Name John McNally | Role Guitarist | |
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Born August 30, 1941 (age 82) ( 1941-08-30 ) Albums Meet The Searchers, Best Of The Searchers, It's the Searchers, Hearts In Their Eyes, The Definitive Pye Colle Similar People Frank Allen, Mike Pender, Chris Curtis, Tony Jackson, Spencer James | ||
Larry john mcnally just like paradise 1981
John McNally (born 30 August 1941 in Walton, Liverpool, England) is an English guitarist and vocalist. He was one of the original founders of The Searchers in 1957, and is still with the band over 50 years later.
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McNally started off playing skiffle and said that he was first influenced by country singers like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Hank Snow but after playing at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, and specifically, playing with Fats Domino at the club, his music took a different course towards Soul and Rhythm & Blues.
McNally, with his band, The Searchers, like The Beatles, were instrumental with developing the Mersey sound.
Equipment
McNally has used a wide range of guitars during his career. John has been known to use a Rickenbacker 360/12, a Hofner Club 60, and a Fender Stratocaster.
Influences
McNally has said that he was first influenced by country singers like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Hank Snow but after playing at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, and specifically, playing with Fats Domino at the club, his music took a different course towards soul and rhythm & blues.
In his late teens, Buddy Holly was a great influence on John, and when Holly performed at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool on 29 March 1958, McNally had plans on going to see him, but was unable to due to his job; Mike Pender stated that he saw Holly at the performance, but does not remember a lot about it. Bert Weedon's Play in a Day Guide to Modern Guitar Playing book has also been said to be an influence on John.
In 2006, McNally received a telephone call from a band in Manchester, who asked him to meet him; upon going to see the band, he was surprised by the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Nils Lofgren, who had all claimed that McNally and the Searchers had inspired and influenced them.
Personal life
McNally attended St Mary's College. John McNally has been married to Mary McNally since 1964. Prior to working full time as a musician, McNally worked at the Alfred Holt’s Blue Funnel line, where his brother also worked, doing office work and delivering mail. Since he was a child, John has enjoyed watching and playing football.
McNally still resides in his hometown of Liverpool, but lives in the area of Blundellsands, instead of his birth area of Walton.
Health
As a child, McNally contracted tuberculosis (TB), during which time he learned to play the guitar. He often remarked that if he had not contracted TB, he might never have taken up the guitar. In 2017, shortly before his band was scheduled to perform in the Sixties Gold Tour in September, McNally suffered a stroke. This health setback led him to take a three-month hiatus from touring.