The Corrs are a Celtic folk rock and pop rock group from Dundalk, Republic of Ireland. The band consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea Corr (lead vocals, tin whistle); Sharon Corr (backing vocals, violin); Caroline Corr (backing vocals, bodhrán,drums); and Jim Corr (guitar, backing vocals, keyboard). The Corrs are well known for their hit singles, including their debut "Runaway" and "Breathless." All four members can play the piano, which was taught to them by their father, but Jim and Caroline are the only siblings credited with playing the piano on their albums.
The band gained international attention with their performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Their debut album, Forgiven Not Forgotten, was released after that performance and was produced by David Foster. Their first two albums were folk rock; their third album, In Blue, moved toward mainstream pop and included electronic synthesisers.Their next album, Borrowed Heaven, returned to folk rock but put heavier emphasis on guitars.
The Corrs released Home in 2005. The album was a tribute to their 15-year career and featured Irish music spanning 1,000 years of musical tradition.During that same year, all four Corr siblings received honorary MBEs for their contributions to music and charity.The Corrs are currently on hiatus as Sharon, Jim, and Caroline are raising families, while Andrea is pursuing a solo career.
The band gained international attention with their performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Their debut album, Forgiven Not Forgotten, was released after that performance and was produced by David Foster. Their first two albums were folk rock; their third album, In Blue, moved toward mainstream pop and included electronic synthesisers.Their next album, Borrowed Heaven, returned to folk rock but put heavier emphasis on guitars.
The Corrs released Home in 2005. The album was a tribute to their 15-year career and featured Irish music spanning 1,000 years of musical tradition.During that same year, all four Corr siblings received honorary MBEs for their contributions to music and charity.The Corrs are currently on hiatus as Sharon, Jim, and Caroline are raising families, while Andrea is pursuing a solo career.
History
Early years :
The Corrs' parents are Gerry Corr, a manager of the payroll department of the Irish Electricity Board, and his wife, Jean, a homemaker.They raised their family in Dundalk, Ireland. Gerry and Jean performed together as a band called Sound Affair, and often brought their children to their performances,playing songs by ABBA and the Eagles in local pubs.
With the encouragement of their parents, Jim took guitar lessons, Sharon played the violin, Caroline studied the drums, and Andrea took up the tin whistle.Additionally, all of them were taught the piano by their father.Throughout their teenage years, The Corrs would often practice in Jim's bedroom at a house he had rented. Andrea sang lead vocals, Sharon played the violin, and both Caroline and Jim played the keyboards.
With the encouragement of their parents, Jim took guitar lessons, Sharon played the violin, Caroline studied the drums, and Andrea took up the tin whistle.Additionally, all of them were taught the piano by their father.Throughout their teenage years, The Corrs would often practice in Jim's bedroom at a house he had rented. Andrea sang lead vocals, Sharon played the violin, and both Caroline and Jim played the keyboards.
1990-1994: Early commercial success
While Caroline and Andrea were still attending school, Jim and Sharon had begun playing as a duo, often at their aunt's pub, McManus's.In 1990, Jim and Sharon added their younger siblings to their existing duo, to form a quartet.Their career took off in 1991 when they auditioned for the film The Commitments. Jim, Sharon, and Caroline each had a small part as musicians, while Andrea got a speaking part as Sharon Rabbitte.John Hughes noticed them when they auditioned for the movie, and agreed to become their manager.
The band enjoyed success in Ireland until 1994, when the band became known internationally. The American ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith, invited the group to perform at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Boston after seeing them play a gig at Whealans Music Bar in Dublin. After an appearance at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States,The Corrs joined Celine Dion's worldwide Falling into You Tour as a supporting act.
1995-1999: International fame
Jason Flom, Atlantic Records' vice director and producer, recommended that they meet with David Foster, a Canadian musician, producer, composer and arranger. The Corrs played live for Foster and he agreed to sign them to Atlantic Records. They extended their stay in the United States for over five months to record their debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten.
Forgiven, Not Forgotten featured six instrumental selections among its Celtic-influenced tracks. The album sold well in Ireland, Australia, Japan, and Spain. Major success in the United States and the United Kingdom, however, was not immediately forthcoming.Eventually, the album reached platinum status in the United Kingdom and Australia, and quadruple platinum in Ireland, which made it one of the most popular debuts by an Irish group.
The Corrs' next album, 1997's Talk On Corners, was produced by Glen Ballard, who was respected for his collaboration with Alanis Morissette. The Corrs also collaborated with Carole Bayer Sager, Glen Ballard, Oliver Leiber, Rick Nowels, and Billy Steinberg. Andrea Corr explained the genre of the second album saying, "It [has] got more of an edgy feel, a little bit more guitar-orientated and also an Irish sound, which is in Forgiven, Not Forgotten."The album met with lukewarm responses and was only successful within Ireland.[3Nevertheless, The Corrs performed a special remixed version of the tracks from their first two albums in a 1998 televised St. Patrick's Day appearance at London's Royal Albert Hall.After that performance, the band re-released Talk on Corners, which featured new remixes of "What Can I Do?", "So Young" and "Runaway".The special edition topped the charts in many countries, and again reached platinum status in the United Kingdomand Australia
While Caroline and Andrea were still attending school, Jim and Sharon had begun playing as a duo, often at their aunt's pub, McManus's.In 1990, Jim and Sharon added their younger siblings to their existing duo, to form a quartet.Their career took off in 1991 when they auditioned for the film The Commitments. Jim, Sharon, and Caroline each had a small part as musicians, while Andrea got a speaking part as Sharon Rabbitte.John Hughes noticed them when they auditioned for the movie, and agreed to become their manager.
The band enjoyed success in Ireland until 1994, when the band became known internationally. The American ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith, invited the group to perform at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Boston after seeing them play a gig at Whealans Music Bar in Dublin. After an appearance at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States,The Corrs joined Celine Dion's worldwide Falling into You Tour as a supporting act.
1995-1999: International fame
Jason Flom, Atlantic Records' vice director and producer, recommended that they meet with David Foster, a Canadian musician, producer, composer and arranger. The Corrs played live for Foster and he agreed to sign them to Atlantic Records. They extended their stay in the United States for over five months to record their debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten.
Forgiven, Not Forgotten featured six instrumental selections among its Celtic-influenced tracks. The album sold well in Ireland, Australia, Japan, and Spain. Major success in the United States and the United Kingdom, however, was not immediately forthcoming.Eventually, the album reached platinum status in the United Kingdom and Australia, and quadruple platinum in Ireland, which made it one of the most popular debuts by an Irish group.
The Corrs' next album, 1997's Talk On Corners, was produced by Glen Ballard, who was respected for his collaboration with Alanis Morissette. The Corrs also collaborated with Carole Bayer Sager, Glen Ballard, Oliver Leiber, Rick Nowels, and Billy Steinberg. Andrea Corr explained the genre of the second album saying, "It [has] got more of an edgy feel, a little bit more guitar-orientated and also an Irish sound, which is in Forgiven, Not Forgotten."The album met with lukewarm responses and was only successful within Ireland.[3Nevertheless, The Corrs performed a special remixed version of the tracks from their first two albums in a 1998 televised St. Patrick's Day appearance at London's Royal Albert Hall.After that performance, the band re-released Talk on Corners, which featured new remixes of "What Can I Do?", "So Young" and "Runaway".The special edition topped the charts in many countries, and again reached platinum status in the United Kingdomand Australia
In June 1998, The Corrs participated in the Pavarotti and Friends for the Children of Liberia charity concert. The concert was held in Modena, Italy and was hosted by Luciano Pavarotti. The artists that participated were Jon Bon Jovi, Natalie Cole, Pino Daniele, Céline Dion, Florent Pagny, Eros Ramazzotti, Spice Girls, Vanessa L. Williams, Stevie Wonder, Trisha Yearwood and Zucchero.The concert was aimed to raise funds to build the Pavarotti and Friends Liberian Children's Village, which will provide refuge for children of Liberia.
The following year, The Corrs received a BRIT Award for Best International Band.Subsequently, they performed live on MTV's Unplugged on 5 October 1999 in front of an audience at Ardmore Studios, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. The resulting CD and DVD sold 2.7 million copies and featured live performances of their previously released songs, as well as a new song, "Radio", that was later featured on their third album, In Blue
The following year, The Corrs received a BRIT Award for Best International Band.Subsequently, they performed live on MTV's Unplugged on 5 October 1999 in front of an audience at Ardmore Studios, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. The resulting CD and DVD sold 2.7 million copies and featured live performances of their previously released songs, as well as a new song, "Radio", that was later featured on their third album, In Blue
2000-2002: Mainstream success
In 2000, The Corrs returned to mainstream success with In Blue. Unlike their previous albums, In Blue broke away from folk rock to become pop music. This move attracted criticism from many critics; one Entertainment Weekly critic called it "a disheartening example of musical ethnic cleansing".Despite this, In Blue hit #1 in its first sales week in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria and debuted at #2 in France and Norway. It climbed to the top position during its second week in Sweden and Spain.
The Corrs worked with Alejandro Sanz on In Blue, recording "Una Noche (One Night)" as a duet between Sanz and Andrea Corr; Sanz also played Andrea's love interest in the music video. In return, The Corrs performed "Me Iré (The Hardest Day)" with him on his album, El Alma Al Aire. They also collaborated with Robert Lange to produce a mainstream hit single, "Breathless". "Breathless" reached #34 in the Billboard Hot 100, #7 in Australia, #3 in Ireland and New Zealand,and #1 in the United Kingdom.The album went straight to #1 in the Irish Albums Chart, and has the third highest sales for week of release in Ireland in the history of the charts, behind U2’s The Best of 1980-1990 and Oasis' Be Here Now. In sales, In Blue reached platinum in the United States, double platinum in the United Kingdom, and quadruple platinum in Australia.
During the production of the album, the Corrs' mother, Jean, died while waiting for a lung transplant in Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, England. She was laid to rest at St. Patrick's cemetery in Dundalk, and Bono, Larry Mullen, Brian Kennedy and Paul Brady were among the funeral's attendees. "No More Cry", written by Andrea and Caroline Corr for the album, was dedicated to their father to get over his grief.
In 2001, The Corrs released their first compilation album, Best of The Corrs. The album featured previously released songs and new tracks, such as the singles "Would You Be Happier", "Make You Mine" and "Lifting Me". The album did not chart highly in Ireland but it reached platinum status in Australia.
The Corrs composed a duet, Canto Alla Vita, with Josh Groban for his eponymous debut album. When the band returned to Ireland, they hosted a live concert at Ardmore Studios, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, where they had previously performed for the MTV's Unplugged series.Guest performers included Bono from U2 and Ron Wood from the Rolling Stones. During the concert, Bono joined Andrea Corr for a duet of Nancy Sinatra's "Summer Wine" and a performance of Ryan Adams' "When the Stars Go Blue". Ron Wood joined the band onstage to play guitar on their version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" and the Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday. These live performances were recorded and put into a live album, VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live in Dublin, which was only released in the United States.
2003 - 2005: Declining popularity
In 2000, The Corrs returned to mainstream success with In Blue. Unlike their previous albums, In Blue broke away from folk rock to become pop music. This move attracted criticism from many critics; one Entertainment Weekly critic called it "a disheartening example of musical ethnic cleansing".Despite this, In Blue hit #1 in its first sales week in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria and debuted at #2 in France and Norway. It climbed to the top position during its second week in Sweden and Spain.
The Corrs worked with Alejandro Sanz on In Blue, recording "Una Noche (One Night)" as a duet between Sanz and Andrea Corr; Sanz also played Andrea's love interest in the music video. In return, The Corrs performed "Me Iré (The Hardest Day)" with him on his album, El Alma Al Aire. They also collaborated with Robert Lange to produce a mainstream hit single, "Breathless". "Breathless" reached #34 in the Billboard Hot 100, #7 in Australia, #3 in Ireland and New Zealand,and #1 in the United Kingdom.The album went straight to #1 in the Irish Albums Chart, and has the third highest sales for week of release in Ireland in the history of the charts, behind U2’s The Best of 1980-1990 and Oasis' Be Here Now. In sales, In Blue reached platinum in the United States, double platinum in the United Kingdom, and quadruple platinum in Australia.
During the production of the album, the Corrs' mother, Jean, died while waiting for a lung transplant in Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, England. She was laid to rest at St. Patrick's cemetery in Dundalk, and Bono, Larry Mullen, Brian Kennedy and Paul Brady were among the funeral's attendees. "No More Cry", written by Andrea and Caroline Corr for the album, was dedicated to their father to get over his grief.
In 2001, The Corrs released their first compilation album, Best of The Corrs. The album featured previously released songs and new tracks, such as the singles "Would You Be Happier", "Make You Mine" and "Lifting Me". The album did not chart highly in Ireland but it reached platinum status in Australia.
The Corrs composed a duet, Canto Alla Vita, with Josh Groban for his eponymous debut album. When the band returned to Ireland, they hosted a live concert at Ardmore Studios, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, where they had previously performed for the MTV's Unplugged series.Guest performers included Bono from U2 and Ron Wood from the Rolling Stones. During the concert, Bono joined Andrea Corr for a duet of Nancy Sinatra's "Summer Wine" and a performance of Ryan Adams' "When the Stars Go Blue". Ron Wood joined the band onstage to play guitar on their version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" and the Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday. These live performances were recorded and put into a live album, VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live in Dublin, which was only released in the United States.
2003 - 2005: Declining popularity
In 2003, Andrea Corr recorded "Time Enough For Tears," a song written by Bono and Gavin Friday for the film In America. This track was also featured on The Corrs' 2004 album, Borrowed Heaven. Made over an 18 month period, Borrowed Heaven was recorded in Dublin and Los Angeles, and produced by Olle Romo, who had previously worked with Melanie C and Kelly Clarkson.The album returned to the folk rock genre with a slightly heavier emphasis on guitars.Nevertheless, the album was not as successful as their predecessor albums, where it only managed to reach silver status in the United Kingdom.Jason Duffy temporarily joined the band as drummer,taking over for Caroline while she was pregnant with her second child and unable to tour.Borrowed Heaven was dedicated to their late mother, Jean, and their father, Gerry.
The band also dedicated their 2005 album, Home, to their deceased mother.Home is regarded as a traditional Irish album; the band covered many traditional Irish songs taken from their mother's songbookto commemorate their 15 years as a band. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom and featured the BBC Radio 2 Orchestra. The songs featured in Home songs spanned the history of Irish music, from the 1,000-year-old "Return to Fingal" to the 1982 song "Old Town," written by late Thin Lizzy frontman, Phil Lynott. It also includes two songs in Gaelic, "Brid Og Ni Mhaille (Bridget O'Malley)" and "Buachaill On Eirne (Boy from Ireland)".Home had very little success outside Ireland and France, and was certified silver in the United Kingdom
The band also dedicated their 2005 album, Home, to their deceased mother.Home is regarded as a traditional Irish album; the band covered many traditional Irish songs taken from their mother's songbookto commemorate their 15 years as a band. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom and featured the BBC Radio 2 Orchestra. The songs featured in Home songs spanned the history of Irish music, from the 1,000-year-old "Return to Fingal" to the 1982 song "Old Town," written by late Thin Lizzy frontman, Phil Lynott. It also includes two songs in Gaelic, "Brid Og Ni Mhaille (Bridget O'Malley)" and "Buachaill On Eirne (Boy from Ireland)".Home had very little success outside Ireland and France, and was certified silver in the United Kingdom
2006-present: Children and a solo career
the Corrs have been on hiatus since 2006.Sharon, Jim, and Caroline are raising their own families while Andrea pursues her solo career. Sharon married Gavin Bonnar, a Belfast barrister, on July 9, 2001. Since then, they have had two children, Cathal Robert Gerard and Flori Jean Elizabeth. Jim's child, Brandon, was born in 2006 to Gayle Williamson, his ex-fiance and the former Miss Northern Ireland. Caroline married Frank Woods, a property developer in Majorca, Spain on August 22, 2002. They currently have three children, Jake Gerrard, Georgina and Rihann.
Andrea released her first solo album, Ten Feet High, on June 25, 2007. It was produced by Nellee Hooper, who has worked with Gwen Stefani and Madonna; Bono was an executive producer.The first single released from the album was "Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)".
The Corrs released their second compilation album, Dreams: The Ultimate Corrs Collection, on November 20, 2006. The album consisted of several of the band's hits, as well as tracks that had not previously been released on Corrs albums, such as "I Know My Love," their collaboration with The Chieftains, and "All I Have To Do Is Dream,", Andrea's duet with Laurent Voulzy. The album also featured remixes of "When The Stars Go Blue" and "Goodbye". The latter song was released as a download-only single to promote the album. However, the album charted poorly and only reached #24 in Ireland. On September 25, 2007, The Corrs released another compilation album, The Works. The album consists of three CDs which feature previously-released songs. It performed worse than its predecessor, failing to chart at all.
Philanthropy
Andrea released her first solo album, Ten Feet High, on June 25, 2007. It was produced by Nellee Hooper, who has worked with Gwen Stefani and Madonna; Bono was an executive producer.The first single released from the album was "Shame on You (to Keep My Love from Me)".
The Corrs released their second compilation album, Dreams: The Ultimate Corrs Collection, on November 20, 2006. The album consisted of several of the band's hits, as well as tracks that had not previously been released on Corrs albums, such as "I Know My Love," their collaboration with The Chieftains, and "All I Have To Do Is Dream,", Andrea's duet with Laurent Voulzy. The album also featured remixes of "When The Stars Go Blue" and "Goodbye". The latter song was released as a download-only single to promote the album. However, the album charted poorly and only reached #24 in Ireland. On September 25, 2007, The Corrs released another compilation album, The Works. The album consists of three CDs which feature previously-released songs. It performed worse than its predecessor, failing to chart at all.
Philanthropy
The Corrs have been keen philanthropists throughout their career. They have played charity concerts to raise money for the Pavarotti & Friends Liberian Children's Village Freeman Hospital in Newcastle,the victims of the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland,and The Prince's Trust in 2004.They are also ambassadors for the Nelson Mandela's "46664" campaign, where they performed live to raise awareness towards AIDS in Africa. During the Edinburgh Live 8 on 2 July 2005, The Corrs performed "When the Stars Go Blue" alongside Bono to promote the Make Poverty History campaign. In recognition for their charity performances, the Corrs were made Honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Discography
Discography
Compilations albums
2001: Best of The Corrs
2006: Dreams: The Ultimate Corrs Collection
2007: The Works
Live albums
1997: The Corrs - Live
1999: The Corrs Unplugged
2002: VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live in Dublin
2001: Best of The Corrs
2006: Dreams: The Ultimate Corrs Collection
2007: The Works
Live albums
1997: The Corrs - Live
1999: The Corrs Unplugged
2002: VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live in Dublin
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