Tommy Sands
with his daughter and son, Moya and Fionan Sands
February 18-19, 2009

We're so pleased to be able to present Tommy Sands in Columbia! Many thanks to the MU Center for Arts and Humanities,  MU School of Music,  Taylor House Inn Bed & Breakfast and several individual donors for helping make these events possible!

Concert:  Tommy, Moya and Fionan Sands
The Bard of Peace is joined on this tour with his talented children, Moya and Fionan. Moya is a lovely singer and plays fiddle, tin whistle and bodhran.  Fionan sings as well and plays tenor banjo and mandolin.

Seminar: Tommy Sands
As a prelude to the concert,  Tommy will give a seminar on Wednesday evening, giving a glimpse into the singer and songs.  Tommy will share stories and wisdom gathered  in more than 30 years of employing music for peace and reconciliation on global and local levels.

About Tommy Sands

Tommy Sands is well-known on folk stages around the world as an engaging and charming entertainer, but that's just half of the picture.  He doesn't need a stage to engage people with music; he takes it to some of the most troubled spots in the world as an ambassador of peace.

In 1974 Tommy wrote the poignant song "There Were Roses," (MP3 sample) a personal account of the tragic sectarian murders of two of his friends near his home in County Down, Northern Ireland.  That pivitol song became an anthem against the violence of "The Troubles,"  and has come to represent his personal philosophy of spreading and inviting peace through the vehicle of his gentle yet powerful songs and storytelling.

In 1998, Tommy orchestrated a musical demonstration outside the gates of Stormont Castle in Belfast, where negotiations for the Good Friday Peace Agreement were being held.  Talks had stalled as the politicians bickered, but Tommy, with a group of Catholic and Protestant school children, a group of Lambeg drummers, and a chorus of supporters sang "Carry on, Carry on," imploring them to find common ground for the sake of all the people.  The demonstration was a pivotal moment in the peace process and the Agreement was finished in time.

In contrast,  Tommy's work has also taken him to Reno NV several years in a row, to work with youths in a juvenile prison there.  He has taught kids accused of violent gang-related crimes to express themselves through music and find a brighter side to life.   The songs he's helped them write became their testimony in court, telling their personal stories in their own words and reaching out for a second chance.   For his effort, Tommy was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Nevada in 2002.

In December 2007, Tommy performed in communities in Cuba damaged by hurricanes, and in 2008 he traveled to Afghanistan and India to teach and perform.

Tommy has a unique and gentle way of mixing stories, songs, folklore and truth to instruct and inform an audience, all while they think they are merely being entertained.  He's a truly gifted communicator, able to connect with people of all ages and perspectives, allowing music to bridge any depth or breadth of division.

MP3 sample:  Back on the Bicycle

MP3 sample:  Moya Sands sings A Stor Mo Chroi

“Tommy Sands has achieved that difficult but wonderful balance between knowing and loving the traditions of his home and being concerned with the future of the whole world.” - Pete Seeger

“One moment my tears were of sorrow, the next moment they were tears of joy, his songs are unforgettable stories.” - Radio Leipzig

“You feel you can trust the singer as well as the song.” - Seamus Heaney

“Tommy Sands is the only man, without a private army, who can intimidate me.”
- Loyalist Politician David Ervine

 

 

 

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