NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA — A remarkable compliment from one of Newfoundland’s best-known entertainment promoters has resurfaced, as County Tyrone singer, comedian and entertainer Gary Gamble returns to Canadian stages.
In a radio interview featuring the late Leo Puddester of Unicorn Promotions, the respected Newfoundland promoter made an extraordinary revelation about the public response to Gary Gamble’s performances in Canada.
Having spent 25 years promoting entertainment and bringing major international stars to Canadian audiences, Puddester was no stranger to the highs and lows of the entertainment business.
But it was his comments about the Irish entertainer from Sion Mills, County Tyrone, that made the interview particularly memorable.
Speaking about the success of Gamble’s performances, which featured his popular tribute to Daniel O’Donnell alongside his own entertainment show, Puddester was full of praise.
“Gary was a great entertainer, and in fact, I got more emails about the Gary Gamble show than any show I’ve ever had. I’ve had Kris Kristofferson. I never got as many emails as I did about the Gary Gamble show.”
The remarkable statement came from a promoter with decades of experience working in the entertainment industry, making it an especially meaningful endorsement for the Tyrone performer.
When the interviewer responded, “There you go. You had a hit!”, Puddester agreed, adding:
“Yeah. So for some reason, people really liked him. He was a nice person too, as well.”
The interview offered a fascinating insight into the impression Gamble had made on Newfoundland audiences, with the promoter revealing that the response had exceeded anything he had previously experienced in terms of emails received about a show.
For Gamble, who has enjoyed a longstanding connection with Newfoundland and its people, the comments remain among the most treasured compliments of his entertainment career.
Reflecting on the interview during his latest visit to Canada, Gary said:
“It’s lovely to hear those words again, and they bring back some wonderful memories of Leo and my earlier visits to Newfoundland.
“To be mentioned in the same conversation as a legendary entertainer like Kris Kristofferson was an incredible honour. Leo had worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment, so for him to say he had received more emails about my show than any other show was something very special.”
“But what meant just as much to me was when he said I was a nice person. That’s something I’ve always believed is important in this business — treating people well, whether they’re in the audience, backstage or organising the show.”
“Leo was a wonderful character, and I’m very grateful for the opportunities and encouragement he gave me. It’s sad that he’s no longer with us, but I’ll always remember him with great affection.”
Leo Puddester sadly passed away in May 2019, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Newfoundland’s entertainment industry and many friendships forged through his years in showbusiness.
His work through Unicorn Promotions helped create lasting musical connections between Newfoundland, Ireland and the wider international entertainment community.
Gamble’s latest return to Newfoundland offers an opportunity to reflect not only on his own Canadian journey, but also on the promoters and supporters who helped make it possible.
The original radio interview remains a touching reminder of Puddester’s enthusiasm for live entertainment, his appreciation of performers and the extraordinary response that one Irish entertainer generated among Canadian audiences.
For Gary Gamble, it is more than a remarkable showbusiness endorsement. It is a cherished memory of a man who believed in him.
Remembering Leo Puddester — a respected promoter, a supporter of Irish entertainment and a friend never forgotten.
