Biography & Press Release archive
2007 tour release
Live From Branson biography
Live From Branson press release
2006 tour release
2005 tour release
Songs Of Faith biography
Release, December 2003
PBS Release, November 2003
ENTERTAINER DANIEL O’DONNELL TO PERFORM IN 12 NORTH AMERICAN CITIES, THURSDAY, MAY 21 – JUNE 12, 2007
Cities Include Kansas City, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Dubuque, Milwaukee, Toledo, Mount Pleasant (MI), Hamilton (ON), and Reading;
PBS Television Star Returns in Nov. & Dec. ’07 For Branson & Niagara Falls Concerts
Popular Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell will perform in 12 North American cities in spring, 2007, following two weeks of concerts at Branson’s Tri-Lakes Center in May ’07. The tour cities include Kansas City, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Dubuque, Milwaukee, Toledo, Mount Pleasant (MI), Hamilton (ON), and Reading.
The Spring 2007 tour will feature Daniel's longtime musical companion, the Irish vocalist Mary Duff, as well as The Daniel O'Donnell Band. O'Donnell, Duff & band return to North America in November 2007 for a month of appearances at Branson's Tri-Lakes Center, and then perform four dates in Niagara Falls, ON in December 2007.
The entertainer has enjoyed worldwide success in recent years with his unique blend of country music, 60’s pop, inspirational ballads & Irish standards. Featured on six nationally televised PBS specials in the U.S. (including 2007’s Daniel O’Donnell Can You Feel The Love), O’Donnell’s live show is especially popular. It's not uncommon for O'Donnell's concerts to sell out within minutes of going onsale, and the shows are oft-requested destinations for group coach tours.
O'Donnell's easy-going, entertaining on-stage personality makes each live show an exciting event; in addition to the usual set list, different songs are sprinkled in each evening and the on-stage patter and audience participation give each show a new and distinct feel.
“The fans are an integral part of the experience of my live show, and I think they keep coming back primarily due to their love for the music I bring them,” O’Donnell says. “I make the show fun by having conversations and talking to them on-stage, even joking around like old friends. I stay after every performance to meet everyone I can, and people know I’m very approachable. Those who have seen me perform multiple times know that variety and spontaneity is a key part of the show, too. My goal every time I step onstage is to make sure the audience leaves entertained,” O’Donnell says. “I want to make people feel relaxed and at home with me, and for a few hours anyway, create an atmosphere that helps them leave their worries behind.”
His latest Public Television special, Daniel O’Donnell Can You Feel The Love, is airing throughout 2007. O’Donnell’s North American Presenter is Attila Glatz Concert Productions in Toronto.
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Live From Branson
From the moment Daniel O'Donnell first set foot on stage in Branson, the Midwest's premiere entertainment capital has been a welcoming home away from home. Gathering larger crowds every year since his first gig there in 1997, the Irish-born musical phenomenon - who has sold over 7.5 million albums and two million videos and DVDs worldwide - has become a Branson institution, with fans travelling from all over the Continent to attend.
O'Donnell's sold-out annual appearances at the Mickey Gilley Theatre were mere warm-ups for Daniel O'Donnell Live From Branson, his ground-breaking four-hour concert event which aired live from the Tri-Lakes Center on PBS November 27, 2004. The singer's fourth Public Television special since 2002 features engaging performances by O'Donnell, longtime touring and singing companion (and fellow Irish native) Mary Duff and a wide array of special guests. These include Pam Tillis, The Gatlin Brothers, The Lennon Sisters, and Jo Ann Castle, as well as Charley Pride, one of O'Donnell's all-time musical idols. The Dublin City Dancers, who perform regularly in Branson with Tony Kenny, add another touch of the Irish. The concert features individual performances by O'Donnell and each of these artists, numerous duets with O'Donnell and Duff, and a special duet of "Crystal Chandelier" by O'Donnell and Pride.
The live television special was "a wonderful opportunity to share the stage with so many performers that have inspired me in singing country music. To be in the position to invite someone like Charley Pride was just incredible. The whole show was very entertaining and I felt it worked well."
Even as PBS continues to rerun a condensed version of the concert, entitled Branson Encore, throughout 2005, DPTV Media is releasing Daniel O'Donnell Live From Branson, a two DVD set featuring every song from the original four-hour telecast, in addition to approximately an hour of additional performances the viewers at home missed - but the live audience heard - during the broadcast's pledge breaks. In conjunction with the DVD, DPTV Media is releasing two audio CD packages - the double disc Branson Encore which features O'Donnell singing solo or with Duff, and Daniel O'Donnell Live From Branson Highlights, a 20-song set which includes performances by the special guest artists.
"The U.S. is such a vast country and it would be impossible to tour everywhere," says O'Donnell, who in 2005 is making two extended runs in Branson (in May and November) in addition to nine other North American cities on tour in early June and a mini-tour, tbd, in December. "Staying in Branson for an extended period allows me to do more shows and cut out all the travel time involved in a tour. It's now grown into an annual tradition."
O'Donnell has a very simple philosophy when it comes to choosing songs for his concerts - "If I love it, I sing it" - and his choices on Daniel O'Donnell Live From Branson are no exception. He felt something special when he sang "Nobody's Child," adding that in subsequent visits to PBS stations around the U.S., people mentioned that as a standout. "Thank You For Loving Me" was an all-time favorite from country singer Norma Jean. O'Donnell is a big Buck Owens fan and felt compelled to include "My Heart Skips a Beat" in a medley with "Blue Moon of Kentucky," which reminds him of his all-time favorite singer, Loretta Lynn. He's been singing "Red River Valley" and "Black Hills of Dakota" since he was very young, and enjoyed wrapping those in a medley with "Don't Fence Me In," which he sang on his first visit to Branson. He included numbers from his 2004 tribute album to Jim Reeves, Welcome To My World, including the title cut, which opens Disc One of the Live From Branson DVD. He also picked a series of favorite Irish songs - "Rose of Tralee," "My Irish Country Home" and "My Wild Irish Rose."
"Another special song that I had never performed on any of my other PBS specials was ŚMy Donegal Shore,' the first song I ever recorded back in 1983," he says. "I wanted to bring it to this special audience in Branson. It took a few years for it to catch on, but by 1986 it was my first hit on the radio. I know I might have succeeded quicker had I gone the pop route, but my heart then, as now, was in country and traditional Irish music. It was exciting to let American fans hear this one for the first time."
As the now legendary story goes, it was O'Donnell's success with "My Donegal Shore" that led to his signing his first recording deal with Ritz Records in Dublin and London. He had seriously contemplated emigrating to Canada or Australia, but the applause of 80,000 fans at the 1985 London Irish Festival quickly assured him that his destiny lay in music. He was soon electrifying audiences at major world venues like London's Royal Albert Hall, Dublin's Point Depot, New York's Carnegie Hall and Sydney's Opera House.
Fans can now learn more about Daniel O'Donnell with Daniel O'Donnell: My Story (with Eddie Rowley). This updated version of his autobiography was published in North America in April, 2005 by Virgin Books. Virgin will publish a companion paperback version of his picture book Daniel O'Donnell My Pictures & Places, in October, 2005. The books chronicle one of contemporary music's most fascinating tales, of humble beginnings in a poor but proud Irish family, an enduring faith and the people and places that have shaped his musical vision.
Daniel speaks very fondly of his family's stone home in the little seaside village of Kincasslagh (in Donegal County), which had an open-hearth fire with pots hanging from crooks and simmering over hot coals. O'Donnell's father, a hard working farm laborer, passed away when O'Donnell was six, yet his childhood was idyllic, and Daniel feels the pull of home to this day, setting up his off-stage life in the very area in which he was raised. He remembers singing with his four older brothers and sisters and their grandparents and recalls a house full of relatives singing, telling stories and engaging his youthful imagination.
His mother looked on proudly as O'Donnell's sister Margo launched her singing career at age 12 and became a popular singer throughout Ireland. Daniel had long been a member of his church choir and later performed costumed sketches door to door with a traditional group, The Mummers, but he made his first real steps toward a professional career in music when he left college to join Margo's band.
True success came in 1987 when his second album, I Need You, slipped almost unnoticed into the U.K. Country Album Charts. It set a precedent that has seen every album that followed entering these charts - and most of them debuting right at the top - as well as several of them regularly enjoying Top 20 positions at the same time. Finally, after years of hard work and grueling gigs across Ireland and the U.K., Daniel O'Donnell had became a household name. In fact, in Mojo Magazine's 1999 survey of Britain's musical tastes, he came in at #31 - ahead of Bob Dylan and the Spice Girls!
Meanwhile achievements continue. One of Ireland's most popular exports, Daniel received special recognition with the dawning of the new decade: he was awarded an Honorary MBE from the British crown for his "services to the music industry." He was also nominated this year for CMA's Global Country Artist Award.
In the U.S., Daniel's recordings, DVDs and videos appear regularly on Billboard's charts from the moment they are released here. His first three PBS specials, 2002's
The Daniel O'Donnell Show, 2003's Daniel O'Donnell & Friends and 2004's inspirational Songs of Faith, were huge ratings hits Stateside, introducing his trademark mix of traditional Irish Ballads, Easy Listening, rock, pop, country and inspirational/gospel repertoire to some Americans for the first time. At one point recently, O'Donnell had nine out of fifteen albums on the World Music chart - including the #1 spot -- and broke the record for most entries on that chart at the same time.
"There was no one moment where I decided to become a singer," he says. "I honestly cannot remember a time when I didn't sing. I just always loved it. When I was very young, I sang at a local church hall. It's been a long road from there and I've loved meeting and performing for new audiences everywhere I go. I'm also excited that more and more young people are coming out to hear me. I hope that people of all ages will enjoy Live From Branson as much as I enjoyed doing that show. What a wonderful night it was for everyone."
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DANIEL O'DONNELL LIVE FROM BRANSON DVD
SLATED FOR JUNE, 2005
Features Entire 2004 PBS Live Concert Special Plus An Hour of Additional Performances
Guest Artists Include Charley Pride, Pam Tillis, The Gatlin Brothers, The Lennon Sisters, Jo Ann Castle, The Dublin City Dancers and Mary Duff
O'Donnell's Global Achievements Include Over 7.5 Million Albums and Two Million Videos/DVDs Sold
Since first performing in Branson, Missouri in 1997, Irish-born musical phenomenon Daniel O'Donnell has become one of the entertainment capital's biggest concert draws. Daniel O'Donnell Live From Branson, a two-DVD set scheduled for release by DPTV Media in June, 2005, brilliantly captures one of the singer's greatest performances, a four hour concert event that was aired live to millions as a PBS special on Saturday, November 27, 2004.
The extravaganza, which featured performances by legendary artists Charley Pride, Pam Tillis, The Gatlin Brothers, The Lennon Sisters, Jo Ann Castle, longtime O'Donnell singing partner Mary Duff and The Dublin City Dancers, spotlighted the charismatic entertainer in his first national TV special on an American stage. Taped at the Tri-Lakes Center in the heart of Branson's theatre district, the DVD includes all the songs performed in the PBS concert special, plus approximately an hour of additional performances not seen on the original broadcast due to various pledge breaks. Throughout 2005, PBS will run a show excerpted from the event, entitled Branson Encore.
"It was a huge undertaking, but one that I enjoyed very much," O'Donnell says. "It was a wonderful opportunity to share the stage with so many performers that have inspired me in singing country music. To be in the position to invite someone like Charley Pride was just incredible. The whole show was very entertaining and worked well."
In conjunction with the double DVD release, DPTV Media has slated two CD packages for Spring 2005 releases - the two disc set Branson Encore, which offers selections from the concert featuring O'Donnell & Mary Duff, and Daniel O'Donnell Live From Branson Highlights, a 20 track recording featuring performances by O'Donnell and each of his all-star guests. DPTV also released O'Donnell's previous three popular PBS specials - The Daniel O'Donnell Show (2002), Daniel O'Donnell & Friends (2003) and Daniel O'Donnell Songs of Faith (2004).
A recent nominee for CMA's Global Country Artist Award, O'Donnell has a very simple philosophy when it comes to choosing songs for his concerts - "If I love it, I sing it" - and his choices on Daniel O'Donnell Live From Branson are no exception. These include "Nobody's Child," "Thank You For Loving Me" and a medley of "My Heart Skips a Beat" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky" which was fashioned as a tribute to Buck Owens and his all-time favorite country singer, Loretta Lynn. He's been singing "Red River Valley" and "Black Hills of Dakota" since he was very young, and enjoyed wrapping those in a medley with "Don't Fence Me In," which he sang upon his first visit to Branson.
He also included many numbers from his 2004 tribute album to Jim Reeves, Welcome To My World, including the title cut, which opens Disc One of the DVD Live From Branson. O'Donnell also picked a series of favorite Irish songs - "Rose of Tralee," "My Irish Country Home," "My Wild Irish Rose" and "My Donegal Shore," his first hit in Ireland nearly 20 years ago, and the song that launched his international career.
O'Donnell currently has nine North American tour dates scheduled from May 31-June 14, 2005, and appears in Branson for two extended runs this year - in May and November '05.
His popularity is growing in America and abroad at a remarkable rate, with sold-out shows, record breaking Billboard chart positions (he recently held nine of the 15 slots on the World chart, including the #1 position) and current global sales of over 7.5 million recordings. This demand for all things O'Donnell has prompted Virgin Books to release, for the first time in North America, an updated paperback version of Daniel O'Donnell: My Story (with Eddie Rowley), which sold over 150,000 in its original U.K. hardcover printing in 1999. Since that time, Daniel has undergone a number of life-changing events, all described in detail in this fully revised edition.
The book tells a fascinating tale of humble beginnings and pays homage to the people and places that played a part in his incredible journey to musical success. Virgin Books is also slated to publish a paperback version of O'Donnell's picturebook Daniel O'Donnell My Pictures & Places in October, 2005.
"I can't remember a time when I wasn't singing," he says. "But I never dreamed it would turn out the way it has. It's bigger than any picture I could fathom. When I walk into record stores in Springfield, Missouri and see that they carry 14 of my albums, I'm amazed. My mission is to simply entertain and inspire the audience with songs that I have loved ever since I can remember."
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ENTERTAINER DANIEL O’DONNELL TO PERFORM IN 12 NORTH AMERICAN CITIES, THURSDAY, MAY 21 – JUNE 12, 2007
Cities Include Kansas City, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Dubuque, Milwaukee, Toledo, Mount Pleasant (MI), Hamilton (ON), and Reading;
PBS Television Star Returns in Nov. & Dec. ’07 For Branson & Niagara Falls Concerts
Popular Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell will perform in 12 North American cities in spring, 2007, following two weeks of concerts at Branson’s Tri-Lakes Center in May ’07. The tour cities include Kansas City, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Dubuque, Milwaukee, Toledo, Mount Pleasant (MI), Hamilton (ON), and Reading.
The Spring 2007 tour will feature Daniel's longtime musical companion, the Irish vocalist Mary Duff, as well as The Daniel O'Donnell Band. O'Donnell, Duff & band return to North America in November 2007 for a month of appearances at Branson's Tri-Lakes Center, and then perform four dates in Niagara Falls, ON in December 2007.
The entertainer has enjoyed worldwide success in recent years with his unique blend of country music, 60’s pop, inspirational ballads & Irish standards. Featured on six nationally televised PBS specials in the U.S. (including 2007’s Daniel O’Donnell Can You Feel The Love), O’Donnell’s live show is especially popular. It's not uncommon for O'Donnell's concerts to sell out within minutes of going onsale, and the shows are oft-requested destinations for group coach tours.
O'Donnell's easy-going, entertaining on-stage personality makes each live show an exciting event; in addition to the usual set list, different songs are sprinkled in each evening and the on-stage patter and audience participation give each show a new and distinct feel.
“The fans are an integral part of the experience of my live show, and I think they keep coming back primarily due to their love for the music I bring them,” O’Donnell says. “I make the show fun by having conversations and talking to them on-stage, even joking around like old friends. I stay after every performance to meet everyone I can, and people know I’m very approachable. Those who have seen me perform multiple times know that variety and spontaneity is a key part of the show, too. My goal every time I step onstage is to make sure the audience leaves entertained,” O’Donnell says. “I want to make people feel relaxed and at home with me, and for a few hours anyway, create an atmosphere that helps them leave their worries behind.”
His latest Public Television special, Daniel O’Donnell Can You Feel The Love, is airing throughout 2007. O’Donnell’s North American Presenter is Attila Glatz Concert Productions in Toronto.
Go to www.danielodonnell.org or http://rspublicrelations.com/dod/index.html for more information. High-resolution j-pegs available at: http://rspublicrelations.com/dod/images.html
Daniel O'Donnell's North American Tour Dates, 2007
May 7 - 19, 2007 - Branson, MO - Tri-Lakes Center
Box Office: 417-336-0219; 417-336-0261; 417-336-0283; or 417-336-0293
Monday, May 21, 7 p.m. - Kansas City, MO - Kansas City Music Hall
Ticket Master: (816) 931-3330
Wednesday, May 23, 7 p.m. - Des Moines, IA - Civic Center
Ticket Master: (515) 243-1888
Friday, May 25, 7 p.m. - Sioux Falls, SD - Sioux Falls Arena
Ticketmaster: 605-334-8181
Sunday, May 27, 7 p.m. - Saskatoon, SK - Credit Union Centre
Ticket Master: (306) 938-7800 or 1-800-970-SEAT (7328)
Tuesday, May 29, 7 p.m. - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
Ticket Master: (204) 780-3333
Thursday, May 31, 7 p.m. - Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Theater at Target Center
Ticket Master: (651) 989-5151
Saturday, June 2, 7 p.m. - Dubuque, IA - Five Flags Center
Ticket Master: (563) 557-8497
Monday, June 4, 7 p.m. - Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee Theatre
Ticket Master: (414) 276-4545
Wednesday, June 6, 3 p.m. - Toledo, OH - SeaGate Center
Mary's Enterprises: 419-535-9100
Friday, June 8, 7 p.m. - Mount Pleasant, MI
TBD.
Sunday, June 10, 7 p.m. - Hamilton, ON - Copps Coliseum
Ticket Master: (905) 527-7666
Tuesday, June 12, 7 p.m. - Reading, PA - Sovereign Center
Ticket Master (215) 336-2000
November 4 - December 1, 2007 - Branson, MO - Tri-Lakes Center
Box Office: 417-336-0219; 417-336-0261; 417-336-0283; or 417-336-0293
December 3, 2007 7:00 pm – Niagara Falls, ON – Niagara Falls Memorial Arena
December 4, 2007 2:00 pm - “
December 6, 2007 2:00 pm - “
December 7, 2007 7:00 pm - “
(519) 679-1160 or (800) 265-7900 (Pathway Tours)
ENTERTAINER DANIEL O'DONNELL TO PERFORM IN SIX NEW U.S. CITIES IN DECEMBER, 2005
Irish Singer / PBS Television Star Hits Evansville, IN, Charleston, WV, Carolinas & Jacksonville / Lakeland, Florida For the First Time, Following One Month Stint in Branson, MO November 3 - 30; O'Donnell Returns To Branson in May, 2006
This winter, popular Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell makes forays into new areas, performing for the first time in six new cities across the Midwest and South, including Evansville, IN; Charleston, WV; Raleigh, NC; Columbia, SC; Tallahassee, FL; and Lakeland, FL.
The entertainer has enjoyed worldwide success in recent years with his unique blend of country music, 60's pop, inspirational ballads & Irish standards. Featured on five nationally televised PBS specials (2005's Branson Encore; 2004's Daniel O'Donnell Songs of Faith; 2003's Daniel O'Donnell & Friends, and 2002's The Daniel O'Donnell Show, as well as evergreen Christmas with Daniel), O'Donnell's live show is especially popular. It's not uncommon for O'Donnell's concerts to sell out within minutes of going onsale, and the shows are oft-requested destinations for group bus tours.
O'Donnell's easy-going, entertaining on-stage personality makes each live show an exciting event; in addition to the usual set list, different songs are sprinkled in each evening and the on-stage patter and audience participation give each show a new and distinct feel.
"The fans are an integral part of the experience of my live show, and I think they keep coming back primarily due to their love for the music I bring them," O'Donnell says. "I make the show fun by having conversations and talking to them on-stage, even joking around like old friends. I stay after every performance to meet everyone I can, and while some may not stick around, they know I'm very approachable. Those who have seen me perform multiple times know that variety and spontaneity is a key part of the show, too. Something might happen tonight that didn't happen last night."
"My goal every time I step onstage is to make sure the audience leaves entertained," O'Donnell says. "I want to make people feel relaxed and at home with me, and for a few hours anyway, create an atmosphere that helps them leave their worries behind."
The December 2005 tour will feature Daniel's longtime musical companion, the Irish vocalist Mary Duff, as well as The Daniel O'Donnell Band. O'Donnell, Duff & band return to the U.S. in November 2005 & May 2006 for appearances at Branson's Tri-Lakes Theatre. A longer North American tour - including Canadian dates - will take place in Spring 2006 (to be announced in late-Winter). O'Donnell's North American booking agency is Attila Glatz Concert Productions in Toronto, Canada.
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Songs Of Faith biography
At the heart of the global phenomenon surrounding singer and performer Daniel O'Donnell is a deeply devout man whose boundless dual passions for music and faith are the driving forces of his life and career. He shares both passions in his highly anticipated third PBS special Daniel O'Donnell Songs of Faith, an emotionally compelling performance of 20 inspirational favorites (including multi-denominational hymns, uptempo gospel & pop songs, and two uplifting originals) taped live in concert with the 70-voice Irish Philharmonic Choir and 65-piece full orchestra at The Helix on the campus of Dublin City University in his native Ireland last summer. Also featured on the show: the top gospel group The Omega Singers, popular Irish singer Mary Duff, and the Daniel O'Donnell Band.
"Having this opportunity to sing these songs for people was a wonderful experience for me," he says. "There are days when shows are good and others when they are fantastic. This was just magnificent, and I could tell something special was happening by the way the audience was responding. It's a lovely feeling singing these songs. I don't want to preach to anyone, but performing them is a way of giving thanks and praise to God for all I've been able to do in my life."
Even as he looks forward to an exciting 2004, which includes a scheduled 13 city American tour in April and May, O'Donnell is pleased to look back with gratitude for all the ongoing blessings in his professional and personal lives. His fans around the world-including those who travel from all over America to pack a sold-out theatre in Branson, Missouri for his regular two and three week engagements-have been enthralled for years with his music, to the tune of five million albums and two million videos sold worldwide. Among those recordings now available in the United States are The Daniel O'Donnell Show, Daniel O'Donnell & Friends, The Irish Album, Yesterday's Memories, Live Laugh Love, Christmas with Daniel, a double volume Greatest Hits package and five Classic Doubles CDs (all released by DPTV Media in the U.S. and distributed by KOCH Entertainment Distribution).
His first two PBS specials, 2002's The Daniel O'Donnell Show and 2003's Daniel O'Donnell & Friends, were huge ratings hits Stateside, introducing his trademark mix of traditional Irish Ballads, Easy Listening, rock, pop and country repertoire to some Americans for the first time. The two shows were rerun over several months due to unprecedented viewer demand, and both are now available on DVD, video and CD formats. O'Donnell's conquest of North America continued in May 2003 with a 12 city tour of the U.S. and Canada, including such major markets as Boston, New York, Chicago, Dallas, San Antonio, Pittsburgh, and Toronto.
This past year in the U.S., his recordings have appeared on four Billboard Magazine charts: the Heatseekers, The Billboard 200, Independent Album and World Music charts, usually with multiple albums on a single chart. His success in Great Britain is legendary, with each of his 20-plus recordings since 1987 entering high on the U.K. country charts, some enjoying Top 20 positions at the same time. Add to that 19 hit singles and huge video sales for Follow Your Dream and A Date with Daniel, and it's little wonder why in Mojo Magazine's 1999 survey of Britain's musical tastes, he came in at #31-ahead of Bob Dylan and the Spice Girls!
Singing many of the hymns featured on Daniel O'Donnell Songs of Faith again brought O'Donnell back to moments in his childhood when he first heard and sang them at St. Mary's Chapel at Kincasslagh-a sanctuary where he still performs and where he married his wife Majella, in November 2002. He remembers performing "Nearer My God To Thee" in childhood talent competitions and first heard "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace" at St. Francis' Church on Dublin's Merchant's Quay, while walking up the aisle for communion as a teenager.
Many of the hymns, as well as pop inspirational favorites like "Put Your Hand in the Hand," "Rivers of Babylon" and "Wind Beneath My Wings," were originally recorded on O'Donnell's albums Songs of Inspiration and 2000's best-selling Faith and Inspiration (neither released in the U.S.). Others like "We Shall Not Be Moved," done in a medley with "Open Up Them Pearly Gates," have never been recorded by O'Donnell before. European fans might recognize "At The End of the Day" - the longtime transmission sign-off hymn from popular Radio Luxembourg in the 50's and '60's.
"This was such a personal concert for me," says O'Donnell. I included all the songs I love, from all religious denominations. I didn't think in terms of 'I must do something for the Catholics, something for the Mormons, etc.' I never thought of what will appeal to particular religions - I just wanted to give people songs I enjoy."
While O'Donnell sees his selections on Daniel O'Donnell Songs of Faith as universal in reach and as crossing over cultural and religious divides, he has a personal tale to relate regarding his two original songs, "Sweet Queen of Peace" and "When Darkness Falls." Since 1981, in a small village named Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina, it has been reported that The Blessed Virgin Mary has been appearing and giving uplifting messages to the world.
"This is a place of pilgrimage for Catholics from around the world," says O'Donnell, "a place where people ask missionaries to pray for peace. When I finally went there in 2002, writing songs was the furthest thing from my mind. The town's name means the ŚVillage Between the Hills,' and standing at the top of a hill looking down on it, my head was filled with words and I had to write them down. The words just flowed, and I soon had the first verse of ŚSweet Queen of Peace.' I had always wanted to do a show full of inspirational music with a choir and orchestra, and this moment inspired me to put it together.
"PBS showed an immediate interest in it," he adds. "I had worked with a children's choir before, but never an 70 voice adult ensemble. From the singer's point of view, to hear the choir coming in with my own voice was incredibly uplifting. It lifted me onto another spiritual plain entirely."
Daniel O'Donnell's personal odyssey through the realms of music and faith has been told in two best selling autobiographies, Follow Your Dreams and Daniel O'Donnell: My Story. Proceeds from the first edition of the latter book - along with his royalties from his recording Give a Little Love - were donated to the charity organization Daniel has been closely involved with for several years, Romanian Challenge Appeal, helping the orphans of East Romania.
A new, revised and updated edition of Daniel O'Donnell: My Story will now be available in America from Virgin Books, due for release in the U.S. in February, 2004.
O'Donnell speaks very fondly of his family's two story stone residence in the little seaside village of Kincasslagh (in Donegal County), which had an open-hearth fire and pots hanging from crooks and simmering over hot coals. O'Donnell's father, a hard working farm laborer, passed away when O'Donnell was six, but he remembers always singing with his four older brothers and sisters with their grandparents. He recalls a house full of relatives singing, telling stories and engaging his youthful imagination. His mother, a homemaker, looked on proudly as O'Donnell's sister Margo launched her singing career at age 12 and became a popular singer throughout Ireland. He had long been a member of his church choir and later performed door to door with a traditional group, The Mummers, but he made his first real steps toward a professional career in music after he graduated college, when he joined Margo's band.
As the now legendary story goes, O'Donnell took what little savings he had and in early 1983 did a simple studio recording of Johnny McCauley's popular Irish hit, "My Donegal Shore" (also a tribute to his home county). He released it as a 45 and it received substantial airplay, which led to Daniel's signing his first deal with Ritz Records in Dublin and London. The rapturous applause of 80,000 fans at the 1985 London Irish Festival quickly assured him that his destiny lay in music. He later electrified audiences at major world venues like London's Royal Albert Hall, New York's Carnegie Hall and Sydney's Opera House.
"I can't remember a time when I wasn't singing, but I think I first entertained the idea of making a life of it when I joined my sister," he says. "I never dreamed it would turn out the way it has. It's bigger than any picture I could fathom. When I walk into a record store in a mall in Springfield, Missouri and see that they carry 14 of my albums, I'm amazed. That the video for Daniel O'Donnell Songs of Faith (available in the U.S. in Fall 2004) just hit #1 on the U.K. video charts-in a business that tells you not to mention God or your mother in song-is also very exciting. My mission isn't to be evangelistic, but simply to inspire the audience with songs that I have loved ever since I can remember."
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DANIEL O'DONNELL & FRIENDS PLEDGE SPECIAL TO DEBUT NATIONALLY ON PBS IN DECEMBER
Irish Singer's Popular Blend of Irish Ballads, Easy Listening, Rock and Pop Standards and Country Western Hits Strike a Chord with Adult Audiences
O'Donnell's Phenomenal Achievements Include Over Five Million Albums and Two Million Videos Sold
PBS stations across the country will broadcast Daniel O'Donnell & Friends in December (check local listings). The live concert, presented by Detroit Public Television, is a sequel of sorts to last year's extraordinarily successful pledge special The Daniel O'Donnell Show. That first concert, taped at the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, County Kerry in the entertainer's native Ireland, was an instant hit whose incredible response led the public television network to air it several more times throughout the year.
The new show, taped at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, features all new material, as well as guest appearances by O'Donnell's longtime touring companion, the Irish vocalist Mary Duff; the Celtic Tenors; and legendary country music performer Gail Davies.
The 29 song set list highlights O'Donnell's trademark mix of Irish ballads, Easy Listening, rock and pop standards and country western hits. Once again, Daniel pulls out all the stops with his easygoing, entertaining stage presence, as his audience sings along on tunes like "Wooden Heart," "Sing Me An Old Irish Song" and "Blackboard of My Heart." Beloved country classics include "Coat of Many Colors" (which Daniel sings to his 83-year old mother, seated in the audience) and "Tennessee Waltz."
Gail Davies contributes her famous tune "Someone Is Looking For Someone Like You," and The Celtic Tenors (an Irish twist on The Three Tenors concept), already very familiar to PBS audiences from their "Celebrate! With the Celtic Tenors" pledge drive program, perform a rousing rendition of "Phil The Flouter's Ball."
A recent burst of songwriting energy led to two newly-composed songs by O'Donnell and co-writer Marc Roberts: "Then The World Will Know" and "I Will Think of You"; both are included on Daniel O'Donnell & Friends. Another highlight of the show finds Daniel and Mary Duff donning traditional Celtic kilts and dancing to a brief song. Whenever Daniel spins around, his kilt flares out and the audience roars with laughter.
"PBS was pleased with the reaction to the first show, and approached me about creating another one," says Daniel, who has sold over five million albums and two million videos around the world. "It made sense to add a new element by including 'friends' as guest, and I love the way it turned out. I also get to do some beloved childhood songs like 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,' and work with the Celtic Tenors and Gail Davies, who is really a legend of country music. I kept 'How Great Thou Art' in the set because it's my favorite way to end the show, and has been my traditional closing anthem for over ten years."
In addition to seeing O'Donnell's new show on television, North American music lovers can now purchase three classic O'Donnell albums in stores: The Daniel O'Donnell Show (DVD, video and CD formats); Live Laugh Love; and a double volume Greatest Hits package were recently released by DPTV Media (distributed by KOCH Entertainment Distribution), as well as two Classic Doubles CDs.
Daniel returns to North America in November 2003, when he'll perform a two-week stint at Branson, MO. He performed a 12-city tour here in May 2003.
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DANIEL O'DONNELL 2003 PBS TELEVISION TOUR ANNOUNCED,
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2003
Fans Can Catch Daniel "Live in Conversation" on Television In Six Cities Across the U.S.: Detroit, St. Louis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Fargo, Spokane, and Seattle
PLEASE NOTE: Stations are NOT open to the Public; Daniel's fans can watch the conversations on television (dates and times below)
Entertainer Daniel O'Donnell will appear "live in conversation" at six PBS television stations across the U.S., from Sunday, November 30 - Saturday, December 6, 2003. Participating cities include Detroit, St. Louis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Fargo, Spokane, and Seattle.
Daniel will speak at pledge breaks during the airing of his TV show(s) Daniel O'Donnell and Friends; Daniel O'Donnell Show; and the new Songs of Faith (to be shown in Detroit, only, in November and then nationally on PBS stations across the country in March, 2004).
TV stations are NOT open to the public: Daniel's fans can watch the live conversations on television (dates and times below).
Monday, December 1 - St. Louis, MO
KETC-TV
DOD & FRIENDS 7PM
Tuesday, December 2 - St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN
KTCA-TV
Twin Cities Public Television
DOD & FRIENDS 7 PM
Thursday, December 4 - Fargo, ND
KFME-TV
Prairie Public Television
DOD & FRIENDS 8 PM
Friday, December 5 - Spokane, WA
KSPS-TV
DOD FRIENDS 6 PM
DOD SHOW 8 PM
Saturday, December 6 - Seattle, WA
KCTS-TV
DOD SHOW 6 PM
DOD & FRIENDS 8 PM
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