Youghal’s most melodious waiter Michael Del Punta, serves up a singing delicacy with the release of Michael Del Punta’s Christmas Collection. The seven-track predominates with- known classics masterfully rendered in typical jazz/swing style by the 20 year-old crooner. The CD, limited to 500 copies for the Christmas market, was launched at the Nook bar on Friday December 2nd.
Report: Christy Parker / Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Now regarded as one of Ireland’s most promising talents, the singer was recently recruited to perform with Ireland’s Garda Band in Youghal. His Christmas CD hears him accompanied by a full band of highly-talented and experienced civic performers as he delivers a work of exquisite accomplishment. The full line-up runs as Michael Del Punta (vocals), Jenny Stack (backing vocals), Pat Barratt (double bass), Ollie Loughnan (drums), Roy Kelleher (trumpet)Warren Tivy (keyboards).

Nothing half-baked there and the musical menu features:  New York at Christmas, The Christmas Song, Let it Snow, Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle (Italian carol  –translates as You Come Down From The Stars), Silver Bells, White Christmas and Santa Clause Is Coming To Town. Though sang many times by many artists, Del Punta manages to apply originality in his interpretations.

A second year economics student in UCC, Michael works part-time at Youghal’s Italian-flavoured Capri Bay restaurant, where he will often deliver a serenade with spaghetti. He considers his current creation as “much better” than his first CD, which itself was an accomplished EP –perhaps retrospectively best deigned as a taster.

Reared in Grange, he describes the collection as “favourites from childhood” but mentions two songs in particular. “The first track was written by American Richard Courier and recorded by Rob Thomas in the mid-’70’s. It never took off but it’s a great song and I want to resurrect it,” he elaborates. “It’s dedicated to my brother who will be spending Christmas in New York.” A second track dear to his heart is Silver Bells. “For the simple and endearing reason that “it’s a duet with my girlfriend Jenny Stack,” he explains.

The whole shebang took about six weeks to record at Claycastle Studios, under the diligent dexterity of producer Warren Tivy. “If it wasn’t for his guidance it just wouldn’t have happened at all. He’s brilliant,” Michael observes.

Michael Del Punta’s Christmas Collection coast €9.95 and is available in Youghal from Broderick’s, Touch of Class, Capri Bay, Cree’s Card Shop, the Cyber Room and of course from Santa Claus late on December 24th.

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Eanna Dowling’s 6 track demo CD Change has been selected by Jackie Hayden of Hot Press magazine as the “Pick of the Fortnight”. Presented as a “Righteous Soul Rebel” project, the Youghal resident composed and recorded the 4 songs and 2 instrumentals at home on his laptop. It’s a real grass roots cottage industry as he designed the cover and produced the CD at home. He’s been quietly selling and sharing the limited edition and one of the rare copies came into Hayden’s hands.

“I was at a concert in Wexford,” says Eanna. “My friend from Clare was there and I’d brought some CDs for her to bring to the West. Milling around outside afterwards I found myself standing next to Jackie so I gave him a copy. I’m delighted he reviewed it and chuffed that he chose it as this edition’s pick.”

Jackie Hayden has written for Hot Press for many years but will always be known as the man who gave U2 their first recording contract with CBS in 1979. His regular First Cuts column reviews demos by bands and solo artists, offering a frank critique of the work and an introduction to the readers of the music magazine.

He has this to say about the Righteous Soul Rebel ep: “‘Change! Economy Voodoo’ has echoes of A House’s ‘Endless Art’ and is a spirited diatribe about the state of the world, with deft samples and treated vocals. ‘The Eye of the Storm’ has a heavier vibe about climate change, although Dowling’s vocals could be more dominant in the mix. ‘Doctor Bankenstein’ has smart synth washes on an instrumental that . . . is really a provocative slab of electronica.

“Its sleeve notes convey his sense of anger about the mess we’ve been plunged into through corruption, greed and a dose of stupidity. Fascinating stuff that confronts real world issues.”

Dowling is currently recording a new album of songs in Claycastle Studio, Youghal. Provisionally called “Rising” he hopes to launch it in the Spring. This time he’s working with local musicians to create a more acoustic, folky sound for his original songs.

Further information and CDs: righteous.soul.rebel@gmail.com

Michael Del Punta is the latest singing sensation to come out of Youghal. The talented 19 year old crooner wows the diners with his singing in the popular Capri Bay Italian restaurant in Youghal, where he works as a part time waiter. The diners have discovered that Michael is not only good at serving tables, he displays his fine talents singing his favourite songs by artists such as Sinatra, Crosby, Tony Bennett, etc., much to their delight and surprise.Report/Photo: Michael Hussey & Tony Irwin for YoughalOnline.com

The UCC student found he could not afford to bring his girlfriend to fancy restaurants so he decided to work as a part-time waiter in town. After meeting the proprietor of Capri Bay, Gerald Esposito, he immediately got the job and has been working there part-time for the past seven months. While working, Michael would often break out in song in the kitchen, when Gerald and his father Rocco asked him, with such a magnificent voice, to go out and sing to the customers. This has proved to be so popular that he has been affably called ‘the singing waiter’ by the customers and now Michael sings regularly to the packed restaurant. Now, customers come from far and wide to hear Michael serenade them at the tables as ‘the singing waiter’.

A recent Youtube videoclip of Michael singing in the restaurant, made by YoughalOnline.com, is rapidly climbing in the rankings of the entertainment section and is just one of many to be uploaded by YoughalOnline.com in the near future. Michael was also interviewed by Shane Supple on Youghal’s local radio station, C.R.Y.

His debut self-titled EP, recorded at Claycastle Studios in Youghal, has exceeded all expectations, so much so that he had to order a second pressing, such is the demand for the singing waiter. Michael says his goal one day is to sing at Madison Square Gardens in New York City, sell twenty five million albums and appear on the Late Late Show!

Michael and his family, who have been living in Youghal for the past seven years, originate from Verona, Italy. Since he was a young boy, when his older siblings were listening to the likes of Depeche Mode, Michael Jackson, Madonna or Kylie, Michael’s first contact with music was through his mother’s record collection consisting of works by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. He has continued this love of that ‘big band’ genre ever since. He has trained his voice with the help of well-known music conductor, Mary Peadar-Daly where she taught him to study his breathing technique so much so that Michael and his mature voice have been likened to Michael Bublé, although his favourite artist of all time and greatest influence is undoubtedly Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.

After moving to Youghal from Italy and studying at the old Youghal CBS school (he was the last person to do the Italian Junior Certificate exam in that school), he completed his fifth and sixth year studies in Pobalscoil na Tríonóide and now currently studies Arts at UCC, Cork City.

Michael has proved to be so popular, he is asked to sing regularly by friends at parties and weddings and is growing in confidence all the time. Speaking exclusively to YoughalOnline.com, he said “I am amazed by the reaction of the Youtube video and would like to thank YoughalOnline.com and everyone involved for their support” and confidently added “the way I see it, you should be able to do whatever it takes to make it to the top.”

So on your next trip to Capri Bay Italian restaurant to hear the singing waiter, when ordering your “big-a pizza pie”, you’ll get “Amoré” than you bargained for!

For the latest updates on Michael Del Punta go to his fanpage on Facebook or click here to view his Youtube videos.

Youghal singer/songwriter Steve Whelan plays some live tracks from his album “The Last Walk” on the very successful radio show “Green On Red” on RedFM 104-106fm on Sunday 2nd November 2008 at 9:00pm (approx) Steve will be joined in studio with fellow Youghal musicians Tony Kiely (guitar) and Kieran McCarthy (percussion)

Steve Whelan has a very down to earth approach delivering his music with a spirit of honesty presence and grit. His smoky vocals married with his simple but poetic and addictive melodies produces a musical honesty and edge possessed by few writer composers. His influences range from Ben Harper, Cat Stevens, The Beatles to Gospel and Spiritual music.

>> CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE <<

The “Green On Red” radio show is presented by Ashley Keating, on Sunday’s from 7 to 10pm, featuring the best of Irish music.

The show is the soundtrack to Read more