Buck chatted in the break before the set over a coke about making the shift to living in Ireland these past eight years relocating from the States. Since then he’s played the likes of one of the highest rated programmes on Irish TV, the Ryan Tubridy show, and appeared at the Cork Jazz Festival, performing with Ben E. King back in the States on one of his regular visits.

Somebody put on a Charlie Rich song over the house sound system and that felt good as we talked. And then after Buck had gone to get ready Joe Simon’s brilliant ‘Drowning in the Sea of Love’ came on in the build-up which lifted the mood even more before the band returned. That was a good sign. The Westville is building a regular soul night in the hotel with a string of big names including Andrew Strong due to come later in the series, the night’s promoter mentioned later in the evening.

Buck has a great voice, a natural powerful soul instrument. Numbers included familiar songs by Lionel Ritchie, ‘Easy’; the Doobie Brothers (‘Listen to the Music’); Ben E. King’s ‘Stand By Me’ thoughtfully conveyed; the Commodores, Ritchie again (‘Three Times a Lady’); and The Real Thing (‘You To Me Are Everything’). Taylor joked he didn’t know the last song until he came to live over here from America and his version of the hit got a good reaction from the dancers who warmed to the sway of the sound, the highlight of the set. It was a privilege and a pleasure to hear Buck and his fine band.

Stephen Graham

Buck Taylor pictured at the Westville with his band top; and above right