EL C who have brought out a Christmas single to raise funds for people affected by cancer

El C launches Don't Cry For Christmas to raise money for cancer charities

A former Sales Executive, Author and HR Guru, who were bandmates in the 70s, have reunited 40 years later with a special Christmas song to help raise funds for cancer research. Don’t Cry for Christmas by Irish/Scottish Band EL C (pronounced Elsie) is inspired by the personal experiences of the three band members, whose families have been touched by cancer, which is responsible for one in every four deaths in Ireland.  The song is available to purchase for less than €1 on iTunes; GooglePlay and www.elcband.co.uk with all proceeds going directly to the cancer research. Don’t Cry for Christmas was composed using the Apple Garageband app.

The band members, Ian McConnell, who has lost two wives to this disease, most recently his wife Katherine last January, Gordon Kerr and Iain Macdonald have been very encouraged by the strong support for their fundraising endeavours. 

Renowned singer/composer Moya Brennan, a family friend of Ian and his late wife Katherine, said “It’s terrific the lads have got back together – the song is fantastic with a real rocky sound that you just have to sing along to.  Christmas is a time for giving and I would encourage everyone to give this song a listen.  There isn’t a family in Ireland who hasn’t been touched by the scourge of cancer and I hope as many people as possible will support the lads.”
El C comprises:

  • Ian McConnell (guitar & vocals) originally from East Kilbride, Scotland, moved to Dublin over 20 years ago with his first wife who sadly died of cancer in 1995. Originally a HR Director, he subsequently set up his own consultancy.  He met his second wife Katherine Fitzgerald, a Dubliner, who became stepmother to his son and mum to their own two children. In 2007, at 39 years of age, Katherine was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away in January this year. Before her death she urged Ian to reconnect with his old band mates in Scotland and after 40 years they reunited in Dublin and composed a number of songs including Don’t Cry for Christmas.
  • Gordon Kerr (guitar & vocals) was formerly Head of Marketing for Waterstones and Bloomsbury (publisher of Harry Potter) before embarking on his own successful writing career. He has written over 30 books most notably the best-selling Short History series. His daughter was diagnosed at just 18 with cervical cancer. However, following a number of operations she is doing well today.
  • Iain Macdonald, (vocals & guitar) a Glaswegian, met Ian and Gordon as a teenager and was the lead vocal in their original band Elsie at the Piano. Iain continued to play semi-professionally in the pubs and clubs of Scotland for a time after the band went their own way.  By day he was a sales executive in the construction industry. He was one of a syndicate of nine people who won the UK lottery.   When he is not writing and recording, he now helps to run The Doon Inn in Blantyre, owned by his wife and sister-in-law.

One thing all three members of the band have in common, apart from a love of music, is that all three have been affected by cancer. The band has also set up on line donation pages in Ireland and the UK for anyone who would like to make a donation to cancer causes. The song can be purchased via a link from El C www.elcband.co.uk; GooglePlay, iTunes and other digital outlets with all proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society in Ireland and Cancer Research UK.  More on El C at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialELCBand twitter: @OfficialELCBand

Mark Mellett, Head of Fundraising, Irish Cancer Society, said “Every day in Ireland 150 people get a cancer diagnosis, and very tragically one person dies every hour from cancer. By downloading this festive track you will help fund vital cancer research to improve how we diagnose and treat this disease, so that one day we can stop cancer. Money raised will also help ensure a person who has just been diagnosed has the correct information and support to help them through such a frightening and worrying time. Thank you to EL C for their efforts to support all those affected by cancer this Christmas.”