Val Doonican
Encyclopedia
Val Doonican is an Irish
singer. From 1965 to 1986 he was a regular fixture on the BBC Television
's schedule with The Val Doonican Show, which featured his own singing performances and a variety of guest artists. A notably relaxed crooner
, in the swinging sixties
, Doonican had five successive Top 10 albums in the UK Albums Chart
.
and appeared in the first television broadcast from Waterford. He then joined a band which toured Ireland playing the drums
. In 1951 he moved to England
to join another group, The Four Ramblers, who toured and performed on BBC Radio
shows broadcast from factories.
He eventually went solo and had a radio show as well as performing concerts and cabaret. In 1963 he was booked to appear on Sunday Night at the London Palladium
. As a result of this performance, Bill Cotton
, then Assistant Head of Light Entertainment, offered him his own show on BBC television
, lasting for over twenty years. It featured his relaxed crooner
style performance sitting in a rocking chair, as well as a number of comic
Irish song
s, notably "Paddy McGinty's Goat", "Delaney's Donkey", and "O'Rafferty's Motor Car", on which he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar
. He often wore cardigan
s and jumpers, which together with the rocking chairs he often sat in became his trademark, and he was sometimes compared to American
singer Perry Como
, though he has claimed his main influence was Bing Crosby
. As a variety show
, there were a number of other acts featured and performers such as Dave Allen
had early exposure on the show. On 31 December 1976, Doonican performed his hit song "What Would I Be" on BBC One
's A Jubilee Of Music
, celebrating British pop music for Queen Elizabeth II's impending Silver jubilee
.
The Palladium performance also kick-started his recording
career. Between 1964 and 1973 Doonican was rarely out of the UK Singles Chart
, his greatest successes including the singles
"Walk Tall", "The Special Years", "Elusive Butterfly
", "What Would I Be", (on Decca) "If The Whole World Stopped Loving" (Pye) , and "Morning" (Philips); and the album
s 13 Lucky Shades of Val Doonican (Decca) , and Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently (Pye) which reached Number 1 in the UK Albums Chart
in 1967. After a spell with Philips records in the seventies he later also recorded for RCA. He also sang the theme song to the film
Ring of Bright Water
.
, where he has a second home, and is a keen golfer. He lives in Knotty Green
, Buckinghamshire
.
Doonican is cited as a member of the eclectic (and fictional) "orchestra" in The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
's recording, "The Intro and the Outro
", where he is credited "as himself".
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer. From 1965 to 1986 he was a regular fixture on the BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
's schedule with The Val Doonican Show, which featured his own singing performances and a variety of guest artists. A notably relaxed crooner
Crooner
Crooner is an American epithet given to male singers of pop standards, mostly from the Great American Songbook, either backed by a full orchestra, a big band or by a piano. Originally it was an ironic term denoting an emphatically sentimental, often emotional singing style made possible by the use...
, in the swinging sixties
Swinging London
Swinging London is a catch-all term applied to the fashion and cultural scene that flourished in London, in the 1960s.It was a youth-oriented phenomenon that emphasised the new and modern. It was a period of optimism and hedonism, and a cultural revolution. One catalyst was the recovery of the...
, Doonican had five successive Top 10 albums in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
.
Early life
Doonican was the youngest of eight children, born to Agnes (née Kavanagh) and John Doonican. His father died in 1941 when Val was a teenager, so it was necessary for him to leave De La Salle College, Waterford and get jobs in factories fabricating steel and making orange boxes.Singing career
He was from a musical family and started performing in his home town and in a summer season at Courtown Harbour. He was then featured on Irish radioRadio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
and appeared in the first television broadcast from Waterford. He then joined a band which toured Ireland playing the drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. In 1951 he moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to join another group, The Four Ramblers, who toured and performed on BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
shows broadcast from factories.
He eventually went solo and had a radio show as well as performing concerts and cabaret. In 1963 he was booked to appear on Sunday Night at the London Palladium
Sunday Night at the London Palladium
Sunday Night at the London Palladium is a British television variety show produced by ATV for the ITV network, originally running from 1955 to 1967, with a brief revival in 1973 and 1974...
. As a result of this performance, Bill Cotton
Bill Cotton
Sir William Frederick "Bill" Cotton, CBE was a British television producer and executive, and the son of big-band leader Billy Cotton....
, then Assistant Head of Light Entertainment, offered him his own show on BBC television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
, lasting for over twenty years. It featured his relaxed crooner
Crooner
Crooner is an American epithet given to male singers of pop standards, mostly from the Great American Songbook, either backed by a full orchestra, a big band or by a piano. Originally it was an ironic term denoting an emphatically sentimental, often emotional singing style made possible by the use...
style performance sitting in a rocking chair, as well as a number of comic
Humour
Humour or humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement...
Irish 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...
s, notably "Paddy McGinty's Goat", "Delaney's Donkey", and "O'Rafferty's Motor Car", on which he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
. He often wore cardigan
Cardigan (sweater)
A cardigan is a type of machine- or hand-knitted sweater that ties, buttons or zips down the front; by contrast, a pullover does not open in front but must be "pulled over" the head to be worn. The cardigan was named after James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British military commander,...
s and jumpers, which together with the rocking chairs he often sat in became his trademark, and he was sometimes compared to American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
, though he has claimed his main influence was Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
. As a variety show
Variety 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...
, there were a number of other acts featured and performers such as Dave Allen
Dave Allen (comedian)
David Tynan O'Mahoney , better known as Dave Allen, was an Irish comedian, very popular in Great Britain, Australia, and Canada in the 1960s and 1970s. He also became known in the United States through repeats of his shows on public television. His career had a major resurgence during the late...
had early exposure on the show. On 31 December 1976, Doonican performed his hit song "What Would I Be" on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's A Jubilee Of Music
A Jubilee of Music
A Jubilee of Music is a one off BBC Television entertainment show of 75 minutes duration, broadcast on 31 December 1976 on BBC1. The show was produced to celebrate the British music successes of the first twenty-five years of Elizabeth II's reign, ahead of the commencement of 1977, the year of her...
, celebrating British pop music for Queen Elizabeth II's impending Silver jubilee
Silver Jubilee
A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
.
The Palladium performance also kick-started his recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
career. Between 1964 and 1973 Doonican was rarely out of the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The 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 ...
, his greatest successes including the singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Walk Tall", "The Special Years", "Elusive Butterfly
Elusive Butterfly
"Elusive Butterfly" is a popular song by Bob Lind released in 1966, which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also recorded and released in 1966 in the UK by the Irish singer Val Doonican...
", "What Would I Be", (on Decca) "If The Whole World Stopped Loving" (Pye) , and "Morning" (Philips); and the 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...
s 13 Lucky Shades of Val Doonican (Decca) , and Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently (Pye) which reached Number 1 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
in 1967. After a spell with Philips records in the seventies he later also recorded for RCA. He also sang the theme song to the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Ring of Bright Water
Ring of Bright Water
Ring of Bright Water is a British feature film starring Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna in a story about a Londoner and an otter living on the Scottish coast. The film was based upon a 1960 autobiographical book of the same name by Gavin Maxwell, featuring the stars of Born Free, another movie...
.
Current activities
Doonican still performs but now enjoys spending a lot of free time in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where he has a second home, and is a keen golfer. He lives in Knotty Green
Knotty Green
Knotty Green is a rural hamlet in the parish of Penn in Buckinghamshire, England and located in the Chiltern Hills near Beaconsfield. Knotty Green and Beaconsfield are, however, separated by a parish and district council boundary. Knotty Green is in Chiltern District, whereas Beaconsfield is in...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
.
Doonican is cited as a member of the eclectic (and fictional) "orchestra" in The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band are a band created by a group of British art-school denizens of the 1960s...
's recording, "The Intro and the Outro
The Intro and the Outro
The Intro and The Outro is a recording by The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. It appears on their debut album, Gorilla . It is not so much a song as a comic monologue, in which the speaker introduces the musicians who ostensibly appear on the recording, and the track fades out before the emcee completes...
", where he is credited "as himself".
UK top ten hit singles
- 1964: "'Walk Tall" (#3)
- 1965: "The Special Years" (#7)
- 1966: "'Elusive ButterflyElusive Butterfly"Elusive Butterfly" is a popular song by Bob Lind released in 1966, which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also recorded and released in 1966 in the UK by the Irish singer Val Doonican...
" (#5) - 1966: "What Would I Be" (#2)
- 1967: "If the Whole World Stopped Loving" (#3)
External links
- [ Val Doonican biography] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...