Ronnie Carroll
Encyclopedia
Ronnie Carroll is a Northern Irish singer and entertainer
.
theatre
he met his first wife, Millicent Martin
. He scored his first hit
in 1956 with "Walk Hand in Hand
" on the Philips
label
. Having taken part in the 1960 UK Eurovision selection contest with the song "Girl With A Curl", he returned to win the selection and be Britain
's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1962
, and with the song
"Ring-A-Ding Girl" shared fourth place, the same placing he reached in 1963 with another British Eurovision Song Contest
entry, "Say Wonderful Things
". Carroll is the only singer to have represented the UK in the competition two years in succession. This success was followed by two Top 10 hits during 1962 and 1963, but a lack of good material meant that he could not sustain a chart
presence.
Although somehow never quite breaking through into the very top flight of British singers, Ronnie Carroll's output on disc was well enough received.
Carroll subsequently worked on cruise ship
s, including the QE2
, with John Marcangelo
who was the drummer
with the Ronnie Carroll Orchestra.
He contested Hampstead and Highgate in the 1997 UK General Election
, and the Uxbridge by-election
in July 1997.
In the 2005 British General Election
, Carroll stood for the Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket Party
, in Belfast
. He is close friends with the party leader, Rainbow George
. It has been superseded by the Make Politicians History banner. In the same year he released a comeback album
, Back on Song. He stood in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008
as a candidate for Make Politicians History and received 29 votes despite announcing that he was trying to enter the record books by receiving no votes.
He currently resides in Hampstead
, London
and is a regular caller to phone-in shows on BBC London 94.9
.
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
.
Career
Through work in varietyVariety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
he met his first wife, Millicent Martin
Millicent Martin
Millicent Mary Lillian Martin is an English actress, singer and comedienne.Martin was born in Romford, England. She made her Broadway debut opposite Julie Andrews in The Boy Friend in 1954...
. He scored his first hit
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
in 1956 with "Walk Hand in Hand
Walk Hand in Hand
"Walk Hand in Hand" is a popular song by Johnny Cowell, published in 1956.The biggest-selling version recorded of the song was sung by Tony Martin, reaching #10 on the United States Billboard charts in 1956. The same year, it was recorded by Andy Williams, whose version hit #54 on the chart, and by...
" on the Philips
Philips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Having taken part in the 1960 UK Eurovision selection contest with the song "Girl With A Curl", he returned to win the selection and be Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1962
Eurovision Song Contest 1962
The Eurovision Song Contest 1962 was the seventh in the series. France's win was their third and marked the first time a country had won three contests. Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, and Spain all scored "null points" for the first time....
, and with the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
"Ring-A-Ding Girl" shared fourth place, the same placing he reached in 1963 with another British Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1963
The Eurovision Song Contest 1963 was the 8th Eurovision Song Contest. France had won the contest in 1962 but were incapable of hosting in 1963, as was their right, due to financial shortcomings. As was the case in 1960 - and as would become a tradition when smaller broadcasters could not afford to...
entry, "Say Wonderful Things
Say Wonderful Things (song)
"Say Wonderful Things" is a popular song with music by Philip Green and lyrics by Norman Newell, published in 1963. It was the United Kingdom's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1963, held in London. The singer was Ronnie Carroll, who also represented the UK the year before...
". Carroll is the only singer to have represented the UK in the competition two years in succession. This success was followed by two Top 10 hits during 1962 and 1963, but a lack of good material meant that he could not sustain a chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
presence.
Although somehow never quite breaking through into the very top flight of British singers, Ronnie Carroll's output on disc was well enough received.
Carroll subsequently worked on cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s, including the QE2
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
, with John Marcangelo
John Marcangelo
John Marcangelo is an English pianist, drummer and composer of folk-rock music.-Early life:He comes from The Valley in Whitehaven in Cumberland. He went to on Coach Road in Whitehaven. He is the son of an Italian barber...
who was the drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
with the Ronnie Carroll Orchestra.
He contested Hampstead and Highgate in the 1997 UK General Election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, and the Uxbridge by-election
Uxbridge by-election, 1997
The Uxbridge by-election, 1997 was a parliamentary by-election held in July 1997 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the constituency of Uxbridge in London, England....
in July 1997.
In the 2005 British General Election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, Carroll stood for the Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket Party
Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket
Make Politicians History was a minor United Kingdom political party that advocated the abolition of Parliament in favour of devolution to city-states and decision-making by referendum. Its leader was Ronnie Carroll...
, in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. He is close friends with the party leader, Rainbow George
Rainbow George Weiss
Rainbow George Weiss son of a diamond merchant, is a fringe UK politician who stood in 13 constituencies at the 2005 General Election....
. It has been superseded by the Make Politicians History banner. In the same year he released a comeback album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Back on Song. He stood in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008
Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008
The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
as a candidate for Make Politicians History and received 29 votes despite announcing that he was trying to enter the record books by receiving no votes.
He currently resides in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and is a regular caller to phone-in shows on BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
.
Singles discography
- "Walk Hand in HandWalk Hand in Hand"Walk Hand in Hand" is a popular song by Johnny Cowell, published in 1956.The biggest-selling version recorded of the song was sung by Tony Martin, reaching #10 on the United States Billboard charts in 1956. The same year, it was recorded by Andy Williams, whose version hit #54 on the chart, and by...
" - (1956) - UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
- No. 13 - "The Wisdom of a Fool" - (1957) - No. 20
- "Footsteps" - (1960) - No. 36
- "Ring-A-Ding GirlRing-A-Ding Girl"Ring-A-Ding Girl" was the British entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1962, performed in English by Ronnie Carroll,On the night of the contest the song was performed 13th, following Yugoslavia's Lola Novaković with "Ne pali svetlo u sumrak " and France 's Camillo Felgen with "Petit bonhomme"...
" - (1962) - No. 46 - "Roses Are Red" - (1962) - No. 3
- "If Only Tomorrow" - (1962) - No. 33
- "Say Wonderful ThingsSay Wonderful Things (song)"Say Wonderful Things" is a popular song with music by Philip Green and lyrics by Norman Newell, published in 1963. It was the United Kingdom's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1963, held in London. The singer was Ronnie Carroll, who also represented the UK the year before...
" - (1963) - No. 6