Eileen Reid

For the Irish painter and musician, see Eileen Reid (painter).

Eileen Reid
BornJanuary 1943 (age 81)
Dublin, Ireland
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
Years active1959–1980

Eileen Reid (born January 1943)[1] is an Irish singer of the showband era.[2]

She had an Irish number 1 on 29 May 1964 with "Fallen Star", the first official Irish number one single by an Irish woman,[3] and was also known for her song "I Gave My Wedding Dress Away".

Career

Eileen Reid began singing as a teenager with the Melody Makers, later fronting the Cadets showband.[4] She and the Cadets reached No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart dated 6 May 1965 with "Jealous Heart".[5]

She tried out for the 1980 Eurovision with "The Saddest Show On Earth". In 1982, she appeared on The Brendan Grace Show. She appeared on a 1995 episode of Lifelines.

Later she turned to acting, appearing in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin in pantomime.[6]

In 2008, she appeared on The Podge and Rodge Show.

Personal life

Eileen Reid was the daughter of footballer Charlie Reid.[7] Eileen Reid married Jimmy Day, another showband singer. Her daughter Claudine Day is also a singer.[8]

In 2015, she admitted to multiple infidelities and a miscarriage.[9][10][11]

Discography

Irish chart singles

Bibliography

  • Eileen (with Jimmy Day), Town House Dublin, 1995, ISBN 1-86059-011-X

Filmography

References

  1. ^ "Showband queen Eileen Reid". Farmersjournal.ie. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Singer Eileen Reid reveals she lost out on work because she refused to sleep with a director". Independent.ie. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  3. ^ https://irishnumberones.com/2023/07/27/eileen-reid-and-the-cadets-fallen-star/
  4. ^ "Cadets Showband". Irish-showbands.com. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  5. ^ "CADETS WITH EILEEN READ | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Singer settles injury claim". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Eileen Reid Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Dancehall days return". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  9. ^ Brophy, Daragh. "'I never heard the word abortion': Singer reveals anguish of unplanned pregnancy". Thejournal.ie.
  10. ^ "Eileen Reid Reveals Extramarital Affair". Rsvpmagazine.com. 24 September 2015.
  11. ^ "'Faith and forgiveness' saved showband star's marriage". Irish Examiner. 16 December 2016.