Red Hurley

Wikipedia:

Brian "Red" Hurley is an entertainer from Ireland whose singing career has spanned several decades. He is principally known as a solo artist, although he does perform with various bands, the members of which are prone to change. In 1976 Hurley represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "When", finishing tenth.

Personal life

Hurley grew up in Milltown, Dublin with four brothers, Joe, Liam, Des and Fran and two sisters, Olive and Flo. His sister Olive is a world renowned Irish Dance teacher. His father spent some time as a professional musician but later worked for Dublin Corporation. His brother Fran is his manager. He has been married twice, first to Dublin Model Patricia Ward (the couple divorced in the late 1980s) and later to longtime partner (present wife) Norma. He has 3 daughters.

Early career

Hurley started his career in 1969 as lead vocalist with The Colours. In 1970, he went on to form his first band, The Wheels, Hurley released several singles during this period with The Wheels including Isadora and Take Me Tonight, both these singles made it into the Irish charts.

Big Break

In early 1971, his brother Liam left the Airchords to join The Nevada Showband. A few months later, when the then lead singer, Roly Daniels left "The Nevada Showband", Liam suggested his brother as a replacement. It was through his time as Lead singer with The Nevada Showband that Red Hurley became a household name enjoying a string of number 1 hits. He enjoyed success with "The Nevada Showband" until he left in 1974 to form his own "Red Hurley Band". He continued making hit records and touring extensively right up to the mid 1980s. Throughout this time despite huge domestic success in Ireland where he was a huge star, significant international success eluded him. His record in the Irish Charts places him among the biggest chart acts of all time in Ireland with over 20 hits and five number ones. He is still having chart hits in the 21st century giving him one of the longest chart careers in Irish showbusiness history.

Eurovision Song Contest

In 1976 Hurley represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest. His song finished tenth (The contest was won by the "Brotherhood of Man" with their song, "Save Your Kisses for Me"). Red's song "When" which is now regarded as a modern classic was written by Brendan Graham. Graham later co-wrote the classic 'You Raise Me Up' which became a worldwide hit for "Josh Groban" and also "Westlife".

End of an era & new beginnings

Towards the end of the 1970s and into the 1980s the Irish music scene underwent a period of significant change and established artists like Hurley whose careers had begun in the showband era were making way for rock groups like "U2" and others who were changing the entire music map in Ireland and internationally. Despite this Red managed to maintain his career in Ireland throughout this time albeit at a lower profile. In the 1990s little was heard from the man whose voice had once ruled the Irish charts. In the 1990s new Irish pop acts such as Boyzone and Westlife emerged onto both the Irish & International scene. Both acts were managed by Hurley's one time manager X-Factor's Louis Walsh. Throughout this period, while his previously glittering chart career declined at home, Red Hurley moved to the United States where he gradually made inroads into the market there. He would have to wait until 2005 for a return to the music charts with the release of a new album/cd "You're Still You". The album was a surprise success eventually leading to a successful comeback and a string of new recordings as well as the international success (particularly in the USA) which had previously eluded him.(See below). Now regarded as a true Irish Music Legend Red Hurley's public returned to a new found appreciation of the man, seduced by his majestic voice. Gradually, attendances at his intense live concert performances increased to the point where he would eventually would sell out nationwide concert tours on a regular basis.

Today

Red Hurley now enjoys renewed success both in Ireland and the USA. In 2010 he celebrated 40 years in show business with a sell out tour of Ireland with his special guest, Legendary US Singer Rita Coolidge. The highlight was a sell out show at Dublin's Grand Canal Theatre and giving the veteran star 2 standing ovations. A new admirer of Red's is none other than American Icon (Pulitzer Prize Winning Author) Maya Angelou who calls Red 'Her Son' and who has helped introduce a greatest hits compilation Red Hurley 'The Hits'. He has also starred in a coast to coast TV special for PBS in America in 2006 filmed before a live audience in Dublin's Olympia Theatre. A second PBS TV special is planned for 2011. Speaking in September 2010 of the renewed interest in his career Red said that he is 'delighted and really enjoying his life again'. "Kevin Myers" the leading Irish journalist writing in the "Irish Independent" in September 2010 said 'His intuitive sense of the beautiful is one reason why Red Hurley is such a wonderful singer. He will find the key element of any song—a single note or phrase—and elevate that into an unexpected little musical jewel'. Internet concert reviews blog Daniel Lindon Reviews said of Red 'Rarely has an artist had the persistence and self belief to rise above so many career setbacks and once again triumphant, he is without a doubt one of the greatest male singers in the world today and his international success is long overdue'. Red Hurley is once again back on top and it seems he is enjoying every minute.

Irish chart positions

Band Singles:

A Poor Man's Roses / I Didn't Even Know (with The Colours) – #14 Irish Charts Target Records – 7N.17771 – June 1969

Isadora / Amigos (with the Wheels) – #14 Irish Charts Target Records – May 1970

Take Me Tonight / Let's Get Started (with the Wheels) – #20 Irish Charts Target Records – 7N.17982 – September 1970

Going Away (with the Nevada) Play Records – March 1971

Sometimes / I'll Be Home (with the Nevada) – #1 Irish Charts Play Records – PLAY 03 – July 1971

Kiss Me Goodbye / Bring Back The Good Times (with the Nevada) – #1 Irish Charts Play Records – PLAY 06 – Oct, 1971

Hold Me / Trudy (with the Nevada) – #3 Irish Charts Play Records – PLAY 19 – April 1972

Arkansas / Hold Me Just One More Time (with the Nevada) – #2 Irish Charts Play Records – PLAY 53 – Feb, 1973

I Never Said Goodbye / I’d Like To Teach You (with the Nevada) – #5 Irish Charts Play Records – PLAY 63 – August 1973

Solo Singles:

I Know – #5 Irish Charts Release Records – RL 741 – 1974

Love Is All – #1 Irish Charts Release Records – RL 766 – 1975

Broken Promises – #1 Irish Charts Release Records – January 1976

When – Irish Eurovision Entry for 1976 – #4 Irish Charts PYE Records – 7N.45583 – March 1976

Tennessee Special / Morea – #3 Irish Charts EMI/Red Bus Records – EMI 2527 – September 1976

In Shame Love, In Shame – #3 Irish Charts Release Records – February 1977

You're My Day, You're My Night / Morena – #2 Irish Charts Release Records – RL.878 – July 1977

You Don't Have To Say You Love Me – #5 Irish Charts Release Records – May 1978

You're So Good To Me / Steppin' Aside – #9 Irish Charts Spider Records – February 1979

The Furey Man – #6 Irish Charts Spider Records – November 1979

I Want To Live With You / Perfect Love – #29 Irish Charts Spider Records – WEB 036 – January 1981

Hey / Cut Across Shorty – #15 Irish Charts Crashed Records – CAR 38 – February 1983

Danny – #15 Irish Charts Crashed Records – CAR – September 1983

I Believe I'm Going To Love You – #21 Irish Charts Dolphin Records – DOS – June 1985

Let The Heartaches Begin – #20 Irish Charts Dolphin Records – DOS – June 1987

For Always – #19 Irish Charts Dolphin Records – DOS – April 1989

We were in Love – #27 Irish Charts Ensign records – Sept, 2006

Album Releases since 2000

2003 – You're Still You

2005 – Always There For Me

2006 – Raised on Songs and Stories CD/DVD (USA)

2008 – Red Hurley 'The Hits'

2009 – How Great Thou Art

2010 – Sings My Soul CD/DVD (USA)