PIANO MAN: Noel O'Sullivan had an interesting encounter with one of the world's biggest composers in the Killarney Park Hotel on Tuesday night.

By Michelle Crean

A chance encounter left one local musician wondering who his admirer was – only to find out afterwards that he had just met a major American multi-Grammy and Emmy-winning music legend.
Killarney’s Noel O’Sullivan from Loretto Road, who is now living in Aghadoe, was enjoying playing piano for guests in the Killarney Park Hotel on Tuesday night – and received many compliments from one man in particular – Mike Post, composer of some of the world’s best known TV tunes including Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, The A-Team, NYPD Blue, Renegade, The Rockford Files, LA Law, Quantum Leap, Magnum, PI, and Hill Street Blues.

[caption id="attachment_27760" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] MUSIC MAN: Mike Post, American multi Grammy and Emmy-winning composer.[/caption]

The man regularly came over to explain the backstory to each tune played – but Noel had no idea who he was! Without revealing his identity, the modest composer left a €10 tip and told Noel to look him up online afterwards.
“I didn’t know who he was,” Noel told the Killarney Advertiser.
“There was a set of Americans at the bar and he came over to me and we got chatting about LA, where he was from. He told me I was a great piano player and went away and came back a few times to explain the back story to each tune I was playing. He put €10 on the piano and told me to look up Mike Post later. When I realised after who he was I was kind of in a state of shock that I was after playing for a guy of that calibre.”
And the only regret Noel, who is a music teacher in St Oliver’s NS, has, is not getting a photo with the music mogul. “I was disappointed I didn’t get a photo but I’m going to frame the €10 note.”