Joe Dolan born 16 October 1939

Joseph Francis Robert Dolan (16 October 1939 – 26 December 2007) was an Irish entertainer, recording artist, and pop singer. Chiefly known in Ireland for his association with showbands and for his innovative style and high pitched singing voice, he had a wide appeal with many international fans. His energetic and charismatic stage performances influenced his long standing advertising slogan: "There's no show like the Joe show". 

The youngest of eight children, Dolan was born into a musical family. As a youngster, he often played washboard to accompany his sisters' singing. Leaving home after losing his father at the age of eight and his mother when he was 15, Dolan served an apprenticeship as a newspaper compositor for the Westmeath Examiner. Music, however, continued to attract Dolan's attention. After performing with his brother, Ben, on the dancehall circuit, he joined the Drifters Showband when he completed his apprenticeship in 1964. 

His first single, a cover of Del Shannon's "Answer to Everything," reached number four on the Irish charts. The only Irish singer to reach the Top Ten in the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and '90s, Dolan was a constant presence on the hit parade of the Emerald Isle. His many hits include "I Love You More and More Everyday," "My Own Peculiar Way," "Aching Breaking Heart," "Pretty Brown Eyes," "Tar and Cement," "The House with the Whitewashed Gable," "Love of the Common People," and "The Westmeath Bachelor." 

                              

Scoring an international hit with "Make Me an Island," which topped the music charts of 14 countries, he went on to reach the European Top Ten in 1969 with such tunes as "Teresa," "You're Such a Good Looking Woman," "It Makes No Difference," and "Falling in Love." 

Collaborating with Italian songwriter and producer Robert Danova, and songwriter Peter Yellowstone, Dolan had his greatest success when he wrote and recorded the million-selling hit "Lady in Blue" in 1975. Continuing to work with Danova and Yellowstone, he scored hits with "Crazy Woman," "I Need You," "Sister Mary," "Sixteen Brothers," "My Love," "You Belong to Me," "Most Wanted Man in the U.S.A.," and "Hush Hush Maria." Becoming the first western artist to perform in the former Soviet Union, in 1978, Dolan made his North American debut, two years later, when he spent two months performing at the Silverbird Hotel in Las Vegas. He returned for a six-week engagement in 1981. 

Launching his own label, Gable Records, in the early '90s, Dolan recorded a Top 20 hit single, "Ciara," in 1993, and an album, Endless Magic that reached the ninth chart position, in 1997. He recorded a chart-topping hit, "Good Looking Woman," with puppet Dustin the Turkey. Dolan continued to be in touch with contemporary music. His 1998 album, Joe's 90's, included interpretations of songs by Blur, Oasis, and Pulp, while 21st Century Joe, released the following year, featured versions of David Bowie, U2, R.E.M., and Bruce Springsteen tunes. 

Dolan's health began to decline after he underwent a hip replacement in 2005, which put him off the road for 12 months and led to the discovery of Type 2 Diabetes which appeared to account for the low energy levels he had been experiencing. Dolan returned to his schedule in 2006, but he began to report further signs of low energy. Doctors diagnosed a low blood platelet count and Dolan began a series of blood transfusions, After each, he felt better for a period, but would begin to feel weaker after a period. At this same time, Dolan was also suffering from unexplained nosebleeds. In Autumn 2007, on advice from his doctors, Dolan cancelled his Vicar Street concerts due to "exhaustion". 

On 16 December 2007, the front page of the Sunday Independent reported that Dolan was suffering from a "bad virus" and had been forced to cancel his entire Christmas tour. Dolan's website received messages from well wishers in the wake of the article, which was reproduced in several newspapers the following day. Despite the blood transfusions and other medical interventions, Dolan became weaker and he was finally discharged from the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin on 23 December 2007 in a wheelchair. 

Dolan spent Christmas Day 2007 at his home in Foxrock in southeast Dublin with some friends. Later that evening, his illness suddenly worsened, and he was rushed by ambulance to the Mater Hospital. En route to the hospital, Dolan suffered a massive intracerebral haemorrhage, at which he became unconscious, and was connected to life support equipment upon his arrival. On 26th December, surrounded by family and friends, the machines were switched off and Dolan died within 20 minutes, never regaining consciousness. He was 68 years old.

 (Edited from AllMusic & Wikipedia)