Early Years Born in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, in 1948, Rory was born into music, bred into him, and passed down from his father keen interest in music. Respecting his mother's love of ballads, Rory learned to respect traditional styles from an early age, but still at this time, his main interest lay in the style of the more American rhythmic guitarists, and by age 12 Rory was listening to the sounds of Elvis, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. Wishing to blend folk music with rock'n'roll, Rory needed a new guitar, and it was with brother Donal, who in 1963, he went to a little shop and bought his iconic Fender Stratocaster '61 for £100. Now with his most treasured possession, Rory joined the Fontana band, a local semi-professional group in Cork. Highly praised within the local newspapers, the Fontana group performed all the local chart hits of the day, with Rory influencing the group with his love of rhythm and blues. With the initial success of the Fontana band, stress and musical differences eventually led the group to break up, with Rory merging with the bands drummer and bassist. It was from here on that he knew he could express himself better within a three piece group.


  
Taste With this understanding of the workings of a three piece group, Rory formed Taste with two local Cork musicians who shared the same passion and musical ambition that Rory did. Taste toured the length and breadth of Ireland, initially avoiding the bigger clubs in Dublin, and instead playing to the Maritime Club in Belfast, a club founded by Van Morrison. It was here where they were spotted by then record producer Mervyn Solomon, who offered them a chance to record some demo tapes, a chance that Taste could not, and did not turn down. Taste started to tour further abroad, and to more audiences, their popularity growing and their music developing. But, not by Rory's choice, it was decided that Taste needed to be strengthened, at the expense of both the bassist and drummer of the current Taste line up.

With the new line up, the new Taste were quickly in the studio recording their first album, simply called Taste, and was soon followed by On The Boards. With their popularity and fan base growing, Taste were soon performing to audiences in America and Canada, but it was their return to Europe, and the performance at the Isle of Wight festival 1970 that their best live performance was saved for. With over 300,000 people to perform to, and a line up boasting The Doors, The Moody Blues and Jimi Hendrix, Taste's performance was one that was beyond well received by the enormous audience, performing 5 encores. Unknown at that time, but that was one of Taste's last performances, as it was now time for Rory to shine as a solo artist.		  
     
   
     
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