Joe Dolan
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| Joe Dolan | |
 Photo from the cover of "Make Me an Island" LP
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| Born | Joseph Francis Robert Dolan 16 October 1939 Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland |
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| Died | December 26, 2007 Mater Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. |
| Cause of death | Brain haemorrhage |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Website joedolan.com |
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Joseph Francis Robert Dolan (October 16, 1939 – December 26, 2007), was an Irish singer of easy listening songs.
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[edit] Life and career
Joe Dolan's first job was as a compositor with the Westmeath Examiner before starting his musical career when he and his brother joined The Drifters in the early 1960s. This launched his career as a showband entertainer.[1]
His biggest hit was "Make Me An Island" (written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood), which went to Number 3 in the UK Singles Chart in 1969, and Number 1 in fourteen other countries. He was very popular in Ireland and among Irish emigrants from 1964 into the 1980s. He toured a great deal, and had several stints in Las Vegas. In 1978, Dolan became the first Western pop singer to perform in the Soviet Union. In 1997, he re-recorded "Good Looking Woman" as a charity record with Dustin the Turkey, reaching Number One in the Irish Singles Chart. In 1998 and 1999, he released two successful albums of covers of songs by Britpop and rock artists, including Blur, Oasis, U2 and Bruce Springsteen.
[edit] Personal life
Joe Dolan never married and dealt with speculation about his sexuality throughout his life. However, he dismissed rumours that he was gay as a "load of old rubbish".[2].
[edit] Illness and death
In 2005, he had a hip replacement. In autumn 2007, on advice from his doctors, Joe Dolan cancelled his Vicar Street concerts due to "exhaustion".[1] On December 16, 2007, the front page of the Sunday Independent reported that Joe was suffering a "bad virus" and had been forced to cancel his entire Christmas tour.[3] Joe Dolan's website was inundated with well wishes in the wake of the article, which was reproduced in several newspapers the following day.
On December 26, Joe was rushed from his home in Foxrock to the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin following a worsening of his illness. He died of a brain haemorrhage at approximately 15:00 hours on December 26, 2007.[1][4][5]
[edit] Hit songs (partial list)
- 1964: "The Answer to Everything"
- 1965: "I Love You More and More Everyday"
- 1967: "The House With the Whitewashed Gable"
- 1968: "The Westmeath Bachelor"
- 1969: "Make Me An Island"
- 1970: "You're Such a Good Looking Woman"
- 1975: "Lady in Blue" / "My Darling Michelle"
- 1976: "Sister Mary" Duet with Kelly Marie -no:2 Ireland
- 1976: "You belong to me"
- 1977: "I Need You"
[edit] Studio Albums
- The Answer To Everything
- Make Me An Island
- You're Such A Good Looking Woman
- Lady In Blue
- Sister Mary
- Midnight Lover
- Turn Out The Light
- More And More
- Here And Now
- This Is My Life
- Always On My Mind
- Always Loved You
- Can't Give Enough
- Endless Magic
- Joe's 90's
- 21st Century Joe
- Home Grown
- Double 'O' Joe
- Let There Be Love
[edit] References
- ^ a b c breakingnews.ie (2007-12-26). Singer Joe Dolan dies in Dublin after brief illness. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
- ^ Irish Daily Mirror - March 6, 2003 - "I'm not gay ..even if I was I'd have no qualms"
- ^ Daniel McConnell (2007-12-16). No Joe Show as Mystery Virus Strikes. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ Renowned entertainer Joe Dolan has died. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
- ^ Joe Dolan dies after sudden illness. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
