Carmel Quinn
Encyclopedia
Carmel Quinn is an Irish
entertainer who has appeared on Broadway
, television and radio since coming to America in 1954.
with the house orchestra and Jimmy Campbell. She was noted for one of her first songs, "The Isle of Innisfree", from the classic hit movie The Quiet Man
, which starred John Wayne
and Maureen O'Hara
.
After coming to the United States in 1954, she appeared on the Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
radio program in 1955 and won the contest. Her voice and performing style was compared to that of Judy Garland
and other popular singers. She became a regular on the show, appearing daily, singing and telling funny anecdotes about her life. She went on to appear on the television version of Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
.
Unlike many of the so-called "Little Godfreys," who Godfrey capriciously dismissed from his shows and left with bitter feelings, Quinn had no such trouble. She remained a frequent guest throughout Godfrey's television career and appeared on the CBS radio version of Arthur Godfrey Time which he hosted until 1972. She continued to be a favourite with audiences and made guest appearances on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
(three times between 1957 and 1960) The Ed Sullivan Show
, The Match Game, Candid Camera
and other variety and talk shows.
Since then she went on to appear in numerous musical road shows and has starred in Wildcat
, Finian's Rainbow
and The Sound of Music
. She performed for presidents John F. Kennedy
and Lyndon B. Johnson
. Her annual Saint Patrick's Day
Concerts at Carnegie Hall
sold out for more than two decades. She appeared in numerous television commercials and has recorded many successful albums. She received a Grammy Award
nomination for her children's recording of "Patrick Muldoon and his Magic Balloon". One of her biggest hits was "The Whistling Gypsy Rover".
She continued to record and many of her early recordings have been reissued on CD. In 1991 she was the second woman to receive the prestigious John F. Kennedy Award for excellence in her field of activity. She continues to perform her cabaret show throughout the United States as well as maintaining a commitment to numerous American and Irish charities.
Quinn has been a longtime resident of Leonia, New Jersey
, acquiring her first home there after coming to the United States.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
entertainer who has appeared on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, television and radio since coming to America in 1954.
Biography
Quinn began her career in her native Dublin as a teenager singing with local bands. She sang at Dublin's Theatre RoyalTheatre Royal, Dublin
At one stage in the history of the theatre in Britain and Ireland, the designation Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre was an indication that the theatre was granted a Royal Patent without which theatrical performances were illegal...
with the house orchestra and Jimmy Campbell. She was noted for one of her first songs, "The Isle of Innisfree", from the classic hit movie The Quiet Man
The Quiet Man
The Quiet Man is a 1952 American Technicolor romantic comedy-drama film. It was directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglen and Barry Fitzgerald. It was based on a 1933 Saturday Evening Post short story by Maurice Walsh...
, which starred John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara is an Irish film actress and singer. The famously red-headed O'Hara has been noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with a highly sensible attitude. She often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne...
.
After coming to the United States in 1954, she appeared on the Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts is an American radio and television variety show which ran on CBS from 1946 until 1958...
radio program in 1955 and won the contest. Her voice and performing style was compared to that of Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
and other popular singers. She became a regular on the show, appearing daily, singing and telling funny anecdotes about her life. She went on to appear on the television version of Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
Arthur Godfrey and His Friends is an American television variety show hosted by Arthur Godfrey. The hour-long series aired on CBS from January 1949, to June 1957 , then again as a half-hour show from September 1958, to April 1959.Many of Godfrey's musical acts were culled from Arthur Godfrey's...
.
Unlike many of the so-called "Little Godfreys," who Godfrey capriciously dismissed from his shows and left with bitter feelings, Quinn had no such trouble. She remained a frequent guest throughout Godfrey's television career and appeared on the CBS radio version of Arthur Godfrey Time which he hosted until 1972. She continued to be a favourite with audiences and made guest appearances on The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom is a half-hour variety show that aired on ABC from October 3, 1957 to June 23, 1960, starring the young singer Pat Boone and a host of top-name guest stars. The program was of course sponsored by Chevrolet...
(three times between 1957 and 1960) The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
, The Match Game, Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
and other variety and talk shows.
Since then she went on to appear in numerous musical road shows and has starred in Wildcat
Wildcat (musical)
Wildcat is a musical with a book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and music by Cy Coleman.The original production opened on Broadway in 1960, starring a 48-year-old Lucille Ball in her only Broadway show.-Background and production:...
, Finian's Rainbow
Finian's Rainbow
Finian's Rainbow is a musical with a book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane. The 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances. Several revivals and a 1968 film version followed. A Broadway revival ran from October 8, 2009 until January 17, 2010...
and The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
. She performed for presidents John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
. Her annual Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
Concerts at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
sold out for more than two decades. She appeared in numerous television commercials and has recorded many successful albums. She received a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination for her children's recording of "Patrick Muldoon and his Magic Balloon". One of her biggest hits was "The Whistling Gypsy Rover".
She continued to record and many of her early recordings have been reissued on CD. In 1991 she was the second woman to receive the prestigious John F. Kennedy Award for excellence in her field of activity. She continues to perform her cabaret show throughout the United States as well as maintaining a commitment to numerous American and Irish charities.
Quinn has been a longtime resident of Leonia, New Jersey
Leonia, New Jersey
Leonia is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,937. It is located near the western approach to the George Washington Bridge....
, acquiring her first home there after coming to the United States.