Maisie McDaniel facts for kids

Maisie McDaniel (born October 28, 1939 – died June 28, 2008) was a famous Irish country and showband singer. She was also the mother of singer Lisa Stanley.

Early Life and Beginnings

Maisie McDaniel was born Mary Anne McDaniel in Kensington, London, England. This was on October 28, 1939. Her father, Paddy McDaniel, was from Sligo, Ireland. Her mother was Lizzie (née Wynne). Maisie had three sisters and two brothers.

Soon after Maisie was born, her family moved back to Sligo. She grew up in Garavogue Villas, Sligo. Maisie went to the Sisters of Mercy convent school. After school, she started her career as a singer.

A Star is Born: Maisie's Music Career

Maisie and her sisters were very good singers. They won awards at local music festivals called feiseanna. They also performed at An Tóstal in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, in the late 1950s.

Maisie's father helped her book her first tour in England. She sang at Irish clubs across the country. After this tour, George O'Reilly became her manager. He was a big name in show business.

Becoming a Country Star

George O'Reilly suggested Maisie team up with a band called the Fendermen. He also thought she should try a country-and-western style. This meant she wore a special cowgirl outfit. It had a fringed jacket, a swing skirt, and tall white boots.

This new style was a huge hit! The group quickly became very popular. They performed five nights a week. They sang in pubs, hotels, festivals, and dance halls all over Ireland.

Recording Hits and TV Shows

Maisie McDaniel was one of the first female artists to release single records. She recorded with Fontana Records. At first, she sang pop songs. Later, she covered songs by other country singers. She also recorded Irish songs.

In 1961, she released her first single on Beltona Records. It was called Forty Shades of Green. The other song on the record was Lovely Armoy. She also released Christmastide in Ireland with The Old Pigsty.

Many of her songs were popular on the radio and sold well. These included Blackboard of My Heart, Roomful of Roses, and This Song is Just for You.

Maisie often appeared on Radio Éireann shows. She frequently performed with Maureen Potter. She was also a regular guest on RTÉ television until 1964. She appeared on shows like Curtain Up and Showband Show.

Later, Maisie got her own TV show called Jamboree. She was the first Irish female country singer to have her own television show! She also appeared on Ulster Television and a Christmas special on Welsh television in 1963.

In June 1963, Maisie was the special guest at a concert for the famous singer Jim Reeves in Sligo. That same year, readers of Spotlight magazine voted her the number one female singer in Ireland.

A Difficult Time

In late 1964, Maisie was at the peak of her fame. Her manager paired her with a new band, the Nevada Showband. They planned a very busy tour of dance halls.

However, on January 21, 1965, Maisie was in a serious car crash. It happened near Kells, County Meath, on her way to a show. She was badly hurt and spent many weeks in the hospital. She needed several big operations to fix her hipbone over a few years.

Because of her injuries, Maisie could not perform. Eileen Kelley took her place with the Nevada Showband. Maisie also missed out on the Irish part of the Eurovision Song Contest 1965. She also had to cancel tours in France and Germany.

Life After the Accident

Maisie started to walk again and married Fintan Stanley on May 22, 1965. Fintan was an accordion player. They moved to England, where he played in clubs.

When Maisie felt better, she joined her husband in cabaret shows. In 1969, her manager convinced them to return to Ireland. Maisie appeared on RTÉ television again, on a show called Hootenanny. Her husband formed a band called the Ramblers, which later became the Nashville Ramblers.

Their success was not long-lasting. Maisie had some health issues and left the band. She returned to Sligo to recover. The couple bought land, including a house linked to the famous writer W. B. Yeats, called Drumcliffe Rectory. They performed locally in clubs and concerts. Their daughter, Lisa, was born in 1973.

Later Years

Maisie later worked at a factory in Sligo. However, she had to stop working two years later because of her hip injury. She was also involved in another car accident.

In 1985, Maisie recorded an album of her hit songs. However, it was not as successful as her earlier music.

Maisie McDaniel passed away suddenly on June 28, 2008. She was at her home in Yeats Drive, Cranmore, Sligo. She had lived there with her partner, Tommy McGowan, for 20 years. In 2009, her daughter Lisa Stanley recorded an album of her mother's songs to honor her.]