Linda Martin
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Linda Martin (born in Omagh, on 17 April 1947) is an Irish singer and TV presenter, working almost exclusively in the Republic of Ireland. She is best known in Europe as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992 with the song "Why Me" and in Ireland as a member of 1970s/early 80s band, Chips.
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[edit] Career
Martin, a native of Omagh, Tyrone in Northern Ireland, started off her musical career when she joined the band Chips in Belfast in 1969.
She participated in the National Song Contest four times as a member of Chips, however they did not score successfully. She participated another four times in the contest as a soloist and once more as part of the group "Linda Martin and Friends". With nine participations, she has been the most frequent entrant in the National Song Contest's history. She won the contest twice, going on to represent Ireland twice at the Eurovision Song Contest. She triumphed at Eurovision in 1992. According to John Kennedy O'Connor in his book, The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, Linda is one of only three artists to finish both first and second at Eurovision. [1] Of the three, Linda was the first to finish second first and first second!
- 1984 - Terminal 3 - Text/Music by Johnny Logan (Seán Sherrard) - finished second
- 1992 - Why Me? - Text/Music by Johnny Logan - won the contest
Linda was Ireland's fourth Eurovision winner.
She has presented the RTÉ quiz show The Lyrics Board, one of the broadcaster's more popular formats. She served as one of Louis Walsh's behind-the-scenes team on the first series of ITV's The X Factor.
She also served as a judge on the first, second and fourth seasons of RTÉ's You're A Star and on Charity You're A Star in Summer 2005 and Summer 2006. She was dismissed from the 2007 season, however, speaking on Saturday Night with Miriam O'Callaghan on RTÉ television on Saturday July 28, 2007, she insisted that she was "open" to being invited back on to the show. Martin has not ruled out a return to Eurovision following Ireland's dismal performance in the 2007 contest finishing last with only five points.
She was a guest performer at Congratulations, the 50th anniversary Eurovision concert in Copenhagen, Denmark, in October 2005.
Linda Martin recently was also the Irish spokesperson for Eurovision Song Contest 2007.
[edit] Selected discography
Singles (with Chips)
- 1974 - King Kong (As Lily & Chips on Barclay Records #62003 France)
- 1974 - Love for an Angel
- 1975 - Love Matters
- 1975 - Twice A Week
- 1977 - Goodbye Goodbye
- 1981 - New Romance (It's A Mystery)
- 1982 - David's Song
- 1982 - Hi-Lowe
Singles (solo)
- 1983 - Edge of the Universe
- 1984 - Terminal 3
- 1984 - Body Works
- 1988 - Hiding From Love
- 1989 - Impossible To Do
- 1990 - Where The Boys Are
- 1991 - Did You Ever
- 1992 - Why Me
[edit] References
- ^ O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History. Carlton Books 2007. ISBN 978-1844429943
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Carola Häggkvist |
Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1992 |
Succeeded by Niamh Kavanagh |
| Preceded by No participation |
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 |
Succeeded by Maria Christian |
| Preceded by Kim Jackson |
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992 |
Succeeded by Niamh Kavanagh |
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