Tributes are being paid following the death of Waterford showband legend Michael Coppinger.
Michael, who was 81, was the former bandleader of the Royal Showband and one of the founding members of Brass & Co.
In a post on social media the family of Brendan Bowyer, who himself died last May aged 81, said he had been responsible for getting Brendan into showbusiness and described him as a kind and lovely man.
His grandaughter Clare Coppinger told Damien Tiernan on Deise Today that he was a real family man:
"We're a small family but we're very very close...the best way to describe him was he was kind, he was generous, he was modest. He was a real gentleman, he really was. My granny and grandad had a wonderful life.
Claire said he had an innate musical ability when he was sent for piano lessons as a child of six or seven, the piano teacher said he was too good, and didn't need to be taught.
Eddie Sullivan who played with Michael in the Royal Showband echoed that when he described on-air how Michael's piano playing would bring a packed dance hall to a standstill:
"Michael would play the piano and he would belt away on classical music and the people would just stop - who's playing classical music in a ballroom - but they would stop and look up in amazement at this 20 year old, and he would belt the hell out of the piano - a wonderful wonderful musician."
Musician Tony Comerford said he was also a fantastic arranger of music, he said no matter who played the Hucklebuck after him, it never sounded as good as his version, "he was just fantastic".
Michael who had been resident at Havenwood nursing home died on Thursday. His requiem Mass will take place on Sunday in St Mary’s Church, Ballygunner.
Michael’s funeral cortege will be passing Havenwood Retirement Village and walking from Ballygunner National school at 11 am on Sunday on the way to the St, Mary’s Church, Ballygunner, Waterford.
Michael’s funeral Mass will be available to view from 11.20 am on Sunday, follow the link
Listen back to the tributes to Michael on Deise Today below:
