Born Joseph McLaughlin, on March 23 in 1917 in Creggan Terrace, Derry, Northern Ireland. He was the son of a butcher and cattle dealer, and one of nine children. He sang in local churches in the Bogside at the age of seven, and as a teenager, added two years to his age in order to enlist in the Irish Guards. Later he served abroad with the Palestine Police before returning to Ireland in the late 30s to join the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Nicknamed The Singing Bobby he became a local celebrity in the 40s and then toured the UK variety circuit. In the following year he played the first of 19 seasons at the popular northern seaside resort of Blackpool.
