About Gavin

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Gavin Coyle was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. His parents raised him and his four sisters amid the fallout from the troubles. Gavin credits his parents with keeping them from harm and encouraging their interest in music. He first came to America when he was 14 years old as part of a peace project involving youths from Northern Ireland. Similar to the Ulster Project, the goal was to help teens from Northern Ireland build friendships that would otherwise not be possible with the social and religious divisions existing at home. He continued his commitment to such peace projects when he joined the Ulster Project in 1992 and came back to the States as a counselor and chaperone. When he returned home, he graduated from St. Mary's College in Belfast in 1994 with a double major in Education and Art. In 1995, he returned to the States and has been here ever since performing to sold out crowds throughout the area.

An accomplished singer and songwriter, Gavin's musical range covers both pop and folk music as well as traditional music from his homeland. His performances often reflect this versatility as he mixes traditional and original compositions. In addition to being an excellent guitarist, he plays several other instruments including the bodhran (an Irish drum) and the flute. Gavin's musical influences are a varied lot: Elvis, Patsy Cline, Beethoven, U2, The Velvet Underground, and John Williams.

Gavin started competing as a young boy, winning many local competitions including the Derry Feisanna - one of the largest talent contests in Ireland. At the age of 14 he won the title of All-Ireland Singing Champion. He went on to perform in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem, The Siege Pageant, and Noye's Fludde. He has also performed on the BBC both in Northern Ireland and in England. Locally, in addition to charity concert/performance work (Ulster Project DuPage County IL, DuPage IL Habitat for Humanity, Community Outreach Center Carol Stream IL, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation IL, The People's Resource Center Wheaton IL, Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, Irish Children's Fund, Irish Sisters of the Assumption Missionaries in South Africa, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Bridge Communities), he's been featured on WGN radio, performed at Milwaukee Irish Fest, and performed the National Anthem several times for Chicago Cubs games at Wrigley Field-  at a Chicago Bears game at Soldier Field -  and at several Chicago Bulls games at The United Center. Gavin sang the National Anthem and "God Bless America" at "A Rally for America"-  a fundraiser at Northern Illinois University for Speaker J. Dennis Hastert where Vice President Dick Cheney was the guest speaker. Gavin also sang at the Bipartisan Congressional Prayer Service for the New Congress in Washington D.C. in January of 2005. The Prayer Service was televised on C Span and Gavin was shown on "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings".

His first CD Whisper of the Waves was released in 1999. In November, 2000 he released a live recording of Christmas songs. His Cd, "Half a Chance", was released at the end of 2002 and was produced by Jerry Yester who is a member of The Lovin' Spoonful, a recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. His Christmas Cd, "Gentle Christmas" was released in 2004. Gavin's new Irish Cd "Three" was released in March 2007 and his latest cd "Footlights" (songs of stage and screen) came out in February 2009.

Gavin lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife and daughters where he performs and teaches music.

Gavin's TV and Radio Performances / Interviews

From the new CD - "Three":
  

From the Christmas CD:
  

View All Recent TV performances

Gavin's visit to "Joy in Morning" on WETN - Wheaton College radio station
Listen to the Interview (2006, Windows Media Player format)
WETN web site

UPCOMING 2012 PERFORMANCE DATES

Kerry Piper Pub
7900 Joliet Rd., Willowbrook IL
Every Sunday: Irish Sessions from 5pm to 7pm (*unless otherwise indicated*)
Friday, April 20th 9pm to 1am
Friday, June 15th  9pm to 1am

Chicago Street Bar & Grill
75 N. Chicago St., Joliet IL
Saturday, April 21st  9pm

 
GAVIN'S CDs

Footlights < < < the new CD Released 2009
	Somewhere Some Enchanted Evening On the Street Where You Live Johanna Edelweiss For Good Moon River Younger Than Springtime Close Every Door Music of the Night The Impossible Dream Bring Him Home Somewhere, Over The Rainbow You'll Never Walk Alone Till There Was You Listen to sample tracks
Online credit card orders by CDBaby.com or call them at 1-800-Buy-My-CD or order by mail and pay by check Now on iTunes buy individual songs for 99 cents	"Footlights" CD sold at these stores: Irish Sisters Imports 312 S. Third St. Geneva, Illinois, 60134 Phone: 630-208-9300 map to this address (mapquest) Paddy's on the Square 228 Robert Parker Coffin Rd. Long Grove, Illinois, 60047 Phone: 847-634-0339 map to this address (mapquest)
Three Released 2007
	Back Home in Derry She Moved Through the Fair Galway Bay I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen Will You Go, Lassie Go Battle Hymn The City of Chicago video of this song McAlpine's Fusiliers The Fields of Athenry video of this song The Leaving of Liverpool My Lagan Love In Your Arms (Wedding Song) The Minstrel Boy The Voyage The Town I Loved So Well Simple Plan Listen to sample tracks
Online credit card orders by CDBaby.com or call them at 1-800-Buy-My-CD or order by mail and pay by check Now on iTunes buy individual songs for 99 cents	"Three" CD sold at these stores: Irish Sisters Imports 312 S. Third St. Geneva, Illinois, 60134 Phone: 630-208-9300 map to this address (mapquest) Paddy's on the Square 228 Robert Parker Coffin Rd. Long Grove, Illinois, 60047 Phone: 847-634-0339 map to this address (mapquest)
Gentle Christmas Released: December 2004
	Silver Bells Heaven's Wind In the Bleak Mid-Winter The Little Drummer Boy Silent Night O Holy Night Mary Did You Know? It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Away in a Manger O Little Town of Bethlehem Ave Maria (Schubert) The Holy City White Christmas O Come All Ye Faithful What Child is This? Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas I'll Be Home for Christmas Listen to sample tracks
Online credit card orders by CDBaby.com or call them at 1-800-Buy-My-CD or order by mail and pay by check Now on iTunes buy individual songs for 99 cents Review of the new Christmas CD	The Gentle Christmas CD sold at these stores: Irish Sisters Imports 312 S. Third St. Geneva, Illinois, 60134 Phone: 630-208-9300 map to this address (mapquest) Paddy's on the Square 228 Robert Parker Coffin Rd. Long Grove, Illinois, 60047 Phone: 847-634-0339 map to this address (mapquest)
Half a Chance Released 2003
	Half a Chance Invisible Man Better Darkness in the City of Light Angel The Road Alone Chained Lemonade and Wonder Cling Coming Home Fallin' not Flyin' Half a Chance Again Sense of Right Listen to sample tracks
Online credit card orders by CDBaby.com or call them at 1-800-Buy-My-CD or order by mail and pay by check Now on iTunes buy individual songs for 99 cents Buy individual songs on eMusic	Half a Chance CD sold at these stores: Irish Sisters Imports 312 S. Third St. Geneva, Illinois, 60134 Phone: 630-208-9300 map to this address (mapquest) Paddy's on the Square 228 Robert Parker Coffin Rd. Long Grove, Illinois, 60047 Phone: 847-634-0339 map to this address (mapquest)
Whisper of the Waves Released 1999
	Whisper of the Waves   Coming Home The Irish Rover  Roddy McCorley Come Back Paddy Reilly  The Wild Rover Cockles and Mussels Setanta Whiskey In The Jar Jarrin' The Whiskey Wild Colonial Boy The Last Rose of Summer The Spinning Wheel Danny Boy Mountains of Mourne Ag Criost An Siol Listen to sample tracks
Online credit card orders by CDBaby.com or call them at 1-800-Buy-My-CD or order by mail and pay by check Now on iTunes buy individual songs for 99 cents Buy individual songs on eMusic	Whisper of the Waves CD sold at these stores: Irish Sisters Imports 312 S. Third St. Geneva, Illinois, 60134 Phone: 630-208-9300 map to this address (mapquest) Paddy's on the Square 228 Robert Parker Coffin Rd. Long Grove, Illinois, 60047 Phone: 847-634-0339 map to this address (mapquest)

Gavin's Live Christmas CD (released in 2000, this CD is sold out)

Send Gavin a Note, Booking Requests or Join his Mailing List
(note- in addition to performances listed on this website, Gavin sings at all kinds of events including wedding ceremonies, receptions, private parties, etc.):

Last updated: April 19, 2012

This site developed by Mark Gallagher