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Daniel O'Donnell
Biography
Crooner Daniel O'Donnell was the spiritual descendent of clean-cut, wholesome pop icons like Pat Boone and Andy Williams, enjoying a massive fan base among women of all ages. Born in County Donegal, Ireland, on December 12, 1961, O'Donnell was one of five children. His older sister Margo vaulted to national fame in 1968 when her country-inspired single "Dear God" topped the Irish charts, although her success was tempered by the death of their father that same year. As an adolescent Daniel regularly appeared with Margo on-stage, and in 1980 he quit school to join her band full-time. Three years later, he self-funded his first recording session, cutting the Johnny McCauley composition "My Donegal Shore." In late 1983 O'Donnell formed his own band, the short-lived Country Fever. Following an appearance at London's Irish Festival in support of his little-noticed debut LP, The Boy from Donegal, he befriended Ritz Records exec Mick Clerkin, who in turn introduced him to future manager Sean Reilly. Under Reilly's supervision O'Donnell's career began gaining momentum, and via successive albums including I Need You, From the Heart, and Thoughts of Home he emerged as a budding superstar with virtually no radio airplay or mainstream media attention.