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Joe Dolan dies after sudden illness
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Joe Dolan dies after sudden illness Sceala Irish Craic Forum Irish Message |
jodonnell
Sceala Philosopher
Location: NYC
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Joe Dolan dies after sudden illness
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Joe Dolan dies after sudden illness
The singer and entertainer Joe Dolan has died at the Mater private hospital in Dublin.
The 68-year-old was taken ill at his home in Foxrock last night and died just after 3pm this afternoon from a suspected brain haemorrhage.
Mr Dolan, from Mullingar in Westmeath, had enjoyed musical success in Ireland and around the world for over 40 years.
With his band the Drifters his first chart success came in Ireland with 'The Answer to Everything' in 1964 but he is best perhaps known for songs 'Good Looking Woman' and 'Make Me an Island'. Mr Dolan, who was one of five children, was recently forced to cancel a number of Christmas concerts because of illness but he was at home in Foxrock in Dublin last night when he was taken ill.
Surrounded by his family he passed away after suffering a suspected brain haemorrhage just after 3pm.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern expressed his sadness at the news, saying it was only a couple of months since he had last met Joe Dolan.
He described him as a fantastic showman with a great stage presence and a distinctive singing voice.
Joe Dolan
Born Joseph Francis Robert Dolan
October 16, 1943[1943-10-16]
Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland
Joseph Francis Robert Dolan [October 16, 1943 – December 26, 2007], was an Irish singer of easy listening songs.
Joe Dolan's first job was as a compositor with the Westmeath Examiner before starting his musical career when he and his brother joined "The Drifters" in the early 1960s. This launched his career as a showband entertainer.
His biggest hit was "Make Me An Island" [written by Albert Hammond], which went to Number 3 in the UK Singles Chart in 1969, and Number 1 in fourteen other countries. He was very popular in Ireland and among Irish emigrants from 1964 into the 1980s. He toured a great deal, and had several stints in Las Vegas. In 1978, Dolan became the first Western pop singer to perform in the Soviet Union. In 1997, he re-recorded "Good Looking Woman" as a charity record with Dustin the Turkey, reaching Number One in the Irish Singles Chart. In 1998 and 1999, he released two successful albums of covers of songs by Britpop and rock artists, including Blur, Oasis, U2 and Bruce Springsteen. In 2005, he had a hip replacement.
In the Autumn of 2007, on advice from his doctors, Joe Dolan had had to cancel his Vicar Street concerts due to "exhaustion".
On December 16, 2007, the Sunday Independent reported that Joe was suffering a "bad virus" and had been forced to cancel his entire Christmas tour on its front page. Joe Dolan's website was inundated with well wishes in the wake of the article, which was reproduced in several newspapers the following day.
On December 26, Joe was rushed from his home in Foxrock to the Mater private hospital in Dublin following a worsening of his illness and died of a brain haemorrhage at approximately 15:00 hours on December 26, 2007.
Hit songs
* 1965: "I Love You More and More Everyday"
* 1967: "The House With the Whitewashed Gable"
* 1968: "The Westmeath Bachelor"
* 1969: "Make Me An Island"
* 1970: "You're Such a Good Looking Woman"
* 1975: "Lady in Blue" / "My Darling Michelle"
* 1976: "You belong to me"
* 1977: "I Need You"
Joe singing I need you
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