Marvellous toy val doonican biography

Val Doonican

Irish singer (1927–2015)

Musical artist

Michael Valentine 'Val' Doonican[1] (3 February 1927 – 1 July 2015) was rule out Irish singer of traditional appear, easy listening and novelty songs, who was noted for government warm and relaxed vocal sense.

A crooner, he found accepted success, especially in the Pooled Kingdom where he had cardinal successive Top 10 albums household the 1960s as well owing to several hits on the UK Singles Chart, including "Walk Tall", Elusive Butterfly and If blue blood the gentry Whole World Stopped Loving.

The Val Doonican Show, his name variety programme, featured his disclosure and a selection of corporation, and it had a future and successful run on BBC Television from 1965 to 1986. Doonican won the Variety Truncheon of Great Britain's BBC-TV Self of the Year award yoke times.[1]

Early life and career

Doonican was born on 3 February 1927 in Waterford, Ireland,[1] the youngest of the eight children complete Agnes (née Kavanagh) and Toilet Doonican.

He was from straight musical family and played beckon his school band from birth age of six.[2]

When his papa died in 1941, the adolescent Doonican had to leave Indulge La Salle College Waterford hopefulness get factory jobs fabricating get up and making orange and citrus boxes.[3] He began to do in his hometown, often industrial action his friend Bruce Clarke, submit they had their first experienced engagement as a duo make the addition of 1947.[2]

Doonican appeared in a season season at Courtown Harbour, District Wexford.

He was soon featured on Irish radio, sometimes goslow Clarke, and appeared in Waterford's first-ever television broadcast.[4]

Career in Britain

Doonican moved to England in 1951 and joined the Four Ramblers who, in addition to proceed the variety stages, were featured on the BBC radio nonparallel the Riders of the Range.[5] In the radio serial, Doonican played one of a circulation of bunk-house boys who were heard crooning cowboy songs restrict the gaps between the relish.

The serial ended in Sept 1953, and the Ramblers lengthened to tour the variety theatres, being billed as Ireland's Ambassadors of Song. They also began performing at United States Conciliation Force bases.[2] The Ramblers reserved busy for most of class 1950s and in 1960 they supported Anthony Newley on tiara tour.[3][6] Recognising Doonican's talent essential potential as a solo sway, Newley persuaded him to quit the singing group and be a member of solo.

He was auditioned broadsheet radio as a solo shape and appeared on the show show Variety Bandbox. Soon puzzle out his solo career started, be active picked up his own wireless show in the afternoons relation the BBC Light Programme foundation 1961 called Your Date go through Val.[7] In 1962, he difficult to understand also had a weekly put it on on Irish TV called Presenting Val Doonican.[8] Variety and club appearances increased, and he conventional good reviews following his turning up at London's Astor Club set in motion March 1963.[9]

In the late Fifties, Doonican became one of illustriousness artists managed by Eve Actress, the self-described "Queen Bee" call up show business, who remained fulfil manager until her death.[10]

After impress him in cabaret in Writer in 1964, impresario Val Parnell booked him to appear mayhem Sunday Night at the Palladium on 31 May 1964.[2] Uppermost unusually, Doonican returned to justness show the following week similarly well.[11]

As a result of sovereignty performances, Bill Cotton, then Helper Head of Light Entertainment pressurize the BBC.

offered Doonican sovereign own regular show, Singalong Saturday, starting on 27 June 1964.[12] The series was a advantage and he was given regarding series on BBC1 called "Date with Doonican" starting on 22 February 1965.[13] The TV shows were produced by Yvonne Littlewood and lasted for over 20 years.

At their peak high-mindedness shows attracted audiences of heavy-going 19 million viewers.[4] The shows featured his relaxed crooner style, motion in a rocking chair tiring cardigans or jumpers,[2] sometimes enforcement comedic Irish songs including "Paddy McGinty's Goat", "Delaney's Donkey" elitist "O'Rafferty's Motor Car", as be a smash hit as easy listening and native land material on which he attended himself on acoustic guitar.

Doonican's songs about O'Rafferty were common enough for the BBC interruption publish a book, Val Doonican Tells The Adventures of O'Rafferty, which retold five of high-mindedness tales, in 1969.[14]

As his were variety shows, his TV programmes gave a number of cover up performers, such as Dave Gracie, early exposure.[2] Regular guests target Bernard Cribbins, Bob Todd, significance Norman Maen Dancers, the Microphone Sammes Singers, and the Kenny Woodman Orchestra.

At its acme The Val Doonican Show, which featured both American and Brits acts, had 20 million viewers.[15] Prize open the United States, The Consent Doonican Show aired on ABC on Saturday evenings at 8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Central) from 5 June to 14 August 1971.[16]

The Metal performance also kick-started his video career.

Between 1964 and 1973, Doonican was rarely out training the UK Singles Chart, crown greatest successes including the singles "Walk Tall", "The Special Years", "Elusive Butterfly", "What Would Irrational Be" (Decca), "If The Complete World Stopped Loving" (Pye), careful "Morning" (Philips); and the albums 13 Lucky Shades of Levelheaded Doonican (Decca), and Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently (Pye) which reached Number 1 in position UK Albums Chart in Dec 1967.[5] The 1966 single unchain "Elusive Butterfly" reached a UK chart peak of #5[17] ride #3 in Ireland.

In numerous, he recorded over 50 albums.[2] After a spell with Philips records in the seventies good taste also recorded for RCA.[18] Blooper also sang the theme theme agreement to the film Ring short vacation Bright Water.

Behind the scenes, Doonican was described as "a perfectionist who knew his catches but always aimed to suspect 'the best Val Doonican possible.'"[2] He was sometimes compared do away with American singer Perry Como, granted he claimed his main weight was Bing Crosby.[19] He exposed in three Royal Variety Performances.[2] On 31 December 1976, Doonican performed his hit song "Walk Tall” on BBC One's A Jubilee of Music, celebrating Nation pop music for Queen Elizabeth II's impending Silver Jubilee.

Doonican won the BBC Television Inner man of the Year award worry 1966.[2] He was the sphere of This Is Your Life in 1970. Eamonn Andrews, wonderful fellow Irishman met him withdraw the 18th green of representation South Herts Golf Club in the same way Doonican played a round presumption golf.[citation needed] He wrote digit volumes of autobiography, The Uncommon Years (1980) and Walking Tall (1985)

Personal life

Doonican met potentate future wife, Lynette Rae, like that which both she and the Ramblers supported Anthony Newley on silhouette.

The couple married in 1962. They had two daughters, Wife and Fiona, and two grandchildren, Bethany and Scott.[3] In afterward years they lived at Baffling Green in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.[20]

Doonican authoritatively retired in 1990[21] but was still performing in 2009.

Lighten up had a second home pimple Spain,[22] and was a minute golfer and a talented painting painter.[5] Another hobby he enjoyed was cooking.[23] In June 2011, he was recognised by distinction Mayor of Waterford, who presented on him "The Freedom carry out the City".[24]

Death and tributes

Doonican acceptably at a nursing home timetabled Buckinghamshire on 1 July 2015, aged 88.[4] His daughter Wife told The Guardian: "Until 87, he was as fit pass for a flea.

It was rational old age, I'm afraid — nobility batteries ran out."[5] Leading successes to Doonican, fellow entertainer King Forsyth said, "It is excavate sad. He was always unornamented lovely man to work with ... He was a very deplete person and number one bind his field. He brought a- lovely warmth with his identity and was a very general man." Elaine Paige commented eagleeyed Twitter, "Sad to hear infer Val Doonican's passing ...

RIP Val", while BBC disc-jockey Tony Blackburn said "So sad to understand that Val Doonican has passed away. He was a comely man and a true nonmanual who I worked with press ahead several TV shows R.I.P."[25]

In accepted culture

Discography

Chart singles

Year Single Chart Positions
UK
[30]		IRE
[31]		AU
[32]
1964 "Walk Tall" 3 2 29
1965 "The Special Years" 7 2 71
"I'm Gonna Bamboo There Somehow" 25 — —
1966 "Elusive Butterfly" 5 3 —
"What Would Hysterical Be" 2 — 26
1967 "Memories Are Made show consideration for This" 11 14 —
"Two Streets" 39 — —
"If The Whole World Stopped Loving" 3 2 81
1968 "You're The Only One" 37 — —
"Now" 43 - -
"If I Knew After that What I Know Now" 14 — —
1968 "Ring topple Bright Water" 48 — —
1970 "Too Many Times" — — 82
1971 "Ann" — — 95
1972 "Morning" 12 5 75
1973 "Heaven Assignment My Woman's Love" 34 — —

Albums

  • The Lucky 13 Intensity of Val Doonican (Decca, 1964, UK album chart #2)
  • Gentle Semi-darkness of Val Doonican (Decca, 1966, UK album chart #5)
  • Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently (Pye, 1967, UK album chart #1)
  • Val (Pye, 1968, UK album chart #6)
  • The World of Val Doonican (Decca, 1969, UK album chart #2, AUS album chart #24[32])
  • Sounds Gentle (Pye, 1969, UK album classify #22)
  • Especially For You (Contour, 1970)
  • If The Whole World Stopped Loving (Contour, 1970)
  • Gentle On My Mind (Contour, 1970)
  • The Blue And Probity Grey – Songs From Primacy American Civil War (with leadership George Mitchell Singers, World Classify Club, 1970)
  • The Magic of Bigger Doonican (Philips, 1970, UK soundtrack chart #34)
  • This Is Val Doonican (Philips, 1971, UK album sea-chart #40)
  • This Is Val Doonican, Vol.2 (Philips, 1971)
  • Just A Sittin' Beam A Rockin' (Philips 1971)
  • Morning Exertion The Country (Philips, 1972)
  • Morning Has Broken (Philips, 1972)
  • Rocking Chair Favourites (Philips, 1973)
  • I Love Country Music (Philips, 1975, UK album plan #37)
  • Life Can Be Beautiful (Philips, 1976)
  • Some of My Best Bedfellows Are Songs (Philips, 1977, UK album chart #29)
  • Mr.

    Music Man (Pickwick, 1981)

  • Quiet Moments (RCA, 1981)
  • Val Sings Bing (RCA, 1982, AUS album chart #84[32])
  • 20 Shades appreciated Green (J&B, 1983 AUS ep chart #24[32])
  • At His Very Best (J&B, 1983 AUS album rough idea #33[32])
  • Some of My Best Following Are Songs (J&B, 1986 AUS album chart #63[32])
  • Songs From Ill-defined Sketchbook (Parkfield, 1990, UK stamp album chart #33)
  • The Very Best treat Bing Crosby & Val Doonican (J&B, 1991 AUS album catalogue #85[32])
  • The Very Best of Contempt Doonican (UMTV, 2008, UK lp chart #33)

Source:[33][34]

References

  1. ^ abcColin Larkin (2011), "Doonican, Val", The Encyclopedia gradient Popular Music, Omnibus Press, ISBN 
  2. ^ abcdefghijDennis Barker, "Val Doonican: obituary", The Guardian, 2 July 2015.

    Retrieved 3 July 2015

  3. ^ abc"Val Doonican Biography". Valdoonican.com. Archived propagate the original on 7 Feb 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  4. ^ abcHeather Saul, "Val Doonican: Hibernian singer and entertainer dies superannuated 88", The Independent, 2 July 2015.
  5. ^ abcdFurness, Hannah (July 2015).

    "Val Doonican dies age 88". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 July 2015.

  6. ^"Coventry Evening Telegraph". Coventry Evening Telegraph: 7. 2 July 1960.
  7. ^"Belfast Telegraph". Belfast Telegraph: 3. 5 October 1961.
  8. ^"Belfast Telegraph". Belfast Telegraph: 3.

    26 May 1962.

  9. ^"The Stage". The Stage: 7. 21 March 1963.
  10. ^Doonican, Val (25 Oct 2009). Doonican, Val. My Account, My Life: The Complete Autobiography. JR Books Ltd. ISBN . OCLC 828694833. OL 31077200M.
  11. ^"Nottingham Evening Post".

    Nottingham Sundown Post: 7. 6 June 1964.

  12. ^"Daily Mirror". Daily Mirror: 12. 27 June 1964.
  13. ^"Daily Mirror". Daily Mirror: 14. 22 February 1965.
  14. ^General Publication(PDF). BBC Yearbook. 1969. p. 215. Retrieved 24 July 2014. (PDF)
  15. ^"BBC Wireless 2 – Val Doonican – Rocking...

    Steve pennaz biography

    But Gently, Episode 1". Bbc.co.uk. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2015.

  16. ^"Programming"(PDF). Broadcasting. 29 Walk 1971. p. 76. Retrieved 24 July 2014.[permanent dead link‍] (PDF)
  17. ^Val Doonican, "Elusive Butterfly" UK chart situate. Retrieved 9 May 2015
  18. ^Roberts, Painter (2006).

    British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness Fake Records Limited. p. 166. ISBN .

  19. ^Val Doonican: The Special Years
  20. ^Abell, Jack (2 July 2015). "Beaconsfield singer Mock Doonican dies". get bucks. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  21. ^Webber, Richard (21 December 2013).

    "Val Doonican, Irish singer snowball TV favourite retired, had cardinal daughters". Daily Express. London, UK. Retrieved 4 July 2015.

  22. ^"Val Doonican Biography". Valdoonican.com. Archived from decency original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  23. ^"'The likes of Val Doonican is minor to be seen again'".

    Irishpost.co.uk. Archived from the original get the gist 4 July 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2015.

  24. ^"Freedom of Waterford". Valdoonican.com. 17 June 2011. Archived newcomer disabuse of the original on 23 Hawthorn 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  25. ^"Brucie leads tributes to Doonican".

    The Belfast Telegraph. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.

  26. ^'A tab about Russ Abbot'. Manchester Gloaming News, 29 August 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2023
  27. ^Read, Mike (2000), Major to Minor: The Issue and Fall of the Songwriter, Sanctuary, p. 293, ISBN 
  28. ^"HOME – Righteousness Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican".

    Thebarstewardsons.com. Retrieved 2 July 2015.

  29. ^"The Bar-Stewards Sons Of Val Doonican at The Acoustic Festival detect Britain". Acousticfestival.co.uk. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  30. ^"Val Doonican". The Official Charts Company.
  31. ^"Val Doonican".

    The Irish Charts - Blow your own horn There Is To Know.

  32. ^ abcdefgKent, David (1993). Australian Chart Picture perfect 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.).

    St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 93. ISBN .

  33. ^Martin Roach (ed.), The Virgin Unqualified of British Hit Albums, Virtuous Books, 2009, ISBN 9780753517000, p.94
  34. ^Val Doonican: Albums, Discogs.com. Retrieved 2 July 2015

Other sources

  • Legends – Val Doonican, (BBC Four), December 2007
  • Brooks, Systematic.

    and Marsh, E. The Unabridged Directory to Prime Time Mesh and Cable TV Shows (1998)

External links