Irish music stars born in 1961
Here are 8 famous musicians from Republic of Ireland were born in 1961:
Enya
Enya (May 17, 1961 Gweedore-) also known as Eithne Ni Bhraonain, Eithne Patricia Ní Bhraonáin, Enya Brennan or Eithne Ní Bhraonáin is an Irish singer, composer, musician, record producer, songwriter and singer-songwriter.
Her albums: Caribbean Blue, The Celts 2, The Box Collection, The Best 2001, Sampler, Romantic Years, Newage, May It Be (Extended B-sides Version), Greatest Hits 1988-1995 and Book of Days. Her related genres: Instrumental, New-age music, Celtic music, World music, Folk music of Ireland, Trance music and Ethereal wave.
Enya was born into a musical family and started playing music at a young age, learning piano, guitar and accordion. She rose to fame in the 1980s as a member of the Celtic band Clannad, but became a solo artist in 1985 with her self-titled album. Her breakthrough came with the 1988 album Watermark, which included the hit song "Orinoco Flow". Enya has sold over 75 million records around the world, making her one of the most successful female artists of all time. She has won four Grammy Awards and an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting. Enya is known for her distinctive sound that blends traditional Irish elements with new age and ambient music. She is also known for her reclusive nature and avoidance of the media spotlight.
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Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel O'Donnell (December 12, 1961 Kincasslagh-) a.k.a. Daniel O' Donnell, O'Donnell, Daniel or Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell is an Irish singer and singer-songwriter.
Discography: Teenage Dreams, From Daniel With Love, At the end of the Day, Christmas With Daniel, Daniel in Blue Jeans, Dreaming, Faith & Inspiration, Irish Collection, The Jukebox Years and The Very Best of Daniel O'Donnell. Genres: Country, Folk music and Easy listening.
Daniel O'Donnell is known for his distinctive voice and his ability to entertain audiences with his unique blend of country, folk, and easy listening music. Born in County Donegal, Ireland, on December 12, 1961, he first rose to fame in the late 1980s and has since become a household name in his native country and abroad.
In addition to his successful music career, O'Donnell has also appeared on several popular television shows, including "The Daniel O'Donnell Show" and "Ros na Rún". He has also been involved in a number of charitable initiatives over the years, including his work with the Donegal Hospice and the North West Cancer Centre.
With over 40 albums to his name, O'Donnell has sold millions of records worldwide and has won numerous awards throughout his career, including the prestigious Entertainer of the Year award at the Irish Country Music Awards. Despite his international success, he has remained grounded and continues to connect with his fans through his music and his down-to-earth personality.
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Larry Mullen, Jr.
Larry Mullen, Jr. (October 31, 1961 Artane, Dublin-) a.k.a. Lawrence Joseph Mullen Jr., Laurence Joseph Mullen Jr., Larry Mullen Jr., Lawrence Joseph Mullen, Jr., Larry Mullen, Larry Mullen Jnr. or Babyface Mullen is an Irish musician, songwriter, drummer, film score composer and actor. He has three children, Ava Mullen, Aaron Elvis Mullen and Ezra Mullen.
Related albums: Mission: Impossible. His related genres: Rock music, Post-punk and Alternative rock.
Larry Mullen Jr. is best known as the founding member and drummer of the rock band U2. He formed the band in 1976 along with his schoolmates Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton. Since then, U2 has become one of the most successful and iconic bands in the world, selling over 170 million records worldwide and winning numerous awards, including 22 Grammy Awards.
Apart from his work with U2, Mullen has also worked on several film scores, including the soundtrack for the movie Mission: Impossible. He has acted in a few films as well, including the Irish movie Man on the Train.
Mullen is also involved in charitable work, and is a patron of the Irish charity, Chernobyl Children International. He has also actively supported organizations working towards Parkinson's disease research and AIDS prevention.
In 2016, Mullen and his U2 bandmates were awarded the iHeartRadio Innovator Award, in recognition of their groundbreaking work in the music industry.
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Mick O'Brien
Mick O'Brien (March 26, 1961 Dublin-) also known as Mick O'Brian or O'Brain, Mick is an Irish , .
His albums include Kitty Lie Over, May Morning Dew, and Tunes from the Goodman Manuscripts.
Mick O'Brien hails from a family of musicians and is an accomplished uilleann piper. He is a graduate of University College Dublin, where he studied Irish and music. He has performed with some of the biggest names in Irish traditional music including The Dubliners, The Chieftains, and De Danann. In addition to performing and recording music, O'Brien also teaches the uilleann pipes and has been a regular instructor at the Willie Clancy Summer School. He is widely regarded as one of the foremost uilleann pipers of his generation and has been recognized with numerous awards for his contributions to Irish music.
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Mark Kelly
Mark Kelly (April 9, 1961 Dublin-) a.k.a. Kelly, Mark or Mark Colbert Kelly is an Irish keyboard player and musician.
Genres he performed include Art rock, Progressive rock, Neo-progressive rock and Pop rock.
Mark Kelly is best known for being the keyboard player for the British rock band Marillion. He joined the band in 1981 and has been an integral part of their sound ever since. In addition to playing keyboards, Kelly has also contributed to the band's songwriting, and has been credited with writing some of Marillion's most iconic songs.
Aside from his work with Marillion, Kelly has also released several solo albums. His debut solo album, "Mantra Vega," was released in 2014 and features guest appearances from a number of notable musicians, including Steve Hogarth and John Mitchell. Kelly has also collaborated with other artists on various projects, including the band Kompendium and the supergroup Frost*.
In addition to his music career, Kelly is also an accomplished pilot and astronaut. He has flown over 40 different types of aircraft and has logged over 6,000 hours of flight time. In 1996, he was selected by NASA to become an astronaut and went on to fly four missions on the space shuttle, including the final mission of the space shuttle Endeavour in 2011. Kelly's twin brother, Scott Kelly, is also an astronaut and holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by an American astronaut.
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Martin Hayes
Martin Hayes (November 13, 1961 County Clare-) a.k.a. Hayes, Martin is an Irish fiddler and film score composer.
His most well known albums: Martin Hayes, Under the Moon, The Lonesome Touch, Live in Seattle, Welcome Here Again and The Shores of Lough Graney. Genres related to him: Folk music of Ireland.
Hayes was born in County Clare, Ireland in 1961 and grew up in a family deeply rooted in Irish traditional music. He began playing the fiddle at the age of seven and quickly became recognized for his prodigious talent, winning numerous competitions throughout his youth. In the early 1980s, Hayes joined forces with guitarist Dennis Cahill to form the group, The Gloaming, and together they have been credited with revolutionizing traditional Irish music.
Apart from his work with The Gloaming, Hayes has released several solo albums, including the critically acclaimed "The Lonesome Touch" and "Under the Moon." He is known for his virtuosic playing style, which blends impeccable technical skill with an intuitive, emotive approach to the music.
In addition to his work as a performer, Hayes has also composed music for numerous films, including the award-winning documentary "The Cup." He has been recognized with several prestigious awards for his contributions to Irish music, including the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Traditional Musician of the Year award in 2008.
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Gerry Leonard
Gerry Leonard (February 26, 1961 Clontarf, Dublin-) a.k.a. Leonard, Gerry or Gerry "Spookyghost" Leonard is an Irish musician.
His related genres: Rock music, Ambient music, Volk and Folk music.
Gerry Leonard first gained prominence as a guitarist and member of the Irish rock band Hinterland in the 1980s. He later moved to New York City and established himself as a sought-after sideman, working with a diverse range of artists including Suzanne Vega, David Bowie, and Rufus Wainwright.
In addition to his work as a guitarist, Leonard has also released several solo albums showcasing his skills as a composer and producer. He is known for his atmospheric, textural approach to guitar playing, which incorporates elements of rock, folk, and electronic music.
In recent years, Leonard has continued to collaborate with a variety of artists and has also become involved in music education, teaching workshops and master classes around the world. He is widely regarded as one of Ireland's most accomplished and innovative musicians.
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The Edge
The Edge (August 8, 1961 Barking-) also known as David Howell Evans or Edge is an Irish musician, songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player, film score composer and activist. His children are Hollie Evans, Sian Evans, Blue Angel Evans, Levi Evans and Arran Evans.
His most recognized albums: Captive, Heroine, Snake Charmer and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Genres he performed include Rock music, Post-punk and Alternative rock.
The Edge is most well-known for his work as the guitarist and keyboardist for the rock band U2, which he co-founded in 1976. He has been described as one of the most inventive guitarists of his generation, incorporating a variety of techniques into his playing that have helped to define the band's unique sound.
In addition to his work with U2, The Edge has collaborated with numerous other artists over the years, including B.B. King, Tina Turner, and Johnny Cash. He has also pursued a successful career as a film score composer, working on projects like The Batman, Million Dollar Hotel and It Might Get Loud.
Beyond his music career, The Edge has been a prominent activist, particularly in the areas of environmentalism and social justice. He founded Music Rising, a charity that aimed to help musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina, and has also been involved with campaigns to combat global warming and poverty.
Overall, The Edge's contributions as a musician, composer, and activist have helped to establish him as one of the most influential figures in modern rock music.
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