Sean Dunphy

For the footballer, see Sean Dunphy (footballer).

Sean Dunphy (30 November 1937 – 17 May 2011) was an Irish singer who represented Ireland at the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest, achieving second place with "If I Could Choose". He was also the first Irish singer to record in Nashville.[1]

Career

Born in Whitehall, Dublin, Dunphy first became famous in his home country as lead singer with The Hoedowners, a showband led by trumpeter Earl Gill.[2] Between 1966 and 1973, fourteen singles by Sean Dunphy and The Hoedowners entered the Irish Charts including, in 1969, two number ones: "Lonely Woods of Upton" and "When The Fields Were White With Daisies". In the late 1970s, Dunphy went on to have two further hits as a solo artist.

Despite undergoing a quadruple heart bypass operation in 2007, Sean Dunphy continued to give live performances.[3] In March 2009, he sang many of his greatest hits in a one-off concert at Dublin's National Concert Hall.[4] His last public engagement was at a charity event twenty-four hours before his death.[5]

Sean Dunphy and his wife Lily had four children. His son Brian is a member of the Irish band, The High Kings.[5]

Dunphy died at his home in Baldoyle, County Dublin and is buried at Greenogue cemetery in Ashbourne, County Meath.[6]

.

Discography

Sean Dunphy and the Hoedowners

Year Single Chart Positions
IRE
1966 "Wonderful World of My Dreams" 3
"Showball Crazy" 2
1967 "4033" 17
"If I Could Choose" 2
"Talking Love" 13
1968 "Two Loves" 2
"Christmas Polka" 2
1969 "Lonely Woods of Upton" 1
"When the Fields Were White with Daisies" 1
1970 "The Old Fenian Gun" 5
"The Old Refrain" 19
1972 "There's an Island in the Sun" 10
"Michael Collins" 12
1973 "Pal of My Cradle Days" 3

Sean Dunphy solo

Year Single Chart Positions
CAN Country CAN AC IRE
1972 "Fields of Green" 3[7]
"And the Old House Died" 47[8]
"The Great White Horse" 23[9]
1977 "Santa Claus Is Coming Tonight" 14
1979 "Rosie" 30

References

  1. RTÉ One A Little Bit Showband (retrieved September 25, 2009)
  2. The Irish Times, "No injunction against dance band", August 10, 1967
  3. The Irish Times, "A fresh spin for a ballroom of romance", June 12, 2007
  4. The Very Best of Sean Dunphy (retrieved September 25, 2009)
  5. 1 2 Irish Independent, "Tributes as singer and showband legend Sean Dunphy dies", May 18, 2011
  6. Irish Independent, "A final rapturous applause as 'the Duke' laid to rest", May 21, 2011
  7. "RPM Adult Contemporary Chart March 25, 1972". Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  8. "RPM Country Singles Chart March 25, 1972". Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  9. "RPM Country Singles Chart August 19, 1972". Retrieved 2010-03-17.

External links

Preceded by
Dickie Rock
with "Come Back to Stay"
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest
1967
Succeeded by
Pat McGeegan
with "Chance of a Lifetime"
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