Frances Black
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| Frances Black | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | June 25, 1960 Dublin, Ireland |
| Genre(s) | Celtic Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1988 – present |
| Associated acts | Mary Black |
| Website | Official site |
Frances Black (born June 25, 1960, Dublin) is an award-winning Irish singer and a counsellor.
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[edit] Childhood
Black was born into a very musical family. Her father Kevin was a plasterer by trade. He also played fiddle and mandolin and was from Rathlin Island, off the north coast of County Antrim. Her mother Patty was from the Liberties in the heart of Dublin, and she sang at dancehalls. Frances is the youngest of five children, and has three older brothers Shay, Michael and Martin, and one older sister, Mary Black. She grew up on Charlemont Street in Dublin, and attended school at St. Louis' in Rathmines.
[edit] Musical career
Black's musical career began at 17, when she began singing with her siblings, in her family group, known as the Black Family. She gained confidence in her singing abilities and enhanced her performing skills through joining the band Arcady in 1988, in addition to her subsequent successful collaboration with acclaimed Newry singer-songwriter, Kieran Goss. The two recorded an album, Frances Black and Kieran Goss, in 1992. One of the tracks from this album, Wall of Tears, was subsequently placed on the album, A Woman's Heart, which contained tracks from Frances, Eleanor McEvoy, Dolores Keane, Sharon Shannon, Maura O'Connell, and Mary Black. This album went on to be the most successful Irish album in Ireland to date, with at least one in three homes owning a copy. It placed Frances Black firmly in the public eye, and the rapturous reception she received on the subsequent tour led to her receiving an album deal from DARA records.
Black's first solo album, “Talk to Me,” was released in 1994, and was the number one best-selling album in Ireland for ten weeks. The 1995 album, "The Sky Road," and 1996 album, The Smile On Your Face were also two of the biggest-selling albums in Ireland those years. She has released seven best-selling solo albums in total, including her 2006 chart-topping folk collection album, “This Love Will Carry.”
[edit] Personal difficulties
Black has come through a series of personal difficulties, including alcohol addiction, teenage pregnancy, and marriage breakup. She returned to college as a mature student in 2004 and qualified as an addiction counsellor, and currently does some counselling work at the Rutland Addiction Treatment Centre in Dublin.
[edit] Family
Frances Black's brothers still sing as The Black Brothers, and her sister Mary is a successful solo artist. Frances still occasionally performs with The Black Family, who released their long-awaited third album, “Our Time Together” in 2004.
[edit] Personal
Black had her first child, Eoghan Scott, when she was 19, and her second child Aoife, when she was 21. Her first marriage ended shortly afterwards, and she is now married to her second husband, Brian Allen. Her son Eoghan Scott is an emerging singer-songwriter and producer, and he plays bass in her band. Her film editor daughter Aoife Scott recorded a track on Frances' latest album, This Love Will Carry, called "The Hills of South Armagh," written by Briege Murphy.
[edit] Awards
Frances Black has twice been the recipient of one of the Irish Recorded Music Association’s 'Best Irish Female' Award, and also won a National Entertainment Personality of the Year Award. She also won both the best solo artiste award and was the overall winner at the Celtic Fusion Festival Awards 2005 in conjunction with Irish Music Magazine, from over 40 nominated acts.
[edit] Discography
- Frances Black and Kieran Goss (1992)
- Talk To Me (1994)
- The Sky Road (1995)
- The Smile On Your Face (1996)
- Don't Get Me Wrong (1998)
- The Best of Frances Black (2000)
- How High The Moon (2003)
- This Love Will Carry (2006)
