Johnny Logan (singer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Johnny Logan (real name Seán Patrick Michael Sherrard) was born in Frankston near Melbourne, Australia, on 13 May 1954 but lives in Ashbourne, County Meath, Ireland. His father was a very well known Irish tenor, Patrick O'Hagen, who performed three times at The White House, for John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. The family moved back to Ireland when Johnny was aged three. He learnt the guitar and began composing his own songs by the age of thirteen. On leaving school he apprenticed as an electrician, while performing in folk and blues clubs. His earliest claim to fame was starring as Adam in the 1977 Irish musical "Adam and Eve".
Johnny Logan has helped to win the Eurovision Song Contest three times for Ireland. "What's Another Year?", composed by Shay Healy and sung by Johnny, won in the Netherlands in 1980; "Hold Me Now", which he both wrote and sang, won in 1987 in Brussels; and in 1992 in Sweden he was the composer of the winning song "Why Me?", sung by Linda Martin.
It could very easily have been four wins, as an earlier collaboration with Linda Martin, "Terminal 3" - which he rather sheepishly admitted had been so named simply because he happened to be sitting in Terminal 3 of Heathrow Airport when he wrote it - had finished runner-up to the winning Swedish song "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley" in 1984.
Johnny is somewhat popular in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark, he also has a small core of loyal fans in the United Kingdom, as well as a big fan base in Ireland, across the continent of Europe he is sometimes referred to as "Mister Eurovision" by fans of the contest and the media at large.
"Hold Me Now" was voted as the 3rd most popular song in Eurovision history at the 50th anniversary concert in Copenhagen, Denmark in October 2005. "What's Another Year?" was also nominated amongst the 14 finalists. It has sold over 3 million copies. "Hold Me Now" is also a million-seller.
Throughout his career, which spans four decades, Logan has issued no less than 40 singles and 19 albums. He has continued his love of participating in the musical, having toured Norway with Which Witch, an operamusical originating in that country.
Other than the Eurovision songs, well-known numbers performed and recorded by Johnny Logan include:
- "Stay" (also composed by him)
- "When Your Woman Cries" (Bugatti/Musker)
- "Heartbroken Man" (composed by him with Trevor knight)
- "Living a Lie" (composed by him with Shay Healy)
- "Such a Lady" (also composed by him)
His performing and songwriting career continues. He is also featured on the new advertisement for McDonald's Eurosaver menu in his native Ireland.
| Preceded by Gali Atari and Milk and Honey |
Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 |
Succeeded by Bucks Fizz |
| Preceded by Sandra Kim |
Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1987 |
Succeeded by Céline Dion |
| Preceded by Cathal Dunne |
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 |
Succeeded by Sheeba |
| Preceded by Luv Bug |
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1987 |
Succeeded by Jump The Gun |
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| 1950s | Lys Assia • Corry Brokken • André Claveau • Teddy Scholten |
| 1960s | Jacqueline Boyer • Jean-Claude Pascal • Isabelle Aubret • Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann • Gigliola Cinquetti • France Gall • Udo Jürgens • Sandie Shaw • Massiel • Frida Boccara • Lenny Kuhr • Lulu • Salomé |
| 1970s | Dana • Séverine • Vicky Leandros • Anne-Marie David • ABBA • Teach-In • Brotherhood of Man • Marie Myriam • Izhar Cohen & Alphabeta • Gali Atari & Milk and Honey |
| 1980s | Johnny Logan • Bucks Fizz • Nicole • Corinne Hermès • Herreys • Bobbysocks • Sandra Kim • Johnny Logan • Celine Dion • Riva |
| 1990s | Toto Cutugno • Carola • Linda Martin • Niamh Kavanagh • Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan • Secret Garden • Eimear Quinn • Katrina and the Waves • Dana International • Charlotte Nilsson |
| 2000s | Olsen Brothers • Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL • Marie N • Sertab Erener • Ruslana • Elena Paparizou • Lordi |
| Selected Eurovision winners/participants for Congratulations | |
|---|---|
| Eurovision winners/participants that participated | ABBA | Brotherhood of Man | Celine Dion | Sertab Erener | France Gall | Dana International | Johnny Logan (twice) | Domenico Modugno | Mocedades | Nicole | Olsen Brothers | Elena Paparizou | Cliff Richard |
