Brendan O'Dowda
 | This article possibly contains original research. (May 2016) |
Brendan O'Dowda (1 October 1925 – 22 February 2002) was an Irish tenor who popularised the songs of Percy French.
Early life
[edit]O'Dowda was born in Dundalk, County Louth and was educated at the De la Salle Brothers' school in the town.[1] His early promise as a singer brought him to the attention of Dr. Vincent O'Brien, who had coached tenor John McCormack. Under O'Brien's tutelage, O'Dowda developed a fine tenor voice of his own and began to perform at charity events throughout the country.[2]
Career
[edit]Although offered a career in opera, O'Dowda was drawn to popular music and, in the early 1950s, he moved to England in order to advance his prospects.[3] There, he formed The Four Ramblers musical group with Val Doonican.[4] Subsequently, he enjoyed solo success on BBC Radio, guesting on programmes such as Just A Song At Twilight and Music for You.[2]
O'Dowda's first album, Emerald and Tartan, included two songs by Percy French.[5] Such was its success that he followed it in 1958 with The Immortal Percy French, an album devoted entirely to the work of the Irish songwriter.[2] From then on, O'Dowda became closely identified with French's songs.[3] He created a one-man show around the life and work of Percy French.[6] In 1981, his biography of the composer, The World of Percy French, was published.[2]
O'Dowda enjoyed considerable international recognition.[3] He toured the US, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show.[7] He appeared in the 1959 film Alive and Kicking as one of the three singers of the title song.[8] He performed a duet with Ruby Murray on the soundtrack of the 1959 film Darby O'Gill and the Little People.[2]
Personal life and death
[edit]O'Dowda was married first to Sheila Kelly in 1948 and their son Dermot, publisher of 'Visions of Hibernia' now lives in Cork.[citation needed][3] This marriage ended in divorce and O'Dowda later married June Nadine, a dancer with the Tiller girls, who bore him two sons, Brendan and Ciaran.[3][citation needed] O'Dowda, having divorced June and obtained a Catholic annulment from his first wife,[citation needed] then married the dancer Alice Boyle with whom he had four children, Damien, Ailis, Conor & Bridget.[2]
Brendan O'Dowda died in hospital near his home in Fareham, England at the age of 76, and is buried in Esker Cemetery, Lucan, County Dublin.[9] His grandson Callum O'Dowda is a professional footballer who plays for Welsh club Cardiff City and the Republic of Ireland national football team.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Brendan O'Dowda when he won a schoolboys title with De La Salle". Irish Independent. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f The Irish Times, "Gifted Irish tenor linked with Percy French", 2 March 2002
- ^ a b c d e "Dictionary of Irish Biography - Cambridge University Press". dib.cambridge.org.
- ^ "Brendan O'Dowda discography". RateYourMusic.
- ^ "Brendan O'Dowda With Philip Green And His Orchestra - Emerald And Tartan". Discogs.
- ^ "Network". 11 August 1979. p. 21 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ Inman, David M. (3 December 2014). Television Variety Shows: Histories and Episode Guides to 57 Programs. McFarland. ISBN 9781476608778 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Brendan O'Dowda". BFI.[dead link]
- ^ The Argus, "Talented athlete and footballer", 2 March 2002
- ^ "Callum Called Up for Republic". Bristol City F.C. 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
External links
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