FEW people are surprised that Derry, an innately musical town which produced Dana and Phil Coulter, also produced the tenor Michael O’Duffy, who achieved international recognition. O’Duffy died in London last week at the age of 84, leaving behind him many popular recordings.

He will be best remembered in this regard for the touching ballad The Old Refrain, which he recorded with the George Melachrino Orchestra, as well as the equally appealing My Lagan Love, Slattery’s Mounted Foot and Sweet Marie, undeniably his biggest hit of all which sold many thousands.

His lyrical voice with its charming melodic quality and easy delivery, recorded exceedingly well, and over the years his records received regular radio plays. As a concert artist, Michael O’Duffy cut an impressive figure on stage, and his warm personality and natural feeling for a song and attention to clear diction, won him many admirers here and overseas.

Coming from a talented family – his father played the violin, piano and accordion – the young O’Duffy got a solid musical foundation. Later he spent some time in Dundalk before moving to Dublin where he had his voice trained. He got his break in 1939 when he won the Golden Voice Contest at the Adelphi Theatre, singing the lovely Thomas Moore ballad, Love Thee Dearest. He was still in his 20s when he made his first recordings for EMI, and as more engagements came his way in Dublin and in Britain, he gave up his railway job and became a professional singer. Around this time in the 40s he visited the home of John McCormack in Dublin and sang for him.

“I had been looking without success for the words and music of the song, Sweetly She Sleeps My Alice Fair, and to my great surprise Count John gave me his own copy as well as a book of Stephen Foster melodies. I thanked him with a song.”

Like McCormack before him, Michael O’Duffy set off for America, and before long his career had taken off there, especially on radio networks. When, for example, he was with W.O.R Radio in New York, he had the highest rating for his programme between noon and 6pm. The tenor travelled extensively and endeared himself to Canadians and Australians with ballads such as I’ll Take you Home Again Kathleen and Come Back Paddy Reilly. After a highly successful concert and radio career, he later taught in London where he had settled. The popular tenor, however, had not forgotten Ireland or his pleasant childhood holidays in Co Donegal. But it was Dungarvan and its surroundings he chose for his future summers, and was often joined there by his four sons.

Local man Tom Keith became friendly with Michael O’Duffy and his wife Veronica, and recalled that the tenor often sang at Mass and, although long retired from the stage, was still in good voice. “Whether shopping in Dungarvan or walking on the beach in Clonea or Helvick, the couple loved to relax and they radiated contentment.”

Keith remembers visiting their summer home and listening to music. “Michael liked to recall his concerts at New York’s Carnegie Hall or London’s Albert Hall, and how audiences loved to hear songs such as The Old Refrain and My Lagan Love. Travel meant a great deal to him and after visiting Russia, he had a warm spot for its people.

Working with John Ford on the film The Rising of the Moon and with Bing Crosby on concert and radio shows in America, was something he never forgot.

A commemorative Mass with music, was celebrated yesterday for the late Michael O’Duffy at St John the Baptist Church, Clontarf Road, Dublin. Interment of his ashes took place afterwards.