Eleanor McEvoy

Celtic pop singer/songwriter Eleanor McEvoy was born in Dublin on January 20, 1967, beginning piano lessons at age four; she took up the violin two years later, and as a teen joined the Junior Irish Youth Orchestra. Upon graduating college, McEvoy was tapped for the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, but after four years she quit to pursue a career as a pop performer; in 1992, her "Only a Woman's Heart" highlighted the anthology A Woman's Heart, which went on to become the best-selling album in Irish chart history. The record's success made McEvoy a superstar virtually overnight, and in 1994 she issued her self-titled full-length debut; What's Following Me? appeared two years later, and in mid-1999 she returned with the Rupert Hine produced Snapshots. It was during that tour that McEvoy began her collaboration with the Belfast pianist Brian Connor, a relationship that helped spawn 2001's critically acclaimed Yola. 2003 saw the re-release of her debut, this time on Market Square Records, and the following year, McEvoy released here fourth collection of new material, the SACD compatible Early Hours. ~ Jason Ankeny