Biography
Who is Brian Kennedy?
Early life and background
Brian Edward Patrick Kennedy was born in Belfast on October 12, 1966. He grew up on Falls Road as the son of Jim and Lily Kennedy. His older brother, Martin Christopher Kennedy, also worked as a musician.
During his childhood, Brian suffered from Osgood-Schlatter disease in both of his legs. He witnessed various instances of violence during the Troubles while living in Northern Ireland. He often used to harmonize with the sounds of emergency vehicle sirens.
Music career and hits
Brian Kennedy began his professional music path in 1988. He provided chorus vocals for singer Van Morrison on albums such as A Night in San Francisco and Back on Top. In 1990, he released his own album titled The Great War of Words, which included the single Captured.
In 1991, he formed the duo Sweetmouth with Mark E. Nevin. Later, after signing with RCA Records, he released the 1996 album A Better Man. This record produced several top 20 hits in Ireland, including the songs Life Love and Happiness and Put the Message in a Box.
Eurovision and television
Brian Kennedy represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006. He sang his own composition, Every Song is a Cry for Love, in Athens. His performance was the 1,000th song ever performed in the history of the contest and he finished in tenth place.
He appeared as a coach on the first series of The Voice of Ireland between 2011 and 2012. During this time, he mentored Richie Hayes, who became the runner-up. In 2008, he also served as a judge for the Citybeat Young Star Search talent competition.
Writing and personal life
Beyond music, Brian Kennedy is an author who has written novels. His published works include The Arrival of Fergal Flynn in 2004 and Roman Song in 2005. These books were both released by Hodder.
In 2016, he shared that he had received a diagnosis of rectal cancer. He also works as a radio presenter for Tipp FM, a role he started in October 2018. He has previously performed on the viral music show BalconyTV in Dublin.
Birthday and age
Brian Kennedy was born on October 12, 1966, which makes Brian 60 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Brian shares the date with 53 other famous people.
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