BOB HALLIGAN JR.
Adjunct Professor
Setnor School of Music
Bandier Program for Music and the Entertainment Industries
Education:
B.A. Hamilton College
Office: Crouse College Rm.205
Telephone: 615-818-3538
bob@ceilirain.com
Biography:
http://www.ceilirain.com/
After hearing our first two showcases at Douglas Corner in May 1995, dear friend Dan Keen from ASCAP sat me down and said “Bob, buddy, I think you have to decide if you want this be a Christian band or a mainstream band.” My reply set up and defined the joys and struggles of the ensuing nine and a half years: “Dan, I have decided, I want it to be CEILI RAIN!” Stupid or stubborn, you decide!
Fifty-six band members into it, I still love the mission of this group as I see it, which is to bring faith-based music to people of all faiths (and no faith); to encourage people to talk to (and more important LISTEN to) God whether or not they feel the slightest inclination to do so; to mix rock’n’roll and Celtic flavors in a way that is exciting, danceable, joyous, and musically solid. I recently read a bio that suggested most bios are flowery and fake, better to relate “just the facts, m’am.” Good idea, so here goes:
Born January 3, 1953, Our Lady of Victory foundling home, Lackawanna, New York.
Adopted By Robert and Grace Halligan, March 1953. Started singing in Kindergarten performance time; “The Night They Invented Champagne!” from Gigi.
1958 Fell in love with rock’n’roll while recovering from tonsillectomy.
1959 Along with millions of others, saw Beatles on Ed Sullivan and everything seemed to change.
1964 Played in first band with lifelong friend Michael Coward; “Michael and the Archangels”
1965 Started second band with neighbors Ricky and Gary Gove and schoolmate Eddie Popcun: The New Regime.
1966 Wrote first song, “The Door is Open.”
October 1968. Led 63-member HS folk group.
1970-71 Graduated with a B.A. in English literature from Hamilton College, realized I was going to make music a career.
1975 Married to Linda, my actual better half.
October 18, 1975 Professional period for my college rock group Steak Nite (later renamed Pictures) with Jeb and Jock Guthrie and Ace Sollinger.
1975-1981 First music publishing deal, United Artists Music, November 1979. First cover recording, “The Best of Me” by white South African group Clout, a hit in Europe, appears on 3 “K-Tel” compilation records as well as original album and 45.
1980 Relocate from Syracuse to New York City in attempt to jump-start music career.
1981 First Contemporary Christian cover recording, “Fly Me To Heaven” by Rick Cua (fellow Syracusan and eventual founding Ceili bassist)
1982 First major cover recording: “Take These Chains” by Judas Priest, which also becomes the first of nine or 10 gold or platinum records.
1982 Played and sang on Rick Cua’s “No Mystery” album, recorded in UK, my first performances on a “real record” that actually enjoyed significant release.
1983 Judas Priest records “Some Heads Are Gonna Roll” which becomes the hit track from album Defenders of the Faith and sets me up as the heavy-metal song doctor.
1984 Writing heavy/hard stuff, 27 songs released in one year, can’t write them fast enough.
1985 Dad Bob Sr. dies in January; I explore a duo with friend Rob Friedman called Quiet Earth; work extensively with Joan Jett; Blue Oyster Cult records “Beat em Up” and “Make Rock Not War.”
1980 Co-writing, under guidance of manager/co-publisher Barry Bergman, with Michael Bolton, Arnie Roman, Phil Galdston, and Martin Briley (among others) in a learning phase. Still searching for that “Bob sound” that will make me famous.
1986-90 Have personal-best background vocal recording session day- record with Billy Joel for Oliver & Company animated film in afternoon; record with Michael Bolton for his first hit album The Hunger in evening.
Birthday 1987. Hit hot streak with covers by Cher, KISS, KIX ("Don’t Close Your Eyes," #11 on Billboard Hot 100, Gold single) and Michael Bolton.
1988 thru 1990 Wife Linda suggests mixing Celtic music and rock’n’roll--I laugh--then try it and love it instantly.
1988 Get a recording contract with a major label--ATCO, part of Atlantic Records and the home of AC/DC--on the strength of material written in 86-90 co-writing period.
1990 “Window in the Wall” by Bob Halligan (they wouldn’t let me use the “Jr.”) released on ATCO to the sound of one hand clapping--NOT the platinum-selling success I’d planned on.
1991 Move from NYC to the country, Pawling, New York. Son Liam adopted from Korea.
1991 I experience depression, resentment, confusion and bitterness at failure of artist career and disconnection of writer-for-hire career.
1991-92. First Ceili Rain demos made.
1992 More demos made; the music business, including my manager, is deeply perplexed.
1993 Discovery, thru urging of co-writers Stephanie Lewis and Lorraine Ferro, and the unearthing of Latin origin of “coeli”, that Ceili Rain is a “calling” not a career. Final demo made with producer Steve Lunt, (discoverer of Britney Spears) 1994. Relocation from New York to Nashville, initial seven-piece line-up of Ceili Rain unveiled.
1995 “Riverdance” a major smash, Halligan accused of cashing in on the Celtic music craze.
1995- The Bliss That I’m Swimmin’ In!
- Music and Entertainment Industries
- Recording Artists
- Recording Companies