PADDY HOMAN, Traditional Irish Singer
PADDY HOMAN is one of those characters from Cork city who just loves to sing! His knowledge of the history of these songs, has attracted appreciative notice from Irish music critics, fellow musicians and an ever widening audience in Chicagoland and the USA. Fondly known as ' The Show-Man- Homan', Paddy brings to Chicago a vast repertoire of songs from Ireland. A native of Cork city, Homan brings his quick witted Cork humor and spontanaeity onto stage. He comes from a large family in Cork city and was taught by the Christian Brothers at The North Monastery School on the northside. "I always had a song in my head. I often stayed awake at night just thinking about songs, in fact singing them in my head before I even sang them. Some songs have a way of just grabbing hold of you and your job is to make the story come alive to the listener..... the singer is but the medium of story being told." Homan won the Feis Matiu Tenor Solo in 2001 and The Thomas Moore Cup for Moore's Melodies songs.His musical influences are Sean O Riada, Luke Kelly, Nicolas Toibin, John McCormack and his mother, Lizzie!!
' I learned most of my songs out on the banks of the River Lee while trying to catch a trout or salmon'.
While enjoying a full music schedule on the national and international front, Homan balances this with his day job as a Social Worker for Lutheran Life Communites in marketing their community services division- Gero Solutions.
He is currently in his second year of a masters at De Paul University where his research is on integrating the skills of music and relationship building into philanthropy and fundraising for non-profits. "It's all about connecting with people, be it on stage in the songs I sing, or in trying to make a positive difference in our daily work with seniors. You just have to give it your all."
What the critics say:
- Male Vocalist of the Year & Male Vocal Album of the Year 2010 -"This is the real voice of Ireland." - liveireland.com
- “Nobody sings like this, and nobody sounds like this. The voice never, ever grates. The range is stunning. The interpretation is perfect. This is the whole complete deal wrapped up in one voice, one talent.” – Irish Music Magazine
- “Chicago’s Paddy Homan is probably the best male Irish singer I’ve ever heard. Paddy Homan is the deal. Complete. I hesitate to say the next bit. He is a tenor. Stop. Don’t roll your eyes. Everyone- and I do mean everyone – says the same thing. “I don’t like Irish tenors- but Paddy Homan is not an Irish Tenor.” Well- yes he is. But that is like saying Secretariat was simply a horse.” – Bill Margeson Irish American News.
- “The voice. Oh the voice. Clear as a bell, and gift from Heaven…… In a world of lunacy and junk, there is this voice. And it sings to every one of us, reminding us all of what could be and should be.” – American Public Radio.
- “This is a guy who can sing a very traditional ballad and just a voice like a bell. You could also picture him in a tuxedo in front of a symphony.” Bill Margeson Master of Ceremonies & Music Critic, Irish American News, launch at Irish American Heritage Center, Chicago, December 5, 2009.
Homan was awarded Best Newcomer of the Decade 2000-2010 by Live Ireland 'Best of the Decade' awards.
|
