Biography (Courtesy of the Artist's site, 2007)

As one of Ireland�s best-known performers and traditional musicians of international renown, Frankie Lane is the original front man of the legendary Fleadh Cowboys. During their sparkling career in the 1980s, Frankie�s live performances were famed for being fun-filled as well as tremendous - he regularly scaled high balconies in his quest to drive the audience wild, and usually managed! In fact, the �Fleadhs� gathered a huge fan base at the Olympia Theatre and went on to support legendary performers such as Bob Dylan, U2, The Pogues, Emmylou Harris and B.B.King.

Frankie has worked extensively in the field of Irish traditional music, recording the innovative album Dobro on the Gael-Linn label. This was the first time ever the Dobro slide guitar was used in the context of Irish traditional music. As a result, the album was nominated for a Hot Press Music Award in 1993. He also recorded and performed with the Chieftains on their 2002 Tribute to Derek Bell Tour, as well as guesting with The Dubliners on their Further along the Road CD.

Not content with just performing, Frankie is also a prominent producer and director of some of Ireland's leading music artists. He has recorded albums for �ine U� Cheallaigh (the original sean n�s singer of Riverdance), Paul O'Shaughnessy (ex Altan), Rosena Horan, Alan Kelly, Helen Lane and most recently Sonny Condell's latest solo album.

His regular musical companion, mandolin and fiddle player, Paul Kelly, toured extensively with Frankie throughout Europe in the mid 1990s following their highly acclaimed and diverse album Wahoo! Live at Hughes's. Four years ago, Frankie created Celtic Guitars, a unique performance blending the skills and sounds of renowned Irish guitarists including Arty McGlynn, Jon Hicks, Alec Finn, Steve Cooney, Paul Kelly, Tony Mac Manus and Gerry O'Beirne.

With such a tremendous and diverse musical background, is it any wonder Frankie Lane has gathered such a broad appeal? Hardly surprising then that Ireland�s greatest musicians joined forces to bring Gunsmoke at El Paso to life. Sharon Shannon, Seamus Begley, Eleanor Shanley, Shane McGowan and many more contributed their talents to the recording of this unique musical project.

In 2002 and 2003, Frankie and Paul toured extensively with ex- De Danann singer Eleanor Shanley in Ireland as well as Holland and Denmark, to immense critical acclaim.

In January 2004 Frankie was nominated for a prestigious Meteor Music Award. These awards are the Irish Music Industries highest accolade and one which Frankie is fully deserving of, given his tireless and sometimes revolutionary work in the music scene in Ireland. He is nominated in the Country/Roots category.

Now Frankie is embarking on an extended El Paso tour, along with his full herd of musicians, it�s one to be marked as unmissable if you hear he�s appearing at a saloon near you soon!