Liam McKenna
Encyclopedia
Liam Patrick McKenna is an Irish singer and television presenter. He is also known as the road manager for pop rap
duo Jedward
.
band Six
. The band were formed on the television program Irish Popstars
. The program aired on RTÉ One
on Sunday nights in the autumn and winter of 2001-02. The show was a major hit among viewers, placing in the top three of the weekly ratings by averaging almost 1 million viewers each week. The band were managed by Louis Walsh
who also appeared as a judge on the show.
Six released their first single, "Whole Lotta Lovin'," in February 2002. It entered the chart at No. 1, selling over 160,000 copies in its first week alone. This record breaking single is still the biggest, and the fastest selling single of all time in Ireland. In July 2002, Six released their second single, "Let Me Be the One," which again débuted at No.1 on the Irish charts though it sold less than "Whole Lotta Lovin'". During August 2002, Six went on an Irish tour.
Following Irish Popstars being broadcast in New Zealand
, Norway
and South Africa
, their début single also charted in the top 5 in New Zealand, Norway, Poland
, Iceland
and peaked at No. 2 in Sweden
.
After the tour, Six's album "This Is It", was released in October 2002 and débuted at No. 5 on the Irish charts.
Media reports suggested at the time he had won a major role in a pilot TV series for a US TV network.
In September 2005 Liam joined RTÉ Two
as an entertainment reporter for TTV.
, alongside Glenda Gilson
and Christopher Parker
. His work to date on the show The Juice, has seen him interview A-List stars such as Nelly Furtado
, The Pussycat Dolls, Westlife
, Hilary Duff
, and 50 Cent
among many others.
Liam works behind the scenes of The X Factor
with judge Louis Walsh
, and regularly contributes to TV3's Xpose as well as writing a weekly column for the Irish Daily Star about behind the scenes gossip on the show. He is also the TV contributor for RTÉ's 'The Afternoon Show' and hosted the ChildLine Concert
in 2009 from the O2 in Dublin and on Tv3. Performances included Westlife
, JLS
, Alexandra Burke
, Taio Cruz
, Cascada
and The Saturdays
. In May 2010, Liam was the Aero Agent (www.winabubble.ie) on RTÉ 2FM, he travelled throughout Ireland, giving away cash amounts as part of a 1 hour radio show every single day in May.
Since June 2010, he has been working as road manager
for Jedward
and can also be seen in their television series Jedward: Let Loose
. He frequently appeared in RTE's show, "OMG! It's Jedward!" He hosted the Jedward Tour 2010 tour of Ireland for 27 dates throughout the country in April and May. He also hosted Jedward's Summer Tour 2010, in Ireland and hosted Jedward's "Bad Behaviour" tour in April 2011.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
duo Jedward
Jedward
John Paul Henry Daniel Richard Grimes and Edward Peter Anthony Kevin Patrick Grimes are an Irish hip pop duo. They are identical twins and perform under the name Jedward...
.
Early career
In 2001, at the age of 20, McKenna became a member of the popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band Six
Six (band)
Six were an Irish pop group who formed on the television programme Irish Popstars in 2002. The programme aired on RTÉ One on Sunday nights in the autumn and winter of 2001-02...
. The band were formed on the television program Irish Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
. The program aired on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
on Sunday nights in the autumn and winter of 2001-02. The show was a major hit among viewers, placing in the top three of the weekly ratings by averaging almost 1 million viewers each week. The band were managed by Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
who also appeared as a judge on the show.
Six released their first single, "Whole Lotta Lovin'," in February 2002. It entered the chart at No. 1, selling over 160,000 copies in its first week alone. This record breaking single is still the biggest, and the fastest selling single of all time in Ireland. In July 2002, Six released their second single, "Let Me Be the One," which again débuted at No.1 on the Irish charts though it sold less than "Whole Lotta Lovin'". During August 2002, Six went on an Irish tour.
Following Irish Popstars being broadcast in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, their début single also charted in the top 5 in New Zealand, Norway, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and peaked at No. 2 in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
After the tour, Six's album "This Is It", was released in October 2002 and débuted at No. 5 on the Irish charts.
After Six
When Six split in early 2003, Liam was reported to be living in Los Angeles.Media reports suggested at the time he had won a major role in a pilot TV series for a US TV network.
In September 2005 Liam joined RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
as an entertainment reporter for TTV.
Recent work
In August 2006 he became one of the lead presenters on music video channel Bubble HitsBubble Hits
Bubble Hits was an Irish-owned digital television music channel owned by Creative Sounds. It broadcast two channels; one for Ireland and a Pan-European feed which covered the United Kingdom, Hungary, Poland and Germany. On 13 February 2009, Bubble Hits went off air and was removed from most of the...
, alongside Glenda Gilson
Glenda Gilson
Glenda Gilson is an Irish model and television presenter.-Career:In August 2006, Gilson embarked on a presenting career, appearing as the face of Irish music channel Bubble Hits hosting the news and entertainment show Glenda's Showbiz Gossip...
and Christopher Parker
Christopher Parker
Christopher Parker is an English actor and television presenter.- Early career :Christopher Parker’s career began at an early age as a model appearing in print campaigns and TV commercials. . He progressed onto small roles in TV dramas such as The Bill, London's Burning and Judge John Deed...
. His work to date on the show The Juice, has seen him interview A-List stars such as Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
, The Pussycat Dolls, Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
, Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
, and 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
among many others.
Liam works behind the scenes of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
with judge Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
, and regularly contributes to TV3's Xpose as well as writing a weekly column for the Irish Daily Star about behind the scenes gossip on the show. He is also the TV contributor for RTÉ's 'The Afternoon Show' and hosted the ChildLine Concert
ChildLine Concert
The ChildLine Concert is an annual pop music charity event which has taken place in Ireland since 1997. As the name suggests the money raised by the concert is donated to the young person's charity, ChildLine and many of the attendants are also children...
in 2009 from the O2 in Dublin and on Tv3. Performances included Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
, JLS
JLS
- Music :* JLS, an English boyband** JLS , debut album by JLS* JLS a Spanish Rock band based in Zaragoza , Spain formed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by lead Leo Susana.- Organizations :...
, Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke is a British R&B and pop recording artist who rose to fame after winning the fifth series of British television series The X Factor in 2008...
, Taio Cruz
Taio Cruz
Taio Cruz is a British singer-songwriter, record producer, occasional rapper, and entrepreneur. In 2008, he released his debut album Departure, which Cruz wrote, arranged and produced himself. It achieved initial success in the UK and earned him a MOBO Award nomination...
, Cascada
Cascada
Cascada is a German Eurodance act most famous for their hit singles "Everytime We Touch", "What Hurts the Most", and "Evacuate the Dancefloor"...
and The Saturdays
The Saturdays
The Saturdays are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London, United Kingdom. The group consists of five members Una Healy, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford, Vanessa White and Rochelle Wiseman. In 2007 the band were formed through Fascination Records which gave them an instant record deal with...
. In May 2010, Liam was the Aero Agent (www.winabubble.ie) on RTÉ 2FM, he travelled throughout Ireland, giving away cash amounts as part of a 1 hour radio show every single day in May.
Since June 2010, he has been working as road manager
Road manager
In music industry, a Road Manager is a person who works with small to mid-sized tours...
for Jedward
Jedward
John Paul Henry Daniel Richard Grimes and Edward Peter Anthony Kevin Patrick Grimes are an Irish hip pop duo. They are identical twins and perform under the name Jedward...
and can also be seen in their television series Jedward: Let Loose
Jedward: Let Loose
Jedward: Let Loose is a three part television series, following the Irish pop duo, Jedward, after their time spent on the sixth series of The X Factor, and the rise in fame they experienced...
. He frequently appeared in RTE's show, "OMG! It's Jedward!" He hosted the Jedward Tour 2010 tour of Ireland for 27 dates throughout the country in April and May. He also hosted Jedward's Summer Tour 2010, in Ireland and hosted Jedward's "Bad Behaviour" tour in April 2011.