Derek Nally RIP
Jim Carroll
Promoter, booker and manager Derek Nally died yesterday. Long associated with Whelan’s and The Village in Dublin as venue booker, Derek also managed Irish acts Juliet Turner and Ham Sandwich and promoted many, many gigs over the years (recent or current gigs included Betty LaVette, Booker T, Martha Reeves and Allen Toussaint). Deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
I dealt with Derek many times over the years and was always a good guy. He brought in many an established artist, but also took punts of people like myself. He shall be missed
I’m deeply saddened to hear of the death of Derek Nally.
I only spoke to Derek last week and it was always good to get a phone call from or have a chat with Derek. He would always have a good story to tell or insight to give about the industry and the history of the industry.
He will be greatly missed.
On behalf of all the staff at Tickets.ie I would like to extend our sympathies to his family and friends.
RE: Derek Nally passing away
So very very sad
I knew and worked with Derek for over 12 years as both his promotors representative on many many shows and a co-promoter with him.
I learned so much from Derek and for that i am eternally grateful.
I found Derek to be one of the most honest and approachable people in the music business in Ireland.
He gave of his time generously to both bands and people including my family,and his like will sorely be missed .
My thoughts go out to his wife and family.
May he rest in peace in rock`n`roll heaven.
Your old friend-Neil Dowling
Derek was a true diamond on the rough! He was my very first contact in the music business, always willing to give honest advice and will be a huge loss to his family, colleagues and the world of Independent Irish bands and artists.
Sean Redmond
Saving J
I’d known Derek for quite some time, and had always found him to be one of the genuine, good guys working in the music business. We would tend to catch up on West Street in Drogheda (the town he lived in with his wife and three children), and at least 20 minutes would go by as he told me about this or that gig he was promoting, who he was hoping to bring in to play, and so on. He loved music, and knew it inside out. Decency is hard to come by in any business, but Derek had it in abundance. Respect and regards. Tony
I couldn’t believe this, I only chatted with Derek recently for over an hour about music and his love for his children. What utter sad news of the death of our friend, promoter, manager and music business entrepreneur Derek Nally.
A gentleman.
A professional.
A tireless champion of Irish talent.
Rest In Peace Derek, we enjoyed the chats and the laughter.
Sympathies towards his family and close friends.
A very sad day in Irish Music.
Whelans just will not be the same without Derek in the crowd.
This is just so hard to believe,
Linda, Aoife & all the crew in GSPR.
xxx
An awful loss to the country. Derek had a great passion for music and was always eager for an enthuasiastic discussion about an artist or even just the Business itself. He was a pleasure to deal with and will be greatly missed.
very sad news for all that knew him and his wife and kids of course, my sympathies to them..only bumped into him at Elvis Costello a few weeks back and he was as lovely as ever…always a friendly face at whelans…will be missed.
Shocking news and very very sad.
Derek was an absolute gent with an unwavering enthuiasm for music. I’d known him about 10 years and he was always extremely generous with time, advice and hilarious anecdotes from past and present.
His presence on Wexford St will be very badly missed.
When someone dies, people always talk about what a decent and nice person they were. in this case, the cliche is so true.
RIP Derek
We often bumped into Derek flyering and postering in and whelan’s during our gigs. Such a nice guy, a real inspiration and benchmark for us as promoters. Very very sad to hear of his passing.
very sorry to hear this, i’m shocked.
as declan said, derek was a true gentleman.
sympathies to his family and friends.
A very sad day not just for the Dublin music scene but for Irelands. One of the good guys.
It is a great shock to hear this sad news of Derek’s passing. I have known Derek for quite a few years now and have had great discussions with him on the ongoing blues scene both here and abroad. He was one of the coner stones in Whelans and will be very sorely missed.
RIP Derek
This is terrible news. Camden Street and the music industry has lost one of its great characters. He was truly passionate about music and would regale and, occasionally, ramble on about whatever acts he was promoting. Whether it was Judy Collins, David Copperfield or recounting tales of Finlay Quaye’s bad boy antics, Derek was always willing with his time and thoughts (over a cigarette, of course). There were numerous acts he was promoting where I’d nod an acknowledgment as to who they were even though I hadn’t the foggiest. It is sad to think of the void given that Derek was the key person to bring them to our attention.
A true gent. A great loss.
I worked with Derek on loads of gigs over the years and when myself and Declan Murray were setting up The Stables in Mullingar he was brilliant to us, even having the kindness to come down to check out the venue and offer us boundless encouragement in the opening weeks. Whenever you needed advice, contacts, or the inside track on anything Derek was always there, and any call or a visit would usually be topped off with a brilliant show-business anecdote, and for a pedantic individual like myself, the longer the better. I always looked forward to arriving into Whelans to find Derek there – particularly on the night of a big gig or even a disaster – and nodding across the packed bar, or catching his eye always meant an engaging and entertaining chat was ahead. He’ll be sorely and sadly missed. He was a genuine good guy, a gentleman through and through, and the Irish music business will be a much poorer place without him.
Condolances to his family, friends and most particularly to the bookers, blaggers, bar staff, doorstaff and everyone else associated with Whelans. It’ll be a sad evening to walk back in there and not find Derek sneaking out for a cigarette. Hope his kind legacy is marked in a fitting manner.
It iis of deep regret that I learn of his death. May I convey my deepest sympathies to his family and many friends.
Paul
He was so kind and supportive. I remember long telephone conversations we had when he would give me invaluable help and advice as to how I should best approach life in the music industry and how to avoid the pitfalls. I hope he knew how much that meant to me.
He was a great man. Kind-hearted, generous of spirit, enthusiastic about all things music and, most of all, genuine.
The Irish music community has lost a giant and a gentleman.
I will miss him.
100% good guy
I have known Derek since we were in school together back in the 60s when our favourite subject was music, so I was shocked when I heard the news of Dereks untimely passing. As has been stated already the music scene in Ireland will be a poorer place without him as he brought in artists that probably no one else would. The last time I spoke to Derek was at the Bettye LaVette gig in The Village when we talked about a possible return visit by her and also the upcoming show by Allen Toussaint. My sympathies to his family.
Charlie Hussey
Dublin City F.M.
Very saddened by the news of Derek’s passing.
Way back Derek was the first booking agent I ever came across (or at least that actually came through) he booked my first and 2nd tour of Ireland as Samuel Eddy and since my return to touring he has contacted me for support slots to Wishbone Ash and Alvin Youngblood Hart and also came through with some cool support slots for Glyder and Leanne Harte.
He was one of the good guys, Old school and stright up and he was always a great guy to call and have a good chat with and he would always give you good advice and more importantly, you would listen because he suffered no fools and said things as they were.
He will be greatly missed on the Ireland music scene.
May he rest in peace…..
Rock on Derek !
Eamonn
So saddened to hear of Derek’s passing I owe him so much for all the great music he introduced me to over the years up in Wexford St. I would just like to add my tribute to the sea of heartfelt tributes for a man whose memorable promotions and hard work on behalf of musicians and putting on a great performance with stand as a marvellous monument. As Howling Wolf said in Going Down Slow If I never get well no more I have had my fun thanks to Derek over the years. Derek was a cool dude always culturally tuned in and always passionate in conversation about future plans and past glories. Rest in peace and rock in heaven Mik
I had the pleasure and privilege of working with Derek in my capacity as a journalist. I’m shocked by his death. To me Derek Nally represented utter integrity in an industry sometimes characterised by careerists, attention seekers and pseuds. He was a man who promoted and supported artists he believed in irrespective of whether there was money to be made or not. Thanks to Derek I had one of the great experiences and conversations of my life when I interviewed the late, great Townes Van Zandt. Townes was what Derek was all about. Any time I ever met Derek in either a professional or personal capacity he always saw me right. I felt we were meant to have one more great chat about music. Sadly that won’t be now. My condolences to Derek’s wife and kids. Thanks to Derek people in Dublin and further afield saw some of the aristocracy of great music and countless artists we might not have seen but for Derek. He was unique and such an educator when it came to drawing attention to music that enriched our lives. Thanks Derek.
Patrick Brennan.
What a sad and untimely end for a truly honest gent and friend with an encyclopedic knowledge of music. So long for now Derek, see you on the other side. Jack, Conor, Paul, Cian and JD.
I am still in shock at the sad news of Derek’s untimely passing. I never promoted a gig in Dublin without first running it by Derek. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of music and the music biz.
We co-promoted many gigs and despite the outcome Derek would always be calm and gentlemanly to the end.
I will miss him greatly. He kept me updated on a regular basis about his own gigs and the Dublin scene in general so I always felt connected to my home town.
My heartfelt condolences to his beautiful family.
Pete Kinsella. Lost Clock Music
One of the Irish music industries true gentleman.
Always open to give bands an opportunity to play and i for one will miss him walking through Whelans mid gig.
We had many a chat outside your venue my friend and we’ll all miss you
Rest in peace
Karl Bergin
This is very sad news. Derek was an absolute gentleman. I’ve been to many venues in many countries and none matched the sheer joy I felt every time I walked into Whelans.
Such sad news.
I knew Derek many years ago and had the pleasure to do business with in in recent years.
A real music lover and a true gentleman, he will be sadly missed.
My thoughts are with his family and friends.
The music business has lost one of the last “Good Guys”. Always kind, always tolerant, always modest. The world has lost a little shine. Sail on big Man! Mick.
Derek was all everybody has noted, a thoroughly decent man with a great ear for great music who “loved the life he lived and lived the life he loved”. He will be remembered fondly and missed greatly.
An overwhelming sadness truly exists in my heart this year. Michael D, Gerry R and now Derek.
A kinder, sweeter personality never prevailed so much on the home scene as Derek Nally.
My memories of him both personally and professionally have always been heartwarming.
When times were tough Derek would always somehow figure you into a gig .
On a recent trip home I bumped into Derek for the first time in many years and (no surprise) he treated me with his usual aplomb like he had only seen me the day before.
My sincere condolences to Derek’s wife and children.
Ireland’s music scene has lost someone who resembled everything the rest of us would and should aspire to be in our working and personal lives.
Saddened to hear this. Derek was so well respected and much loved. The above says it all. And what a music lover.
Derek promoted some of the greatest live shows I’ve ever been lucky enough to see (Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham and Allen Toussaint spring to mind, but there were dozens more) and was always a friendly and gracious presence on Wexford St. It’s terrible to think he won’t be around, he brought so much to Dublin’s music scene.
Sad to hear of DEREK’S DEATH ,We were at school together in the early 60′s and even then our conversations were always about music.Many a good night we had in WHELAN’S and he will be sadly missed from the gig scene.Condolences to his Family and collegues
Noel,John,Ian,Una [TRINITY RECORDS]
A good guy and great family man who will be missed by everyone who knew him personally .
What a shock to hear of Derek’s passing. He was so helpful to so many musicians, so fun to be around, with great stories and keen insight about music, He was a gentleman, a fan, and generous with his time and roledex…He will be missed..
He was the soul of kindness, remarkably so. My condolences to his family.
I would like to add my feeling of sadness at the news of Derek’s passing. Derek had booked me in Whelans and before for the last 20 years. I trusted him implicitly and enjoyed his company and his humour. It’s hard to believe that he won’t be there again…
Have tried to write down my thoughts about Derek’s passing several times over the past few days to no avail. I shared an office with him, just the two of us for the best part of a decade. Weird, wired and wonderful times. I will miss his advice and tremendous sense of humour most. Everyone else has written about the kind of character he was and I know he would appreciate it. My heart goes out to his wife and children. I’ll miss him terribly. X
I
Derek gave us our first real gig and supported us ever since. Always there with the sound advice. Our sympathies to his wife and children. God bless him and look after him.
Steve
The PW Sessions
Derek Nally was a gentleman. He had time for everyone, especially young musicians starting out. We sometimes discussed the music business over a coffee. Derek loved the Stax Records story in particular. Last time we met a few weeks ago he was excited to have Booker T and the MG’s perform at the Village. Derek will be missed by his friends in music. Sincere condolences to his wife, children and extended family.
I’d like to offer my deepest condolences to Derek’s family and friends.Over the years Derek was always so generous and warm hearted.He loved to share his passion and knowledge of music.It is very hard to believe that he has passed away.I will miss him.
I’m away for the summer, but I can’t believe Derek won’t be around when I get back to Dublin in autumn. Decent bloke, no side to him (strange in this, or indeed any, business), and he always saw me right. He knew an awful lot too, and wasn’t uptight about sharing it. Sincere condolences to his family. The question is: who can take his place?
I couldn’t have asked for a better brother in law. A true romantic,a great father to his children,a good husband and a genuinely GOOD guy. He will be greatly missed.
Can only echo the sentiments of all my fellow promoters on this sad passing, and I convey my condolences to his family in Drogheda and his colleagues in Wexford Street. What has made Whelans great is its patina of musical history, memories of great nights past, put there by Derek, whose keen ears and love of music, irrespective of genre, was never compromised. His generous spirit will live on, sunk deep into the bricks and mortar, where he will listen at his leisure.
Gerry Godley
I have just heard the news that Derek Nally has passed away. To say I’m speechless
would be an understatement.
Derek was a great friend, an honest man who was always true to his word.
I worked with Derek years ago, I recorded a song of his for the national song contest. We crossed paths on many occasions for many different reasons. He was always the perfect gentleman. A most likeable character and that I should find out through an old friend in Waterford is a testament to how well know and loved he was. It’s a sad day.
My condolences to his immediate family, and all my old friends with whom he has associations I know they will also be greatly saddened by the knews
R.I.P. Derek
Dee
I worked with Derek 32 years ago during his brief TV presenter career -and I still remember a well timed and kindly encouraging remark from him. He maintained also that he could determine all that could be gleaned about someone from an examination of their LP collection -funny guy too ! We lost touch but I suspect he was as good a Dad as he was a promoter of music.