Big Tom - real name Tom McBride (b. September, 1936) from Oram, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, Ireland) is an Irish country music singer, guitarist, saxophone player. Established since 1966 he is currently front man of the Irish showband Big Tom and The Mainliners.
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Recent Life
In September, 2004 Big Tom was reported to have been in a list of Irish tax evaders [1] On July 8, 2005 in appreciation to his contribution to Country and Irish music a plaque was erected by the local community in Big Tom's home village. [2]
In November 2006 at the age of 70 Big Tom suffered a sudden heart attack [3], this had put doubt into whether he would ever tour again with his band however doctors have since given the all clear for him to have a mini tour of Ireland in February, 2008. [4]
Hit Songs
Big Tom has hit the Top Ten numerous times in the pop charts of Ireland :
| Title | Position reached | Entry Date | Artist credited |
| Gentle Mother | 7 | 30.01.1967 | Big Tom and The Mainliners |
| Old Log Cabin For Sale | 4 | 21.10.1967 | Big Tom and The Mainliners |
| The Sunset Years Of Life | 3 | 23.07.1970 | Big Tom and The Mainliners |
| Broken Marriage Vows | 1 | 19.02.1972 | Big Tom and The Mainliners |
| I Love You Still | 1 | 04.01.1973 | Big Tom and The Mainliners |
| Old Love Letters | 1 | 16.05.1974 | Big Tom and The Mainliners |
| Four Country Roads | 5 | 16.05.1981 | Big Tom |
| Streets of Dublin City | 7 | 15.11.1981 | Big Tom |
| If I Needed You | 10 | 18.03.1984 | Big Tom |
| Jealous Heart | 9 | 07.04.1984 | Big Tom |
CDs, Videos and DVDs
Up until 1990 all of Big Tom's audio music releases (over 20 albums) were on vinyl record (or cassette) and are now out-of-print. Since 1990 the release format became CD (or cassette).
CDs
All of the CD releases contains tracks which were previously released on vinyl except for those marked * (all tracks newly recorded) or ** (some tracks newly recorded), all remain on general availability release except possibly the 20 Golden Greats album as all it's tracks have been reissued on latter CDs so it is potentially out of print.
The Greatest Hits album includes two tracks taken from the Live at the Glencarne Hotel video.
It is intended by Big Tom's record company over time to eventually reissue all vinyl tracks on to new CD releases.
| Title | Artist credited | Released |
| Today** | Big Tom and The Mainliners | c.1990 |
| Greatest Hits | Big Tom and The Mainliners | c.1991 |
| 20 Golden Greats | Big Tom and The Mainliners | 1992 |
| Out On Their Own* | Big Tom and The Mainliners | 1993 |
| The Sweetest Gift* | Big Tom and The Mainliners | 1995 |
| Songs I Like To Sing | Big Tom | c.1996 |
| 25 Golden Greats | Big Tom | 1996 |
| Souvenirs | Big Tom | c.1998 |
| Blue Wings (In Nashville) | Big Tom | c.1999 |
| The Irish Collection | Big Tom | 1999 |
| The Very Best Of Irish Country | Big Tom | 1999 |
| Smoke Along The Track | Big Tom | c.2000 |
| When The Roses Bloom Again | Big Tom | 2002 |
| The Same Way You Came In** | Big Tom with Seamus McMahon | 2005 |
| Teardrops In The Snow | Big Tom | April 2007 |
Big Tom's latest CD entitled Teardrops in the Snow consists of songs recorded in the era when he was split from The Mainliners (1975 - 1989).
Videos
- Live at the Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney
- Live at the Galtymore, London
- In Concert at the Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen
- The Sweetest Gift
- The Very Best of (Compilation)
- Back to Castleblayney, Live
- Galtymore 2004, Live
- Live in Birmingham and Manchester
DVDs
- Live at the Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney
- Live at the Galtymore, London
- In Concert at the Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen
- The Sweetest Gift
- Back to Castleblayney, Live
- Galtymore 2004, Live
- Live in Birmingham and Manchester
