Den Hegarty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Den Hegarty
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Den Hegarty singing with Darts in London, 1978
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Denis Hegarty |
| Born | September 13, 1954 Dublin, Ireland |
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| Instruments | Saxophone |
| Years active | 1976–present |
Denis Hegarty (born 13 September 1954) is an Irish singer, TV presenter, and a teacher of psychology. He is well-known for his powerful bass voice and for being a member of the popular 1970s band Darts. He sings rock and roll, doo-wop (a style of music with lots of vocal harmonies), and a cappella (singing without instruments).
About Den Hegarty
Starting with Darts (1976–1978)
Den Hegarty was born in Dublin, Ireland. When he was young, he moved to Brighton, England. In August 1976, he helped create a band called Darts. This band played music inspired by the 1950s.
He formed Darts with other singers like Rita Ray and Griff Fender. They also had a sax player named Horatio Hornblower. Den was the bass singer in the band. He also wrote songs, arranged the music, and helped direct the band's sound.
Den was known for his energetic performances. He was described as a "kinetic and charismatic performer." He would often climb onto the speaker stacks on stage during their shows. This was a big highlight for the audience.
After Darts (1978–)
Den Hegarty left Darts in 1978. He then released a solo song called "Voodoo Voodoo" in March 1979. This song reached number 73 on the UK Singles Chart, which was his only solo hit. The next year, he appeared on The Clash's album Sandinista!.
After his music career, Den started working in television and radio. He hosted a TV show called Alright Now for Tyne Tees Television. He also worked for BBC Radio 1 and appeared in a TV show called Let's Rock.
Later, he became a host for the popular children's TV show Tiswas. On Tiswas, Den was known for his funny acts. He would sometimes sit in a bathtub full of baked beans. He also made loud "BONG" sounds for a news parody section called "News At Den."
After Tiswas ended, Den became a quizmaster for a cable TV show. He also used his voice to play animated characters in TV advertisements.
Today, Den Hegarty lives in Devon with his wife and son. He teaches psychology at Exeter College and for the Open University. Even though he teaches, he still loves to sing! He has sung with an a cappella band called Slackapella. He also performs with a 15-piece band called Soul Traders. He still sings with a doo-wop group called The Metrotones. Den also helped bring Darts back together in 2006. He still performs with the reformed band sometimes.]
