Johnny Lappin’s New Book Brings Readers Inside The Music Industry.
Johnny Lappin is an-award-winning music publisher who has published songs for many of Ireland’s top music entertainers. A founder Director of IMRO, Lappin has been at the forefront of the Irish music publishing business for almost four decades. In 1983 his clients Clannad won an Ivor Novello Award, often referred to as the Oscars for songwriters, for their “Theme from Harry’s Game” which was the first Irish language song to enter the UK’s top 5 singles chart. In 1985 Clannad won a BAFTA Award for “Robin The Hooded Man”, a song taken from the hit TV series “Robin of Sherwood”, which starred Jason Connery in the title role. The series was picked up by over 130 countries worldwide.
During his 40 years in music publishing, Johnny Lappin has published the works of a multitude of writers and artists such as Aslan, Sharon Shannon, Rob Burke, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Ryan Sheridan, Otherkin, Little Hours, Wyvern Lingo and countless others including the multi award winning Andrew ‘Hozier’ Byrne.
He has overseen the publishing careers of Grammy nominated artists such as Celtic Woman as well as Ireland’s folk band of the year The High Kings. In 2015 Lappin himself picked up an Ivor Novello Award as publisher for Hozier’s worldwide hit “Take Me To Church” and has recently worked with Athy's finest, Picture This, on their international publishing deal.
The book traces Lappin’s career in the Irish and International music business, from his early days as a live music promoter to negotiating a major international music publishing deal for Ireland’s latest global superstar Hozier.
Throughout “In a Lifetime-From Hozier to U2”, Lappin applies his quick wit and characteristic candour to tracing his turbulent career that has seen him cross paths with a galaxy of major stars, including U2, Clannad, Celtic Woman, Van Morrison, Elton John, Ron Wood, Phil Lynott, Ian Dury, Rory Gallagher, Bob Geldof, Chrissie Hynde, the afore-mentioned Hozier and many more.
Lappin’s lifetime in the business also gave him a privileged front row seat at the extraordinary rise of the Irish music industry, as it grew from modest beginnings to become one of the major talent resources for the worldwide entertainment scene.
Along the way, Lappin has been a singer, drummer, band manager, record company owner, talent scout, concert promoter, lecturer, consultant, a member of “the music police” and, his first and last love, music publisher.
“In a Lifetime-From Hozier to U2”, is a warts and all, and then some more warts, description of what life is like in the frenetic 24/7 world of music.
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