STAR OF the showband era Brendan O'Brien of the Dixies - who had their biggest hit with Little Arrows, which reached No 1 in 1968 and stayed in the charts for 20 weeks - died suddenly yesterday, aged 66.
The singer, who performed a concert only a couple of weeks ago in Cork Opera House, was found dead in his flat in Gerald Griffin Street, Cork, yesterday.
Mr O'Brien, who was separated from his wife for many years, lived alone and was found by his cleaner in a chair in his sitting room.
His children, Brendan, Conor, Trish, Aideen and Sinead, who all live in Toronto, were shocked at the news that their father had died of a suspected heart attack.
Seán Lucey, founder of the Dixies and a friend of Mr O'Brien for more than 40 years, said last night that the news of his death had come as a terrible shock.
He said the singer's health had been good, except for some minor ailments. "He played a few concerts in Cork recently, two in the Opera House and one in the Silver Springs Hotel. He was my best friend, he was always with me. As well as the band, we were partners in an amusement caterers business for 10 years and we had a comeback together in 1982."
Joe McCarthy, former Dixies guitarist, was also devastated. "We were due to do some TV work together over the next couple of weeks for a series on the history of show bands," he said.
Tributes were pouring in last night for the popular singer and rhythm guitarist who joined the Dixies in 1961 after standing in for a tour. The band reached the charts for the first time at the end of 1963 with Christmas Time and they enjoyed a period of fame and prosperity during the mid-60s.
Mr O'Brien left the band in 1972 to form Stage Two, enjoying some success before he was electrocuted on stage in 1974, which forced him to stop performing for some years.