All about this artist
Biography:
This highly popular Irish family group originally comprised brothers and sisters Tommy, Brian, Anne (born 12 November 1950, Dublin, Eire), Denise (b. 1952, Dublin, Eire), Maureen (b. 14 June 1954, Dublin, Eire), Linda (b. 23 February 1959, Dublin, Eire), Bernadette (b.
17 October 1960, Dublin, Eire) and Coleen Nolan (b. 12 March 1965, Blackpool, England). The Nolans lived in Dublin until 1962 when they emigrated to Blackpool, Lancashire. Parents Tommy and Maureen Nolan were singers and gradually brought their offspring into the act.
In 1963 the entire family debuted as the Singing Nolans. After moving to London, the group's personnel was Anne, Denise, Linda, Bernadette, and Maureen. Their act proved very popular on UK television and variety shows. After recording their second album in 1977, and touring America with Engelbert Humperdinck, Denise left a year later in order to pursue a solo career.
The sisters signed to CBS Records and were widely tipped to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest but lost out to Black Lace. After a minor hit single with "Spirit Body And Soul", Anne married and left the group for two years.
She was replaced by the youngest sister, Coleen, and the quartet changed their name from the Nolan Sisters to the Nolans. A massive hit in late 1979 with the catchy "I'm In The Mood For Dancing" brought them worldwide renown and even topped the charts in Japan.
The Nolans had further UK Top 10 hits at the start of the 80s with "Gotta Pull Myself Together" and "Attention To Me", and, with Anne's return, became a quintet for a while until Linda married former Harmony Grass drummer Brian Hudson and retired from the group.
Coleen, Bernadette and Denise all recorded solo singles, while Linda and Coleen enjoyed a minor UK hit in 1981 as the Young And Moody Band with "Don't Do That". Linda was regularly referred to as the "Naughty Nolan" because she launched her solo career by posing near-naked for publicity shots.
She later branched out into musical theatre, earning good notices for her potrayal of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers. Phenomenal success for the Nolans in Japan and Eire coincided with further minor chart appearances in the UK, as well as bestselling albums.
In 1994 Coleen left to have a baby, and a year later, Anne and Maureen became a Nolans duo when Bernadette, who had been the lead singer with the group since she was 13, decided to go solo. She later enjoyed minor success as a television actress. Coleen was married to UK actor Shane Richie from 1990-99, and appears regularly on the panel of the television programme Loose Women.
