STUDENT A

Rory Gallagher

Ask questions about the blanks after the odd numbers, e.g. (1): What date was he born on? Rory Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, on Tuesday (1)____nd March 1948. He had one brother and the family later moved and settled in (2) Cork. At age 9, he received his first guitar and began to teach himself. After winning a talent contest when he was 12, he bought himself an (3) ________ _______ with the prize money. However, it was his purchase three years later, of a 1961 Fender Stratocaster for (4) 100 that became his primary instrument. Gallagher began playing after school with Irish (5) __________, while still a young teenager. After a number of years touring Europe, he returned to Cork in 1966 to form (6) his own band Taste. Taste became popular due to their (7) _______ _____ and the talent of Gallagher. However, in1970 Taste disbanded and Gallagher went on to pursue a (8) solo career. During his career, Gallagher played with artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Muddy Waters. Though his albums sold over (9) _________ copies worldwide, he was best known for his charismatic* live performances. To this day, Gallagher is rated as one of the most influential and (10) respected guitarist ever. Guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Brian May and (11) _______ all regard Gallagher as their main (12) influence. Jimi Hendrix was once asked what its like to be the worlds best guitarist. His answer was I dont know. Go ask Rory Gallagher. Gallagher became sick in (13) _______ and required a liver transplant. He developed an infection after the transplant and died of complications later that year in London, England aged 47. There have been many tributes to Gallagher, including a (14) sculpture and street named after him in Dublin.

*charismatic = A powerful personal quality that attracts others.