History:

Pat's People were a popular Irish group that was based in Michigan. The group originated in Belfast, Ireland. They took their name from Pat's Bar where they played shows at. The group was most likely formed by Ray Maguire and Wallace Hood. The group moved from Belfast to Michigan prior to 1974. They had close ties to The Irish Rovers who they are pictured with to the right. Pat's People's first album was recorded and released by the group's initial lineup during this period. The lineup at this point consisted of the previously mentioned Ray Maguire on vocals, rhythm guitar, flutes, and harmonica, Wallace Hood on lead guitars, banjo, and mandolin,  percussionist and vocalist Sean Lavery, and bass guitarist Brian Aldwinckle. The group's first album is uninteresting to most collectors and is basic celtic folk music. 

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A lineup change occurred in 1974 that saw the departing of both Aldwinckle and Lavery. Frank Kennedy, who the band played with and were friends with back in Belfast, was summoned to become the group's new bass guitarist. They also added Desi McHenry, a singer and guitarist, around the same time. The group toured and gained fans in the bars and gaelic clubs within Michigan and Southern Canada. McHenry eventually left and Kennedy switched to guitar. This led to Billy Dixon joining the band on bass guitar. In 1976, the group released "Silver Rain's Afar". This album is straight up celtic rock, with folk rock and psychedelic influences evident. The group experimented with some uncommon sounds for the celtic genre, including dual lead electric guitars, an actual drummer instead of a bodhran player, a mellotron, and a plethora of guitar effects. Each member was granted at least one writing and vocal spot. Frank Kennedy contributed acoustic and electric guitars, Ray Maguire played flute, whistle, acoustic guitar, and keyboards, Wallace Hood played electric and acoustic guitars, acoustic and electric mandolins, and banjos, and Billy Dixon played bass guitar. This album was allegedly quite polarizing to their fans. Many of the older cliental apparently didn't like the album and some couldn't believe it was the same group at all.

Pat's People never really changed their style, they just spiced it up. That extra seasoning was absent from their third album "Some Say The Devil Is Dead". By this point, Billy Dixon had left around 1980 and bass duties were handled by Kennedy again.  The band continued on as a trio until their dissolution. Al Purcell, who played pipes on "Silver Rains Afar", worked with the band for some time and played on this album. Aside from a mediocre folk ballad or two, there isn't anything special going on. The trio performed together for another decade until Wallace Hood left to join The Irish Rovers in the late 1990's. The group broke up following his departure. All members of the "Silver Rains Afar" lineup are still alive. Dixon, Maguire, and Kennedy all reside in Michigan while Hood's whereabouts are unknown.