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As priests, they are Catholic clergymen
serving parishes in Northern Ireland. But as
The Priests, they’re a singing
trio that a major music company is promoting in
dozens of countries for Christmas.
The Rev. Eugene O’Hagan, his brother the
Rev. Martin O’Hagan, and the Rev. David
Delargy, a boyhood friend, signed a record
contract with Sony BMG last spring. Since then,
they’ve been navigating an unusual path between
piety and pop culture. With the help of
Radiohead’s string arranger and Mike
Hedges a world-class producer who’s
worked with the likes of Travis, Manic Street
Preachers and U2, the group recorded an album
of hymns sung in close harmony and a
traditional liturgical style. The album
titled The Priests has
been released by various Sony labels in more
than 30 countries, including the United
States.
The album comes with a novel back story
(working priests who perform in their clerical
collars) and a selection of sacred but
accessible hits (Ave Maria, Pie Jesu) that Sony
thinks can attract broader attention than even
most pop projects.
Industry interest in holiday-themed releases
has spiked since Josh Groban’s Noel collection
became the top-selling album of 2007. The
Priests, featuring O Holy Night, is being
launched in time for
Christmas....MORE

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