Andrea Corr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andrea Corr MBE
Corr performing in Birmingham in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Andrea Jane Corr
Born	(1974-05-17) 17 May 1974 (age 51) Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
Genres	Pop rock Celtic
Occupation(s)	Musician singer actress
Instruments	Vocals tin whistle mandolin piano ukulele
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Atlantic AC Records

Andrea Jane Corr (born 17 May 1974) is an Irish musician and actress. She became famous in 1990 as the lead singer of the Celtic folk rock and pop rock band The Corrs. She formed the band with her three older siblings: Caroline, Sharon, and Jim. Besides singing, Andrea also plays the tin whistle, the mandolin, the ukulele, and the piano.

With The Corrs, Andrea has released many albums. She has also started her own solo music career. Her first solo album, Ten Feet High, came out in 2007. This album had a different, more dance-pop sound than The Corrs' music. Her second solo album, released in 2011, featured songs that were important to her when she was younger.

Andrea Corr also cares a lot about helping others. She has performed at many charity concerts to raise money for good causes. These include helping children in Liberia, supporting hospitals, and aiding victims of the Omagh bombing. She is also an ambassador for Nelson Mandela's "46664" campaign, which works to raise awareness about AIDS in Africa. In 2005, The Corrs performed with Bono at Live 8 to support the Make Poverty History campaign. For their music and charity work, Andrea and her siblings were given an honorary M.B.E. award by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005.

Andrea's Early Life and Family

Andrea Corr was born in Dundalk, Ireland. Her parents, Gerry and Jean Corr, were also musicians. They had their own band called Sound Affair. They often played songs by groups like ABBA and The Eagles in local pubs. They would even bring their children along!

Andrea is the youngest of five children. Sadly, her older brother Gerard passed away in a road accident when he was very young.

Her parents encouraged all the children to play music. Andrea learned the tin whistle and her father taught her piano. As teenagers, she and her siblings often practiced in Jim's bedroom. Andrea sang, Sharon played the violin, and Caroline and Jim played keyboards. Andrea also enjoyed acting in school plays at her school, Dun Lughaidh Convent.

Andrea's Music Career

Starting The Corrs Band

Andrea Corr performing at Glastonbury in 1999

Andrea Corr performing in Vienna in 2016

In 1990, Andrea and her siblings officially formed their band, The Corrs. Their big break came in 1991 when they tried out for the movie The Commitments. Andrea even got a speaking role in the film! A music manager named John Hughes noticed the band during the auditions and decided to manage them.

The Corrs signed with Atlantic Records in 1995. They traveled to North America to record their first album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten. This album mixed Celtic music with other styles. It became very popular in Ireland, Australia, Japan, and Spain. It sold millions of copies, making it one of the most successful first albums by an Irish group.

After their first album, they released Talk on Corners in 1997 and In Blue in 2000. Talk on Corners became a huge hit after a remix version was released. It topped the music charts in many countries. In Blue had more mainstream pop sounds, using lots of electronic instruments. It was also very successful, reaching number one in many countries.

During the making of In Blue, Andrea's mother, Jean, passed away. She was waiting for a lung transplant. The song "No More Cry" on the album was written by Andrea and Caroline for their father, to help him with his sadness.

In 2003, Andrea sang "Time Enough For Tears" for the movie In America. This song was later included on The Corrs' 2004 album, Borrowed Heaven. Both Borrowed Heaven and their 2005 album, Home, were dedicated to their parents. Home featured many traditional Irish songs from their mother's songbook.

In 2015, Andrea announced that The Corrs were working on new music. Their sixth studio album, White Light, was released in November 2015, followed by a world tour. In 2017, they released their most recent album, Jupiter Calling.

Andrea's Solo Music

While her siblings took a break to focus on their families, Andrea started her own solo music career. Her first solo album, Ten Feet High, was released in June 2007. It was produced by famous producers like Nellee Hooper and Bono. Her first song from the album, "Shame on You", was an upbeat pop song about soldiers leaving their loved ones for war. Critics liked the song, calling it "polished" and "uplifting."

In 2011, she released her second solo album, Lifelines. This album featured her singing cover versions of songs by artists like John Lennon and Donna Summer. In 2020, she released a short album called Christmas Songs, which included classic Christmas tunes and one new song.

Andrea's Acting Roles

Andrea Corr also has a talent for acting. She first appeared in the film The Commitments in 1991. In 1996, she was in the movie Evita with Madonna, playing Juan Peron's mistress. She also provided the singing voice for the character Kayley in the animated movie Quest for Camelot in 1998.

In 2003, Andrea played Anne in the film The Boys from County Clare. She won an award for Best Actress at the US Comedy Arts Festival for this role. During The Corrs' break, she also appeared in the films The Bridge (2005) and Broken Thread (2006).

Andrea has also acted on stage. She played Christina in the play Dancing at Lughnasa in London in 2009. In 2010, she took on the main role of Jane Eyre in the play Jane Eyre in Dublin.

Andrea's Book

In 2018, Andrea wrote and released a book called Barefoot Pilgrimage. In her book, she shares stories about her childhood, her loving family, and her experiences with The Corrs band.

Helping Others: Charitable Work

Andrea Corr and her siblings have always been involved in charity work. They have performed at concerts to raise money for many important causes. These include helping children in Liberia, supporting the Freeman Hospital, and aiding victims of the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland. They also supported The Prince's Trust in 2004.

The Corrs are also ambassadors for Nelson Mandela's "46664" campaign. They performed live to raise awareness about AIDS in Africa. In 2005, they joined other artists like Bono at Live 8 in Edinburgh to promote the Make Poverty History campaign. Because of their amazing charity work, The Corrs were given an honorary award by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005.

Andrea also sang on a special song called "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" in 2008. This song was a tribute to Ronnie Drew, a member of the famous Irish band The Dubliners. Many other famous Irish musicians also sang on the song. All the money raised from the song went to the Irish Cancer Society.

In 2010, Andrea performed at a concert to honor Kirsty MacColl and raise money for charity. She also wrote and sang the song "Oh Brother" for an album called Music of Ireland – Welcome Home. In 2012, Andrea supported Kate Winslet's Golden Hat Foundation. She performed at "The American Christmas Carol" concert in Carnegie Hall to help raise money for the foundation.

Andrea's Personal Life

Andrea Corr married Brett Desmond on August 21, 2009. Her sisters, Sharon and Caroline, sang at the wedding. Other musicians also performed. Andrea and Brett have two children: a daughter named Jean, born in 2012, and a son named Brett Jr., born in 2014.

Filmography

Stage Roles