Imelda May facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Imelda May
May in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Imelda Mary Clabby
Born	(1974-07-10) 10 July 1974 (age 50) Dublin, Ireland
Genres	Rockabilly, Jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter television presenter
Instruments	Vocals guitar bodhrán
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Ambassador/Universal Ireland Decca
Associated acts	Darrel Higham Jools Holland

Imelda May is a famous Irish singer, songwriter, and TV presenter. She was born Imelda Mary Clabby on July 10, 1974. She is well-known for her unique musical style, which often mixes rockabilly (a type of rock and roll) with jazz. People sometimes compare her to famous jazz singers like Billie Holiday.

Imelda grew up in The Liberties area of Dublin, Ireland. She started her music journey at just 16 years old, singing with different bands in local clubs. In 2002, she formed her own band and released her first album, No Turning Back. After that, she moved to London.

She became even more famous after appearing on the BBC music show Later... with Jools Holland in 2008. Her second album, Love Tattoo, came out in 2009. She has released several successful albums since then, including Mayhem (2010), Tribal (2014), Life Love Flesh Blood (2017), and 11 Past the Hour (2021).

Early Life and Start in Music

Imelda May was born in Dublin on July 10, 1974. She grew up in The Liberties, a part of the city. She is the youngest of five children. In 1991, she studied art and printmaking at Senior College Ballyfermot.

Her music career began when she was 16. She started performing in clubs around Dublin. Sometimes, she was even too young to be in the clubs where she was playing! In 1998, she moved to Great Britain and soon toured with musician Mike Sanchez.

Imelda May's Music Career

May performing at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 2010.

In 2003, Imelda May released her first album, No Turning Back. In 2007, she signed a record deal and released her second album, Love Tattoo. This album was a big hit in Ireland and was praised by music critics.

She caught the eye of famous musician Jools Holland. He invited her to perform on his TV show, Later... with Jools Holland. This helped her become more widely known. In 2009, she won the Female Artist of the Year award at the 2009 Meteor Awards.

Some people think the only way of doing well or of having a career in music is to go the X Factor route, but a lot of people lose the joy out of music by going that way, possibly because they're so incredibly focused on other people's ideas of success.

In 2010, Imelda May performed at the 52nd Grammy Awards with Jeff Beck. They paid tribute to music legends Les Paul and Mary Ford. Her third album, Mayhem, also reached No. 1 in Ireland in 2010.

Imelda May at the Madgarden Festival in 2015.

She appeared on popular American talk shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Conan. In 2016, she performed at a special concert in Ireland to celebrate 100 years since the 1916 Rising. In the UK, she was on TV shows like Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Graham Norton Show. She also sang live on Strictly Come Dancing. Imelda May even helped create a scholarship at BIMM music college in Dublin for new artists.

Her fifth album, Life Love Flesh Blood, came out in 2017. She worked with American producer T Bone Burnett on this album. U2 singer Bono also gave her advice during the making of it. The album was very popular and reached No. 4 in the UK charts. In May 2017, she performed songs from the album at a special concert in London.

Imelda May also had her own music TV show in Ireland, called The Imelda May Show. It featured talented Irish and international musicians. In 2017, she sang the Irish national anthem before the big Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor boxing match in Las Vegas. In 2020, she released a song called You Don't Get To Be Racist And Irish. The Irish government used this song for a national campaign. She also hosted a Sky Arts TV series called 'Voices Of Ireland', which explored Irish literature.

In 2020, she released another album, Slip of the Tongue, which featured more spoken word performances. Her album 11 Past the Hour was released in 2021. That same year, she covered the Metallica song "The God That Failed" for a charity album.

Working with Other Artists

Imelda May and Jeff Beck performing together in 2011.

Imelda May has worked with many different artists and producers. She has performed at tribute concerts for musicians like Bill Wyman and Jacques Dutronc.

In 2010, she performed with Jeff Beck to honor the late guitarist Les Paul in New York City. This performance was recorded for DVD and HBO. They then toured the US together. In 2011, Bono from U2 made a surprise appearance at her concert in Dublin. In 2015, Bono called her "the other queen of Ireland" when she joined U2 on stage in Dublin to sing "Desire."

In 2020, Imelda May was part of a group of Irish female singers called Irish Women in Harmony. They recorded a version of "Dreams" to raise money for a charity that helps people affected by domestic abuse.

In 2021, she sang with Noel Gallagher and Ronnie Wood (from the Rolling Stones) on her song "Just One Kiss." She also joined the lineup for a Van Morrison concert. In 2023, she performed at a tribute concert for Jeff Beck at the Royal Albert Hall. She shared the stage with many famous musicians, including Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, and Johnny Depp.

Helping Ukraine

Imelda May performed at the "Night for Ukraine" event on March 9, 2022. This was a special concert in London to raise money for people fleeing Ukraine after the Russian invasion. The money raised went to help those in need.

Acting Career

Imelda May made her first acting appearance in the 2022 movie Fisherman's Friends: One and All.

Personal Life

Imelda May married her band's guitarist, Darrel Higham, in 2002. They had a daughter in August 2012. In 2015, Imelda announced that they had decided to separate after 13 years of marriage.

Discography

• No Turning Back (2003)
• Love Tattoo (2008)
• Mayhem (2010)
• Tribal (2014)
• Life Love Flesh Blood (2017)
• Slip of the Tongue (2020)
• 11 Past the Hour (2021)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Imelda May para niños