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'Dana Rosemary Scallon', better known as 'Dana' (born 'Rosemary Brown' on 30 August 1951 in Islington, London), is a Contemporary Catholic music singer, songwriter and former politician. She won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 with "All Kinds of Everything". During a successful career in pop music, Dana evolved into a popular Catholic music singer, writing and performing songs to such people as Pope John Paul II. In 1999, she became a Member of the European Parliament.

Contents

Background

1970s — all kinds of everything

1980s — Catholic taste

1990s — USA to MEP

2000s — the girl is back

Discography

External links

Background

Scallon was born in Frederica Street, Islington, London, where she lived for five years until her family moved back to Derry, Northern Ireland, from where they had moved six years earlier to find work. Hers was a musical family, Dad played the trumpet and Mum the piano, and they encouraged their three sons and three daughters to learn how to play an instrument, to sing and dance. Young Rosemary Brown was a quick learner; she won a talent contest as a six-year-old. Years later she was introduced to her future manager, Tony Johnston, after singing and strumming her way to another success in 1965. This local headmaster and part-time promoter took her under his wing while she prepared for her O-levels at Thornhill College.
In 1967, with seven O-levels to her credit, a demo tape was sent off to Michael Geoghegan, the manager of Rex Records (Decca) in Dublin, who promptly signed her up. Her debut single was called "Sixteen" (her age at the time), written by Johnston, with the self-penned "Little Girl Blue" on the flip side. It was released on 17 November 1967. The record was a flop, but it did open a few doors in local TV and radio stations.
A new name was required to go with her new "career". Names she could live with were short-listed before letting her school friends have the final say – and they chose "Dana".
Now in the sixth form, she was appearing in cabaret and folk clubs in the area. On Easter Saturday 1968, dressed in an evening gown, she was driven slowly through the streets in a white Rolls-Royce. Cheered on by crowds of well-wishers, she arrived at Clontarf Castle in Dublin. After a few speeches and a fanfare, she found herself on stage, sitting on a throne and wearing a tiara – crowned Queen of Cabaret.

1970s — all kinds of everything

Her record company suggested she take part in the Irish National Song Contest in February 1969. With mixed feelings she did and was chosen to sing "Look Around" by Michael Reade. Shown live on Ireland's RTÉ – and feeling terrified – she did well and came second. Not happy with the outcome she decided the future lay in passing her A-levels and becoming a music and drama teacher. Then over Christmas an invite to try again came from the show's producer, Tom McGrath. She thought one last fling wouldn't hurt before getting a proper job. However, this time she won with "All Kinds of Everything" by Derry Lindsay and Jackie Smith, two printers from Dublin. Their song, along with Dana, would now represent Ireland in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest in Amsterdam on Saturday 21 March.
The last of twelve to perform that night, and wearing an embroidered cream mini dress, she sang the song while perched on a stool. Her competitors included Mary Hopkin for the UK (the favourite with "Knock Knock Who's There") and Spain's Julio Iglesias. Dana beat them all and registered Ireland's first success in the contest. Thousands welcomed her home, first at Dublin Airport, then at Ballykerry Airport, then at the Guildhall in Derry (she was carried shoulder high into the official reception), and finally Rossville Street flats in the Bogside. She described the journey to her flat as like "breaking into Colditz", with flowers, fruit and fans everywhere. Dana's victory was something to celebrate for the people of Derry: the Troubles had not long started and the Battle of the Bogside had not long finished.
This now eighteen-year-old schoolgirl took the winning song to the top of the Irish singles chart for nine weeks and the UK singles chart for two weeks. Similar positions were achieved in Australia, South Africa and Singapore; in Holland it reached the runner-up spot. It went on to become a million-seller. While still at number one in the UK Dana was booked into Decca's London studios for two days to record twelve tracks for her first LP. Named after "that song" it was in the shops by June. More hits followed, including "Who Put the Lights Out" (Paul Ryan), "Crossword Puzzle" (Lynsey De Paul-Barry Blue) and "Do I Still Figure in Your Life" (Pete Dello). A label change to GTO produced more chart entries, like "Please Tell Him That I Said Hello" (Shepstone-Dibbens), "It's Gonna Be a Cold Cold Christmas" (Greenaway-Stephens), "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" (Eric Carmen), "Fairytale" (Paul Greedus) and the amusing "Something's Cookin' in the Kitchen" (D.Jordan).
Dana was now becoming an all round entertainer. She played the part of a tinker girl in the childrens adventure film '' The Flight Of The Doves'' (1971), starring Ron Moody and Jack Wild; took part in summer seasons, her first was in Scarborough with, among others, Frank Ifield; undertook British and European concert tours, including performances at the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall; starred in theatre runs such as a sell-out week at the London Palladium with Tom Jones; performed in cabaret shows at venues like the Batley Variety Club and London's Talk of the Town (she was voted Top Female Vocalist in the National Club Acts Awards in 1979); made numerous TV appearances as well as making two BBC series, first ''A Day With Dana'' in 1974 and then ''Wake Up Sunday'' in 1979, plus a documentary called ''Who is Rosemary Brown''. Pantomimes were also on the agenda and these became a particular favourite of hers after she starred in ''Cinderella'' in 1970.
In1976, while promoting "Fairytale", she lost her voice. Emergency surgery removed a growth (non-malignant) from a vocal chord. Newspaper headlines appeared like "DANA MAY NEVER SING AGAIN". She started believing them during her long and difficult – but eventually successful – convalescence.
On 5 October 1978 she married Damien Scallon, a hotelier and businessman from Newry. The wedding was held at St Eugene's Cathedral in Derry. The couple first met, albeit briefly, in 1970 when Dana had a street named after her and a reception was held in Damien's Ardmore Hotel in Newry. Nine months after their wedding his hotel was destroyed by a bomb.

1980s — Catholic taste

Dana's parents had a strong sense of religious duty and she and her siblings were taught the importance of daily prayer and going to Mass on Sundays. Despite a few doubts along the way, she never lost her faith. In 1979, she and Damien were inspired to write a Catholic song, "Totus Tuus", named after the motto of Pope John Paul II, who came to Ireland that year. It entered the Irish singles chart on 16 December and stayed there for nine weeks, peaking at number one.
In 1980, the album "Everything is Beautiful" was issued on Warwick Records, containing twenty inspirational songs and pop classics, like "Let it Be", "Morning Has Broken" and "My Sweet Lord". It was to be the stepping stone to her first religious album, "Totally Yours", issued by an American Christian label, Word Records, in 1981. Included on the album was the song "Little Baby", specially written by Dana and Damien for their first child, Grace, born 18 January 1981.
1982 saw her back in the studios recording a secular album for Lite Records called "Magic" (title song written by her brother, Gerry). Then came another summer season (the previous year she appeared in Torquay), this time it was Blackpool with Little and Large. Next came the recording of her second album for Word, "Let There Be Light". The pantomime season followed and Dana was off to Hull where she starred in a production of ''Snow White''.
On 18 August 1983, Susanna Ruth was born. Christmas time arrived to find the mother-of-two playing Snow White once again. Due to the success of the previous season in Hull, the show had been transferred to the West End. There it played to packed houses and the original seven-week run was extended to twelve.
After fifteen years in show business, Hodder and Stoughton published her first book: ''Dana — An Autobiography'', in 1985.
It described her growing devotion to God and explained her career change from pop to Catholic music. It also illustrated her sense of humour, hence her success in summer seasons and pantomimes.

1990s — USA to MEP

In 1990, the Scallon family moved to Birmingham, Alabama in the United States, where Damien was now working as the manager for retreats at the traditional Catholic broadcasting network, EWTN. Dana hosted shows for them on TV and radio, called ''Say Yes'' and ''We Are One Body''.
She became a popular Catholic music singer and released many albums with HeartBeat, America's leading Catholic music label.
Dana appeared at conferences and public gatherings across the States. One such occasion was in Cherry Creek State Park, Denver, Colorado, in 1993: To help celebrate the eighth World Youth Day, she was invited to sing her song "We Are One Body", the theme song for the event, live to the Pope. She also sang at the World Youth Day celebrations held in Paris (1997) and in Toronto (2002).
In 1997, before returning home to Ireland where Dana Rosemary Scallon became a candidate for the office of President of Ireland, she received US citizenship, making her a dual Irish and US citizen. Standing as an independent, she came in a creditable third, ahead of the mainstream Irish Labour Party, but losing out to Mary McAleese.
In 1999, again as an independent, she won a seat in the European Parliament, representing the Connacht–Ulster European elections constituency. Refusing to associate with any political party, she campaigned on family values and her opposition to abortion.

2000s — the girl is back

Scallon believed life began at conception so in 2001 she opposed a proposed amendment to the Irish constitution that would legalise the 'morning after pill' and IUD. Although the amendment was supported by the mainstream political parties and the Roman Catholic Bishops in Ireland, it was defeated in a referendum.
In 2002, she contested a seat in Galway West in the Irish general election, again as an independent. In what was seen as a backlash against her stance in the previous abortion referendum, she lost, scoring just 3.5% of the vote in her constituency.
In June 2004, Scallon lost her European Parliament seat, taking 13.5% of the vote. Later that year she failed to secure a nomination to the office of President of Ireland against the uncontested incumbent. (All her election results are listed at Elections Ireland.)
In February 2005, Dana returned to the world of entertainment when she spent time on the RTÉ television series "The Afternoon Show" (she took part in a weight loss challenge preceding her daughters summer wedding). In 2006, she and dancer Ronan McCormack were paired together in the RTÉ celebrity dance series ''Celebrity Jigs 'n' Reels''. They made it to the final show and came second.
Also in 2006, Dana and Damien launched their own music label, DS Music Productions. One of the first albums released was "Totus Tuus", a compilation of songs dedicated to the memory of Pope John Paul II and issued on the anniversary of his death. A children's album was released in 2007, entitled "Good Morning Jesus: Prayers & Songs for Children of All Ages". It featured in a special series on EWTN.
In July 2007, she was a guest judge for the final of Belfast CityBeat radio contest Young Star Search.
Since leaving politics, Dana has spoken at many colleges and universities in Ireland and America, where she talks about Ireland, the European Union and its Constitution, as well as the relationship between Europe and the United States. She received an Honorary Doctorate at one appearance in Stonehill College in Massachusetts.

Discography

'Singles'

'Albums'

★ 1967 ''Sixteen / Little Girl Blue'' ★ 1968 ''Come Along Murphy / Patrick O'Donnell'' ★ 1968 ''Heidschi Bumbeidschi / Ten Second Girl'' ★ 1969 ''Look Around / No Road Back'' ★ 1970 ''All Kinds of Everything / Channel Breeze UK #1'' ★ 1970 ''I Will Follow You / With a Little Love'' ★ 1971 ''Who Put the Lights Out / Always a Few Things UK #14'' ★ 1971 ''Today / Don't Cry My Love'' ★ 1971 ''Isn't it a Pity / Swallow Fly Away'' ★ 1972 ''New Days...New Ways / Love is a Friend of Mine'' ★ 1972 ''Crossword Puzzle / Where is he'' ★ 1973 ''Do I Still Figure in Your Life / A Ticket to Nowhere'' ★ 1973 ''Sunday Monday Tuesday / Corner of the Sky - Morning Glow'' ★ 1975 ''Are You Still Mad at Me / There's Nothin' You Can Do to Change My Mind'' ★ 1975 ''Please Tell Him That I Said Hello / Darlin' Come Home Soon UK #8'' ★ 1975 ''It's Gonna Be a Cold Cold Christmas / The Goodbye Song UK #4'' ★ 1976 ''Never Gonna Fall in Love Again / Have Love Will Travel UK #31'' ★ 1976 ''Fairytale / Country Girl UK #13'' ★ 1976 ''I Love How You Love Me / Darlin' Come Home Soon'' ★ 1977 ''Put Some Words Together / Look Before You Leap'' ★ 1979 ''Something's Cookin' in the Kitchen / Slipaway UK #44'' ★ 1979 ''I Can't Get Over Getting Over You / Everynight'' ★ 1979 ''Totus Tuus / Cliffs of Dooneen'' ★ 1980 ''When a Child is Born / It's no Secret'' ★ 1981 ''Dream Lover / Dance'' ★ 1981 ''Lady of Knock'' ★ 1982 ''I Feel Love Comin' On / Lovely Baby UK #66'' ★ 1982 ''You Never Gave Me Your Love / Marathon'' ★ 1982 ''Yer Man'' ★ 1982 ''If You Really Love Me / Sad Song'' ★ 1985 ''Little Things Mean a Lot / (Crying) Till the Morning Light UK #92'' ★ 1985 ''If I Give My Heart to You'' ★ 1987 ''Baby Come Back to Me'' ★ 1989 ''Harmony'' ★ 2005 ''Children of the World''

★ 1970 ''All Kinds of Everything'' ★ 1974 ''The World of Dana'' ★ 1975 ''Have a Nice Day'' ★ 1976 ''Love Songs and Fairytales'' ★ 1979 ''The Girl is Back'' ★ 1980 ''Everything is Beautiful'' ★ 1981 ''Totally Yours'' ★ 1982 ''Magic'' ★ 1983 ''Let There Be Love'' ★ 1984 ''Please Tell Him That I Said Hello'' ★ 1985 ''If I Give My Heart to You'' ★ 1987 ''In the Palm Of His Hand'' ★ 1987 ''No Greater Love'' ★ 1989 ''The Gift of Love'' ★ 1990 ''All Kinds of Everything'' (compilation) ★ 1991 ''Dana's Ireland'' ★ 1991 ''The Rosary'' ★ 1992 ''Lady of Knock'' ★ 1993 ''Hail Holy Queen'' ★ 1993 ''Say Yes!'' ★ 1995 ''The Healing Rosary'' ★ 1996 ''Dana The Collection'' ★ 1997 ''Humble Myself'' ★ 1997 ''Forever Christmas'' ★ 1997 ''Heavenly Portrait'' ★ 1998 ''The Best of Dana'' ★ 1998 ''Stations of The Cross'' ★ 2004 ''Perfect Gift'' ★ 2005 ''In Memory of Me'' ★ 2006 ''Totus Tuus'' ★ 2007 ''Good Morning Jesus!''

External links

★ HeartBeat Records

★ DS Music Productions - Dana's Official Website

★ EWTN's Dana Website