Declan Mulligan

John Declan Mulligan (April 4, 1938 – November 2, 2021) was an Irish-born American musician, best known as a guitarist of rock band The Beau Brummels in the 1960s.

Life and career Mulligan was born in Fethard, County Tipperary. He emigrated to Toronto, before moving to San Francisco in 1962. After joining the Beau Brummels, who shortly thereafter also added Ron Meagher, Mulligan recorded perhaps his most memorable contribution with the band, the harmonica opening of the hit single "Laugh, Laugh", which reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1965.

He appeared with the band in the 1965 science-fiction/comedy movie Village of the Giants, which was featured in a 1994 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. He sings "Woman" in the film, a song written by Elliott, which ultimately appeared as an instrumental on the band's second album, with Mulligan's vocal being replaced by a lead guitar track. Mulligan also appears with the group in their one other movie appearance, "Wild Wild Winter", in which he delivers the band's only line of dialog. By the middle of 1965, Mulligan was no longer a member of the band. In 1966, he sued the band for $1.25 million in damages, claiming he was wrongfully dismissed from the group.

He later played in a local band "The Black Velvet Band", which in the early 1970s also included Meagher.

Mulligan died in November 2021, at the age of 83.

Discography With The Beau Brummels Introducing the Beau Brummels (1965) The Beau Brummels, Vol. 2 (1965) The Beau Brummels (1975)