Sean Dunphy

Sean Dunphy (30 November 1937 – 17 May 2011) was an Irish singer. He represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1967, achieving second place with "If I Could Choose". He was also the first Irish singer to record in Nashville. Born in Whitehall, Dublin, Dunphy first became famous in his home country as lead singer with The Hoedowners, a showband led by trumpeter Earl Gill. Between 1966 and 1973, fourteen singles by Sean Dunphy and The Hoedowners entered the Irish Charts including, in 1969, two number ones: "Lonely Woods of Upton" and "When The Fields Were White With Daisies". In 1968, the Irish independent record label Dolphin Record's first issue was a single by Dunphy named "Two Loves". The Cork Examiner states that it was a number one hit in Ireland, however the song does not feature in the list of number-one singles of 1968 in Ireland. In the late 1970s, Dunphy went on to have two further hits as a solo artist. Despite undergoing a quadruple heart bypass operation in 2007, Sean Dunphy continued to give live performances. In March 2009, he sang many of his greatest hits in a one-off concert at Dublin's National Concert Hall. His last public engagement was at a charity event twenty-four hours before his death. On May 17, 2011, Dunphy died at his home in Baldoyle, County Dublin and is buried at Greenogue cemetery in Ashbourne, County Meath. Sean Dunphy and his wife Lily had four children. His son Brian is a member of the Irish band, The High Kings. RTÉ One A Little Bit Showband Archived 2009-09-17 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved September 25, 2009) The Irish Times, "No injunction against dance band", August 10, 1967 "Dolphin Records Recent Releases". Cork Examiner. 17 December 1974. p. 10. Ó Baoill, Dónall C. (10 December 1983). "Dolphin Records Still Going Strong After 25 Years". Andersonstown News (Iris an Phobail). p. 20. The Irish Times, "A fresh spin for a ballroom of romance", June 12, 2007 Evening Herald, "Sean Dunphy - Showband era legend", March 26, 2009 Irish Independent, "Tributes as singer and showband legend Sean Dunphy dies", May 18, 2011 Irish Independent, "A final rapturous applause as 'the Duke' laid to rest", May 21, 2011 "RPM Adult Contemporary Chart March 25, 1972". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2010. "RPM Country Singles Chart March 25, 1972". Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2010. "RPM Country Singles Chart August 19, 1972". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2010. Profile of Sean Dunphy and The Hoedowners at irish-showbands.com