Val Doonican facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Val Doonican
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Doonican in 1971
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Valentine Doonican |
| Born | 3 February 1927 Waterford, Ireland |
| Died | 1 July 2015 (aged 88) Buckinghamshire, England, UK |
| Genres |
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| Years active | 1951–2009 |
| Labels | Decca, Pye, Philips, RCA, Parkfield |
Michael Valentine Doonican (born February 3, 1927 – died July 1, 2015) was a beloved Irish singer. He was known for his calm and friendly singing style. Val sang many types of songs, including traditional pop, easy listening, and fun novelty songs.
He became very popular, especially in the United Kingdom. In the 1960s, he had five albums that reached the top 10. He also had several hit songs like "Walk Tall", "Elusive Butterfly", and "If the Whole World Stopped Lovin'".
Val Doonican also had his own TV show, The Val Doonican Show. It ran for a long time on BBC Television from 1965 to 1986. The show featured his singing and many special guests. He even won the BBC-TV Personality of the Year award three times!
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Early Life and Musical Start
Val Doonican was born in Waterford, Ireland, on February 3, 1927. He was the youngest of eight children. His family loved music, and Val played in his school band from a young age. He was only six years old when he started.
When Val's father passed away in 1941, Val was still a teenager. He had to leave De La Salle College Waterford to find work. He took jobs making steel and building boxes for fruit. But he kept performing in his hometown. He often sang with his friend Bruce Clarke. Their first professional show together was in 1947. Val also appeared on Irish radio and even in Waterford's first-ever TV broadcast.
Moving to Britain and Finding Fame
In 1951, Val Doonican moved to England. He joined a group called the Four Ramblers. They toured different theaters and were also on a BBC radio show called Riders of the Range. On the radio show, Val and the group sang cowboy songs.
The Four Ramblers stayed busy throughout the 1950s. In 1960, they performed with singer Anthony Newley. Newley saw how talented Val was. He told Val that he should try singing on his own. Val took his advice and left the group to start a solo career.
Soon after, Val got his own radio show on the BBC in 1961. It was called Your Date with Val. In 1962, he also had a weekly TV show in Ireland. His live performances became more popular. He received great reviews after a show in London in 1963.
A famous show producer, Val Parnell, saw Val Doonican perform in 1964. Parnell was so impressed that he booked Val to appear on Sunday Night at the Palladium. This was a very popular TV show. Val did so well that he was asked back the very next week!
The Val Doonican Show
Because of his success on Sunday Night at the Palladium, the BBC offered Val his own TV show. It started in 1964 and was called Singalong Saturday. It was a big hit! Then, in 1965, he got another show on BBC1 called "Date with Doonican".
These TV shows were produced by Yvonne Littlewood and ran for over 20 years. At their most popular, about 19 million people watched them! On the show, Val often sat in a rocking chair wearing a cardigan. He would sing in his relaxed style. He performed funny Irish songs like "Paddy McGinty's Goat" and "Delaney's Donkey". He also sang easy listening and country songs, playing his acoustic guitar.
Val's shows were variety shows, meaning they featured many different performers. They helped artists like Dave Allen become famous. Regular guests included Bernard Cribbins and Bob Todd. The show was so popular that it even aired in the United States for a short time in 1971.
Music Success
Val Doonican's performance on Sunday Night at the Palladium also helped his music recording career take off. From 1964 to 1973, his songs were often on the UK Singles Chart. His biggest hits included "Walk Tall", "The Special Years", "Elusive Butterfly", and "If The Whole World Stopped Loving".
His album Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently reached Number 1 on the UK Albums Chart in December 1967. The song "Elusive Butterfly" reached #5 in the UK and #3 in Ireland in 1966. Overall, Val recorded over 50 albums! He also sang the theme song for the movie Ring of Bright Water.
People said Val was a "perfectionist." This means he always tried to be the best he could be. He was sometimes compared to American singer Perry Como, but Val said his main influence was Bing Crosby. He performed in three Royal Variety Performances, which are special shows for the Royal Family. In 1966, he won the BBC Television Personality of the Year award.
Personal Life and Later Years
Val Doonican met his wife, Lynette Rae, when they were both on tour with Anthony Newley. They got married in 1962. They had two daughters, Sarah and Fiona, and two grandchildren. In his later years, Val lived in Knotty Green in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.
Val officially retired in 1990, but he still performed sometimes until 2009. He had a second home in Spain. He loved playing golf and was a talented painter, especially with watercolors. He also enjoyed cooking. In 2011, the Mayor of Waterford gave him the "Freedom of the City" award, which is a great honor.
Death and Tributes
Val Doonican passed away on July 1, 2015, at a nursing home in Buckinghamshire. He was 88 years old. His daughter Sarah said he was very healthy until he was 87, and that he simply "ran out of batteries" due to old age.
Many famous people shared their sadness about his passing. Fellow entertainer Bruce Forsyth said Val was "a lovely man to work with" and "brought a lovely warmth with his personality." Singer Elaine Paige and BBC disc-jockey Tony Blackburn also shared their tributes, remembering him as a kind and professional person.
Discography
Val Doonican recorded many successful albums throughout his career. Some of his most popular albums include:
- The Lucky 13 Shades of Val Doonican (1964)
- Gentle Shades of Val Doonican (1966)
- Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently (1967) – This album reached Number 1 in the UK!
- Val (1968)
- The World of Val Doonican (1969)
- The Magic of Val Doonican (1970)
- I Love Country Music (1975)
- Some of My Best Friends Are Songs (1977)
- Songs From My Sketchbook (1990)
- The Very Best of Val Doonican (2008)
