Mary Coughlan
Mary Coughlan (/ ˈkɔxlən /, mostly implemented as / ˈkɔklən /; * 1956 in Galway , Ireland ) is an Irish singer and actress .
Life
As a teenager, the eldest of five siblings left the convent school prematurely. Depression and a suicide attempt followed at age 17. She made a living doing odd jobs. In 1974, when she was 18, she went to England. At 20, she gave birth to her first child. She had two more children over the next six years and left her husband in 1981 to return to her homeland in Ireland. There she met the Dutch musician and producer Erik Visser, known from the folk group Flairck, and was discovered as a singer. Her 1985 debut album Tired and Emotional sold 100,000 copies in a short time.
Initially, due to a lack of experience, for example in contractual matters, she had difficulties finding her way in the music business. She took refuge in excesses of alcohol that earned her nearly thirty hospital stays, the loss of her house and her record deal. It was not until 1993 that she went through a drug addiction treatment and entered into a new partnership that resulted in two more children. The 1997 album After the Fall was the beginning of a real comeback as a musician.
At the beginning of the 21st century she worked out a homage The Lady Sings The Blues to Billie Holiday and brought it to the stage as a multimedia music theater in Dublin and London.
Her penultimate album Red blues from 2002 was released on the German record label Tradition und Moderne in Bremen. Mary Coughlan and her band had previously participated in the Women in (E) motion festival there . Since the musicians were there and had time anyway, an album was recorded ad hoc in just four days. Red Blues was created with the participation of Peter O'Brian ( piano ), Frank Mead ( saxophone ), Bill Rich ( bass ) and Kester Smith ( drums ) and the guitar trio Tri Continental . Randy Newman's You can leave your hat on , known to many especially in the cover version of Joe Cocker , was completely rearranged by Mary Coughlan, the tempo slowed down and the volume muffled. Billie Holidays classic Strange Fruit in an a cappella version should also be highlighted.
When asked about her future career plans, Mary Coughlan recently stated that she would like to produce a new album with Bono friend Gavin Friday , which should go in the musical style "towards Vaudeville ".
Her last album so far, The House of Ill Repute , she produced again with the Dutch producer and musician Erik Visser , with whom she began her musical career many years earlier. In the 13 songs on this album, Mary Coughlan deals with their previously failed 13-year relationship.
Discography
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- 1985: Tired And Emotional
- 1986: Ancient Rain (mini-LP)
- 1987: Under The Influence
- 1990: Uncertain Pleasures
- 1992: Sentimental Killer
- 1994: Love Me Or Leave Me - The Best Of Mary Coughlan
- 1995: Love For Sale
- 1996: Live In Galway
- 1997: After The Fall
- 2000: Mary Coughlan Sings Billie Holiday (live)
- 2001: Long Honeymoon
- 2002: Red Blues
- 2004: Live At The Basement
- 2004: The Best
- 2008: The House of Ill Repute
Web links
- Official website
- Mary Coughlan in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Discography 1985-2002 with all track titles
- Interview 2002 about the background of your song selection
- Live report Cologne January 2003
swell
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Coughlan, Mary |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Irish singer and actress |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1956 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Galway |