worked in England for a time he returned to Ireland in 1965. With six other locals he established The Mainliners and began playing in venues around Ireland. He had his first hit with ‘Gentle Mother’ in 1966. It became one of the best-selling records in Ireland of all time. Big Tom had several other successful recordings including ‘Old Log Cabin For Sale’, ‘Broken Marriage Vows’, ‘The Sunset Years Of Life’ and ‘Back To Castleblayney’.
Big Tom, award winning Irish country singer, musician and songwriter was born in the year 1936 On This Day.
Big Tom (Tom McBride)