Mary Black
Mary Black | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Dublin, Ireland | 23 May 1955
Genres | Celtic, folk, country, |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | 1975–present |
Website | www |
Mary Black (born 23 May 1955)[1] is an Irish folk singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both traditional folk and modern material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland.[2]
Background
Mary Black was born into a musical family on Charlemont Street in
Musical career
1980s
Black joined a small
For much of her early solo career, Sinnott acted as her producer, guitarist and musical director. This partnership lasted until 1995 when they parted amicably.[5]
Black departed from De Dannan in 1986, and 1987 saw the release of her first
1990s
Following the success of No Frontiers in the United States, and the extensive
Mary was featured on the cover of
Black recorded two duets with American folk singer Joan Baez in the spring of 1995, for Baez's album Ring Them Bells. A greatest hits album of Mary's work, Looking Back, was released and she went touring mainly in the US, Germany and Scandinavia, to support the release. Black released three more albums in the 1990s, Circus, Shine, and Speaking with the Angel. She was named "Best Female Artist" in 1994 and 1996 for the fourth and fifth time.
2000–present
Black released her first live album in 2003, Mary Black Live. She also released her only
A 2014-15 "Last Call" tour with her daughter
In 2017, Black released a remastered version of her 1987 album, "By The Time It Gets Dark", to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The remastered album contains fully remixed and digitally remastered versions of the album's tracks, a brand new song recorded especially for the re-issue called "Wounded Heart" and a rare b-side called "Copper Kettle". Later in the year, Black released a brand new compilation album called "Mary Black Sings Jimmy MacCarthy" containing 6 previously recorded songs, 4 new tracks and one live duet with MacCarthy. Black toured in 2018 promoting the new album.
Musical style
For a number of years,
Personal life
Mary is married to Joe O'Reilly, of Dara Records (established 1983), and they have two sons (Conor and Danny) and a daughter (Róisín). Her son Danny is a member of the Irish rock band The Coronas, while Róisín is performing under the name Róisín O.[11][12][13] They reside in Dublin, but spend much time in County Kerry.
Discography
Studio albums
- Mary Black (1982)[14]
- Collected (1984)[15]
- Without the Fanfare (1985)
- By the Time It Gets Dark (1987)
- No Frontiers (1989)
- Babes in the Wood (1991)
- The Holy Ground(1993)
- Circus (1995)
- Shine (1997)
- Speaking with the Angel (1999)
- Full Tide (2005)
- Stories from the Steeples (deluxe edition contains 3 bonus tracks, 2011)
- By The Time It Gets Dark – 30th Anniversary Edition (fully remastered album containing a newly recorded song and bonus material, 2017)
Compilation albums
- The Best of Mary Black (1990)
- The Collection (1992)
- Looking Back (1995)
- Song for Ireland [USA] (1998)
- The Best of Mary Black 1991-2001 & Hidden Harvest (2001)
- Twenty Five Years, Twenty Five Songs (compilation with new and re-recorded material, 2008)
- Down The Crooked Road – The Soundtrack (soundtrack accompanying Mary's autobiography of the same name, 2014)
- Mary Black Sings Jimmy MacCarthy (compilation including new and previously recorded material of Jimmy MacCarthy songs, 2017)
- Mary Black Orchestrated (2019)
See also
- Ruth Keggin, sings in Manx
- Julie Fowlis, sings in Scottish Gaelic
- Gwenno Saunders, sings in Welsh and Cornish
References
- ^ Sunday Tribune, 30 October 2005, quoted at "Mary Black's official home page".
- ^ "Mary Black Biography". House-of-music.com. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ^ "The Black Brothers". The Black Brothers. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ^ "Declan Sinnott: Guitar star hits the right chords". Irish Independent. 6 May 2009.
- ^ The Late Late Show (TV). RTÉ. 1995. Event occurs at 0:15. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ "Mary Black Biography". Sweetslyrics. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ^ Butler, Laura (30 December 2013). "Swansong for Mary Black as singer plans final foreign tour". Irish Independent. Ireland. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ Yarborough, Chuck (20 October 2014). "Irish singer Mary Black makes final U.S. visit with 'The Last Call Tour ' stop at Music Box Supper Club". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ "Mary Black Bio by Jackie Hayden". Mary Black's Official site. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ "The Mary Black songwriter interview". Michael Leahy. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "The Coronas". Other Voices. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ "Danny & Mammy But No Whitmore..." ShowBiz Ireland. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ^ "Coronas star misses own party for a night with mum". Evening Herald. 25 July 2011. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- Rose of Allendale; Lovin' You; Loving Hannah; My Donald; Crusader. Side 2: Anachie Gordon; Home; God Bless the Child; Rare's Hill
- Song for Ireland; Mo Gille Mear; Men of Worth; Fare Thee Well My Own True Love; She Moved Thru' the Fair. Side 2: Both sides the Tweed; Hard Times (Come Again); I Live not Where I Love; Isle of St. Helena; My Youngest Son Came Home Today