Dave Glover
Northern Ireland trumpeter Dave Glover first came to prominence during the late '40s playing dixieland in Belfast. His orchestral and big band seasons included a ‘show’ routine, which helped spawn the showband phenomenon, which subsequently spread southwards to Eire. Glover's first showband line-up included Big Joe Clarke (vocals), Andy Wilson (trombone), Harry Mitchel (keyboards), Gerry Rice (saxophone), Harry ‘Trixie’ Hamilton (bass), Alex Burns (guitar) and David Martin (drums). By 1963, most of the above line-up departed to form the Witnesses, while Glover found fresh musicians. Two promising vocalists, Muriel Day and Mike Munroe were backed by Jim Gunner (guitar), Jim McDermot (saxophone), Johnny Anderson (trombone), Jackie Flavelle (bass) and Desmond McCarathy (drums). The new line-up enjoyed a modicum of success, most notably when Day represented Ireland in the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest, with the chart-topping Wages Of Love. Glover's presence on the Northern Ireland dance scene was much missed when he subsequently emigrated to Canada.