Louise Morrissey

b. 23 March 1961, Bansha, Co. Tipperary, Eire. She grew up with a love of music and after completing her schooling, began to sing with her brothers, Billy and Norman, as the Morrisseys Folk And Ballad Group. She made her first recording, ‘Farewell To Carlingford’, in 1978. The group recorded several successful albums, including Ireland’s Morrisseys and On Stage (Live From Olympia). In 1988, encouraged by the popularity of Irish singers such as Ray Lynam and Philomena Begley, she gave up folk music in favour of the ever-popular country and Irish (Norman became the bass guitarist in her band and Billy the band’s manager). Her second country music recording, ‘The Night Daniel O’Donnell Came To Town’ (based on Johnny Cash’s hit ‘The Night Hank Williams Came To Town’), was a big hit for her in Ireland and quickly established her as a major Irish country singer. In 1990, in Zurich, competing against 14 countries, she won the European Country Music Gold Star Award singing ‘Tipperary On My Mind’, and since then she has continued to build her reputation with fine record releases. Her video Memories Of Home (1990) has sold in large numbers and she proved very popular on an appearance at the Wembley International Festival Of Country Music. Her touring has seen her play venues in the USA, Denmark and the Lebanon. On 26 September 1993, she survived a head-on car crash when travelling to a concert. She was scheduled to fly to Nashville the following day to record another album and make US concert appearances, but her injuries were so severe that it was six months before she was able to perform again. During her absence, the talented Trudi Lalor, a promising young vocalist, fronted Louise’s band and fulfilled all her Irish and UK commitments. In 1995, completely recovered, Morrissey toured the UK with Charley Pride, receiving glowing tributes for her singing. She is equally at home with Irish ballads such as ‘The Rose Of Allendale’, country standards like ‘Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain’ or modern songs, including ‘Achy Breaky Heart’, one of the 14 tracks she recorded on an earlier visit to Nashville. She is the possessor of one of the finest female voices currently performing around the Irish and UK country music scene.