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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview with John McDermott

Aired March 17, 2002 - 09:22   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: This St. Paddy's Day, we've been playing a lot of music from our friend John McDermott, his Irish- Scottish folk melodies. He's been sharing that with us all morning.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We've gotten a few (UNINTELLIGIBLE) about it. A few people said, MTV all that nonsense, but we just thought we'd be self-indulgent for a moment and tell you that some people are enjoying this.

"Hello Kyra and Miles" begins this message. "Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your spot on CNN. It is perfect mix of information and for me entertainment. Kyra, I don't know of any anchor who is so comfortable talking to millions on TV." We wish. "It's like you're talking to friends or something. It's so natural. Thanks." Oh, I cut out the part where she says, "I love it when you guys are on the air." But she was talking about the music. I cut out the part.

PHILLIPS: Oh, you cut out the part? Oh, no.

O'BRIEN: I'm sorry. I was editing it at the last minute. The bottom line is she said she loved seeing the music, so.

PHILLIPS: Yes, she loved John McDermott.

O'BRIEN: Yes, so John McDermott has fans and we appreciate your thoughts.

PHILLIPS: All right, well John is one of the most famous Irish tenors and he's traveled the world singing his own music, dedicated to his rich Celtic history and all the soldiers, of course, who died trying to preserve it. Well, if you can relate to the man who served and survived World War I and to the men who never returned home from the battlefield, you will relate to this song "Danny Boy."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, we're sitting here on St. Patrick's Day with John McDermott. He stopped by to share some of his wonderful tunes with us.

JOHN McDERMOTT, IRISH TENOR: Top of the morning.

PHILLIPS: We're so glad that you're here. Top of the morning to you. McDERMOTT: Yes, absolutely.

PHILLIPS: New CD, "John McDermott, A Time to Remember."

McDERMOTT: "A Time to Remember."

PHILLIPS: All right, what a neat compilation of songs. These are all your favorites?

McDERMOTT: These are all my favorites, a bunch from previously released albums that haven't been released in the United States, but this is a compilation of all my memory pieces, "Song for the Myra (ph)," "We'll Meet Again," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Danny Boy."

PHILLIPS: We must talk about "Danny Boy."

McDERMOTT: Yes, that's right.

PHILLIPS: On St. Paddy's Day. This is definitely one of my favorites, your favorites. It was grandpa's favorite too. You even got to perform and he saw you live. That was so wonderful. That meant a lot to me and to him. Let's talk about the meaning of "Danny Boy."

McDERMOTT: I think "Danny Boy" conjures up fond memories of moments in people's lives. You know we all have these people, places, things that happen, but the song "Danny Boy" from an Irish standpoint, Irish-Scotch heritage that I have, it just brings back such amazing memories for me with my father, because when he sang it, no one could sing it the way he did. And I was allowed to do that, so his interpretation of something that I try to emulate and I'm almost there. I need a few more years to be that good. "Danny Boy" being an Irish heir with lyrics written by an Englishman about a Scottish event, so it truly is a Celtic piece.

PHILLIPS: Yes, it is, and I remember every time I played it for my grandfather, he'd get tears in his eyes. So will you sing it for us today.

McDERMOTT: I will.

PHILLIPS: And bring tears to all of our eyes.

McDERMOTT: Well, I'll try.

PHILLIPS: OK, thanks so much, John McDermott. All right.

(JOHN McDERMOTT SINGS "DANNY BOY")

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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