The Nolan Brothers grew up in Port Washington, Long Island, NY. They moved to Albuquerque, NM with their parents and other siblings in August, 1969. Their musical interest came from their mother, who was a stage singer in local musicals at a young age, and she played piano as well. Their Dad loved to sing Bing Crosby songs, and he played drums as a young man. An older brother, Vin, sang lead and played drums in a popular local band called ‘the Monarchs’ in the 1960s. Their sister Mary also wrote songs and recorded them with the brothers. The brothers are Tom, Mark, Bill, and Chris.
Tom first sat in on drums with his junior high friends in Port Washington at age 13. He kept practicing and learning to drum skillfully with the Nolan brothers band called ‘Yonder Rhombus’ at age 21 in 1974. All the members wrote songs and sang them in the band, in addition to favorite cover songs of the era. He taught himself to play guitar, writing songs when he moved to New England, where he has lived ever since. However, he missed working with his brothers and co-wrote ‘The Rock Opera’ with the youngest brother, Chris, who wrote the music. Tom authored the lyrics for that project, recorded with all the brothers in 1995. Tom has continued to contribute to ongoing various Nolan brother projects. Tom will be in Albuquerque in the summer of 2020 to work on the latest ‘Songs of the West’ album.
Mark started writing with Bill in 1973 while they were enlisted in the USAF. When they got out of the Air Force, they started ‘Yonder Rhombus’ with the 4 brothers and 2 sisters (Lily and Mary). Mark was playing the guitar, flute, and harmonica then. The band went through a number of member changes over the next 5 years, and although they stopped performing together, they continued to write and record songs. Mark’s interest in traditional Irish and folk music got him learning to play the penny whistle, and fiddle.
Bill taught himself to play guitar at age 11. He began writing the simplest of songs very early, but learned how to put lyrics and music together into a pleasing song. Bill began collaborating on songwriting with Mark, and later with Tom on a Civil War Project titled ‘Good Friday 1865’. Bill played as a solo troubadour in bars in Greenwich, CT, Albuquerque, NM, and Newport Beach, CA . Both writing and recording have brought him great satisfaction as did his performing experiences. Presently, the Nolan brothers are now working together on the ‘Songs of the West’.
Chris started playing in ‘Yonder Rhombus’ at age 15 on bass guitar. He is the professional musician of this group. He has three music degrees in theory & composition, and music education, including a Master’s Degree in those areas from the University of New Mexico. Chris has been teaching bass and guitar lessons in Albuquerque since 1981. In addition to his career as a teacher, he has performed in 62 musicals around the Southwest. Chris has also performed as a ‘one-man band’ around Albuquerque for private parties and senior centers for many years. He has recorded 25 albums of his original music available on CD. He has produced a lot of the brothers’ music as well other singer/songwriters.
The main goal for the Nolan brothers now is to get their songs into film, and get known as published songwriters that might allow other musicians to perform and record Nolan brothers music.
Sounds of Central New Mexico is hosted by Bill Cochran, a musician with the Tijeras-based band, Reverend E & The Vagrants.
On Demand Performance - KXNM archives the Sounds of Central New Mexico as MP3 files, allowing you to listen to your favorite shows on demand, whenever you choose. Click on the audio file below hear The Nolan Brothers show originally broadcast on November 26, 2021.
Tom first sat in on drums with his junior high friends in Port Washington at age 13. He kept practicing and learning to drum skillfully with the Nolan brothers band called ‘Yonder Rhombus’ at age 21 in 1974. All the members wrote songs and sang them in the band, in addition to favorite cover songs of the era. He taught himself to play guitar, writing songs when he moved to New England, where he has lived ever since. However, he missed working with his brothers and co-wrote ‘The Rock Opera’ with the youngest brother, Chris, who wrote the music. Tom authored the lyrics for that project, recorded with all the brothers in 1995. Tom has continued to contribute to ongoing various Nolan brother projects. Tom will be in Albuquerque in the summer of 2020 to work on the latest ‘Songs of the West’ album.
Mark started writing with Bill in 1973 while they were enlisted in the USAF. When they got out of the Air Force, they started ‘Yonder Rhombus’ with the 4 brothers and 2 sisters (Lily and Mary). Mark was playing the guitar, flute, and harmonica then. The band went through a number of member changes over the next 5 years, and although they stopped performing together, they continued to write and record songs. Mark’s interest in traditional Irish and folk music got him learning to play the penny whistle, and fiddle.
Bill taught himself to play guitar at age 11. He began writing the simplest of songs very early, but learned how to put lyrics and music together into a pleasing song. Bill began collaborating on songwriting with Mark, and later with Tom on a Civil War Project titled ‘Good Friday 1865’. Bill played as a solo troubadour in bars in Greenwich, CT, Albuquerque, NM, and Newport Beach, CA . Both writing and recording have brought him great satisfaction as did his performing experiences. Presently, the Nolan brothers are now working together on the ‘Songs of the West’.
Chris started playing in ‘Yonder Rhombus’ at age 15 on bass guitar. He is the professional musician of this group. He has three music degrees in theory & composition, and music education, including a Master’s Degree in those areas from the University of New Mexico. Chris has been teaching bass and guitar lessons in Albuquerque since 1981. In addition to his career as a teacher, he has performed in 62 musicals around the Southwest. Chris has also performed as a ‘one-man band’ around Albuquerque for private parties and senior centers for many years. He has recorded 25 albums of his original music available on CD. He has produced a lot of the brothers’ music as well other singer/songwriters.
The main goal for the Nolan brothers now is to get their songs into film, and get known as published songwriters that might allow other musicians to perform and record Nolan brothers music.
Sounds of Central New Mexico is hosted by Bill Cochran, a musician with the Tijeras-based band, Reverend E & The Vagrants.
On Demand Performance - KXNM archives the Sounds of Central New Mexico as MP3 files, allowing you to listen to your favorite shows on demand, whenever you choose. Click on the audio file below hear The Nolan Brothers show originally broadcast on November 26, 2021.