Rose Brennan
Encyclopedia
Rose Brennan is an Irish singer. She is best known for a long spell with the Joe Loss
orchestra in the 1950s and 1960s.
, County Galway. Roy Fox
booked her in 1949 for his stage show at the Theatre Royal
in Dublin. When Fox moved on, Rose joined the Billy Watson Band at Clery's Ballroom. She was also a regular voice on Radio Éireann
's Happy Days and Beginners Please series.
In April 1951 Elizabeth Batey, vocalist with Joe Loss, fell and broke her jaw. Joe was badly in need of a replacement and remembered hearing Rose Brennan on radio during a visit to Ireland. Within days he had located her and, before a week was out, she was in Manchester rehearsing with the band. She stayed with Loss for fifteen years, before giving up show-business in the mid 1960s. In 1954 she was awarded third place by the New Musical Express for the best recording of the year; this was her cover of Leo Maguire
's "The Whistling Gypsy
". Her co-vocalist with the orchestra from 1955 was Ross MacManus
(father of Elvis Costello
). She sang for years with the Joe Loss Orchestra for weekly programs on the BBC. She married and retired to run a pub, the Norland Arms in West London, with her husband.
She wrote many of the songs she recorded under the name Marella, and co-wrote songs with John Harris.
She was probably one of the fifties' most underrated singers, possibly due to the fact that she was happy to remain with Joe Loss as a singer, rather than concentrate on a solo career.
B 10378 Nov 1952 'Isle of Innisfree'
B 10391 Dec 1952 'Got you on my mind (with The Kordites)'
B 10405 Jan 1953 'A moth and a flame'
B 10427 Feb 1953 'Why don't you believe me'
B 10448 Mar 1953 'Wishing ring'
B 10572 Oct 1953 'If you love me / The whistling gypsy'
B 10858 Apl 1955 'When I see a ship / Pledging my love'
POP 156 Jan 1956 'You are my love / My Dublin Bay'
POP 200 Apl 1956 'Courtin' in the kitchen / Those who have loved'
PB 1193 Nov 1961 'Tall dark stranger'
PB 1229 Apl 1962 'Come down the mountain Katie Daly'
BF 1267 Sep 1963 'Don't do me any favours / If only I could say'
BF 1304 Jan 1964 'Lipstick paint a smile on me / I'm a lonely one too'
BF 1327 Apl 1964 'Make room for one more fool'
The Golden Years of the Theatre Royal 1986
50 Great Years of Joe Loss. Music For Pleasure EMI label CDDL 1281
Joe Loss & His Orchestra: Featuring Rose Brennan Howard Jones & Elizabeth Batey (2004)
Joe Loss: In the Mood. EMI Gold (2005)
Joe Loss
Joshua Alexander "Joe" Loss LVO OBE was a British musician and founder of the Joe Loss Orchestra.-Life:Loss was born in Spitalfields, London, the youngest of four children. His parents, Israel and Ada Loss, were Russian Jews and first cousins. His father was a cabinet-maker who had an office...
orchestra in the 1950s and 1960s.
Early life
Rose Brennan was born in Cabra West, a suburb of Dublin. At age sixteen she started singing with the Neil Kearns Orchestra at Dublin's Olympic Ballroom, Johnny Devlin's De Luxe Orchestra at the Crystal Ballroom, and the Pavilion (popularly known as "The Hangar") in SalthillSalthill
Salthill is a seaside area of Galway city, Ireland. It lies within the townland of Lenaboy and attracts many tourists all year round...
, County Galway. Roy Fox
Roy Fox
Roy Fox was an American dance bandleader whose period of greatest popularity came during his years performing in England.Roy Fox was raised in Hollywood, California...
booked her in 1949 for his stage show at the Theatre Royal
Theatre 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...
in Dublin. When Fox moved on, Rose joined the Billy Watson Band at Clery's Ballroom. She was also a regular voice on Radio Éireann
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
's Happy Days and Beginners Please series.
In April 1951 Elizabeth Batey, vocalist with Joe Loss, fell and broke her jaw. Joe was badly in need of a replacement and remembered hearing Rose Brennan on radio during a visit to Ireland. Within days he had located her and, before a week was out, she was in Manchester rehearsing with the band. She stayed with Loss for fifteen years, before giving up show-business in the mid 1960s. In 1954 she was awarded third place by the New Musical Express for the best recording of the year; this was her cover of Leo Maguire
Leo Maguire
Patrick Leo Maguire, was an Irish singer, songwriter, and radio broadcaster.Born in Dublin's inner city, Maguire trained as a baritone under Vincent O'Brien, John McCormack's voice teacher. For many years he performed with the Dublin Operatic Society.Maguire was a prolific composer, writing over...
's "The Whistling Gypsy
The Whistling Gypsy
The Whistling Gypsy, sometimes known simply as The Gypsy Rover, is a well-known ballad composed and copyrighted by Dublin songwriter Leo Maguire about 1950....
". Her co-vocalist with the orchestra from 1955 was Ross MacManus
Ross MacManus
Ross MacManus was an English musician and trumpet player, who performed with Joe Loss and his orchestra, and the father of singer Elvis Costello....
(father of Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
). She sang for years with the Joe Loss Orchestra for weekly programs on the BBC. She married and retired to run a pub, the Norland Arms in West London, with her husband.
She wrote many of the songs she recorded under the name Marella, and co-wrote songs with John Harris.
She was probably one of the fifties' most underrated singers, possibly due to the fact that she was happy to remain with Joe Loss as a singer, rather than concentrate on a solo career.
Select discography
BD 6110 Nov 1951 'Lili Marlene'B 10378 Nov 1952 'Isle of Innisfree'
B 10391 Dec 1952 'Got you on my mind (with The Kordites)'
B 10405 Jan 1953 'A moth and a flame'
B 10427 Feb 1953 'Why don't you believe me'
B 10448 Mar 1953 'Wishing ring'
B 10572 Oct 1953 'If you love me / The whistling gypsy'
B 10858 Apl 1955 'When I see a ship / Pledging my love'
POP 156 Jan 1956 'You are my love / My Dublin Bay'
POP 200 Apl 1956 'Courtin' in the kitchen / Those who have loved'
PB 1193 Nov 1961 'Tall dark stranger'
PB 1229 Apl 1962 'Come down the mountain Katie Daly'
BF 1267 Sep 1963 'Don't do me any favours / If only I could say'
BF 1304 Jan 1964 'Lipstick paint a smile on me / I'm a lonely one too'
BF 1327 Apl 1964 'Make room for one more fool'
The Golden Years of the Theatre Royal 1986
50 Great Years of Joe Loss. Music For Pleasure EMI label CDDL 1281
Joe Loss & His Orchestra: Featuring Rose Brennan Howard Jones & Elizabeth Batey (2004)
Joe Loss: In the Mood. EMI Gold (2005)