Chris de Burgh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris de Burgh
de Burgh performing at Frankenhalle in Nuremberg, Germany in 2016
Born	Christopher John Davison (1948-10-15) 15 October 1948 (age 76) Venado Tuerto, Santa Fe Province, Argentina
Citizenship	Ireland
Occupation	Musician singer-songwriter
Years active	1974–present
Spouse(s)	Diane Davison ​ (m. 1977)​
Children	3, including Rosanna Davison
Musical career
Origin	County Wexford, Ireland
Genres	Art rock pop soft rock
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Labels	A&M Ferryman Productions Edel

Christopher John Davison (born October 15, 1948), who is known by his stage name Chris de Burgh, is a British-Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. He began his career making art rock, a style that mixes rock music with other art forms. Later, he became famous for writing popular pop songs.

De Burgh is very popular in countries like Norway and Brazil. His most famous song is the 1986 ballad "The Lady in Red", which was a number-one hit in many countries. He has sold over 45 million albums all over the world.

Early Life and Family

Chris de Burgh was born in Venado Tuerto, Argentina. His father, Charles John Davison, was a British diplomat, and his mother was Maeve Emily de Burgh. His grandfather, Sir Eric de Burgh, was a high-ranking officer in the British Army.

When he started his music career, Chris took his mother's last name, "de Burgh," as his stage name. His legal name is still Davison. Because of his father's work, Chris grew up in many different places, including Malta, Nigeria, and the Belgian Congo.

Eventually, his family moved to Bargy Castle in County Wexford, Ireland. The castle was old and needed repairs. His grandfather bought it in the 1960s and turned it into a hotel. As a young man, Chris would sing for the guests at the hotel.

For his education, de Burgh attended Marlborough College in England. He later graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a Master of Arts degree in French, English, and History.

Music Career

Starting Out (1974–1980)

In 1974, Chris de Burgh signed a record deal with A&M Records. He toured with the band Supertramp, which helped him gain a small group of fans. His first album, Far Beyond These Castle Walls, came out in 1974 but wasn't a big hit at first.

A song from that album, called "Flying," became a huge success in Brazil. It stayed at the top of the charts for 17 weeks. This became a pattern for de Burgh. His albums in the 1970s often sold very well in Europe and South America, even if they weren't popular in the UK or the US.

His 1975 album, Spanish Train and Other Stories, included the popular song "A Spaceman Came Travelling". His fan base grew, and he started to gain a cult following. Over the next few years, he released more albums like At the End of a Perfect Day (1977) and Crusader (1979), slowly building his audience.

Worldwide Fame (1981–1990s)

De Burgh's big break in the UK and US came in the 1980s. His 1982 album, The Getaway, reached the charts in both countries. It featured the hit single "Don't Pay the Ferryman". His next album, Man on the Line (1984), was also successful, especially in Germany and Switzerland.

In 1986, de Burgh released his most famous song, "The Lady in Red". The romantic ballad became a number-one hit in the UK and was a massive success around the world. The album it came from, Into the Light, also sold millions of copies.

His 1988 album, Flying Colours, went straight to number one in the UK. After the 1990s, he was not as popular in the US and UK, but he remained a big star in many other parts of the world.

In 1997, he wrote a song for Diana, Princess of Wales, called "There's a New Star Up in Heaven Tonight".

Later Career (2007–Present)

In 2008, de Burgh released Footsteps, an album of cover songs by artists who inspired him, like Bob Dylan and the Beatles. It was a top-five hit in the UK. He released a second album of covers, Footsteps 2, in 2011.

He was the first Western musician to perform in Lebanon after the Lebanese Civil War.

On his 73rd birthday in 2021, de Burgh released a music video for his song "Legacy". The song was from his album The Legend of Robin Hood.

In October 2024, de Burgh released a new album called 50 to celebrate his 50 years in the music industry.

Personal Life

Chris de Burgh married his wife Diane in 1977. They have three children: two sons, Hubie and Michael, and a daughter, Rosanna Davison. In 2003, Rosanna won the Miss World competition, representing Ireland. The family lived for many years near Dublin, Ireland.

De Burgh is very interested in history, especially the First and Second World Wars. Many of his songs include references to soldiers and battles.

He has said he is a believer in Christ but does not trust organized religion. He also believes in spiritual healing as a way to help reduce pain.

Public Opinion

Chris de Burgh has many loyal fans who see him as a great romantic singer. However, since his hit "The Lady in Red," some music critics have been less positive.

His famous song has been called one of the most disliked songs by some, but it remains loved by many others. Music writers have had different views. Some have called him "a genuine master of the soft ballad," while others have been more critical. Despite the mixed reviews from critics, he has continued to have a successful career for over 50 years.

Awards and Nominations

Discography

Studio albums

• Far Beyond These Castle Walls (1974)
• Spanish Train and Other Stories (1975)
• At the End of a Perfect Day (1977)
• Crusader (1979)
• Eastern Wind (1980)
• The Getaway (1982)
• Man on the Line (1984)
• Into the Light (1986)
• Flying Colours (1988)
• Power of Ten (1992)
• This Way Up (1994)
• Quiet Revolution (1999)
• Timing Is Everything (2002)
• The Road to Freedom (2004)
• The Storyman (2006)
• Footsteps (2008)
• Moonfleet & Other Stories (2010)
• Footsteps 2 (2011)
• Home (2012)
• The Hands of Man (2014)
• A Better World (2016)
• The Legend of Robin Hood (2021)

Filmography

• The Grand Knockout Tournament (1987) (as Himself)
• How to Cheat in the Leaving Certificate (1998) (as Petrol Pumper)
• The Bachelor S26 E07 (2022) (as Himself)

See also

In Spanish: Chris de Burgh para niños