Gloria (Irish singer)

Gloria Smyth (born May 1951), better known as Gloria, is an Irish singer from Navan, County Meath.

She rose to fame in Ireland during the 1970s with " One Day at a Time" which spent longer in the Irish charts than any other single to date (90 weeks). She later toured under her married name of Gloria Sherry.

Career

The eldest of nine children, Gloria's father, Jimmy, was the leader of the Arcadians Showband. Her first experience on stage was at the age of 10 when she danced and played accordion with her father's showband. After leaving school, she found work playing piano with another band, before joining the Maurice Lynch Showband as a singer in the late 1960s.

It was as a solo singer however that she made her name in the 1970s. Gloria toured around Ireland singing alongside Johnny McEvoy during the early to mid 1970s before breaking out on her own.Johnny McEvoy profile
irish-showbands.com; accessed 14 March 2018. She began recording Gospel and Country songs in Nashville and appeared three times on the '' Praise the Lord'' show.Back cover biography for "One Day at a Time"
45cat.com; accessed 14 March 2018.

She found her greatest success in the late 1970s with her version of the song " One Day at a Time" which reached No. 1 in the Irish charts. It remained on the charts for 90 weeks - the longest run for any single in Irish chart history (a record it still holds today).

The single gained a UK release in December 1978, but failed to attract attention before Scottish singer Lena Martell scored a UK No.1 with it some months later. It came from her album ''When I Sing for Him'', which was certified silver. She was popular in the dance halls at the time, singing with her backing band, The Mississippi.

Gloria announced her retirement in May 2001, when she turned 50. However, she later returned to music, performing with her sister Patrice. They are based in their native Navan, County Meath.

Personal life

She married Don Sherry, a musician with a showband in 1973 and they had a daughter Laura and a son Paul. Gloria and her husband's marriage ended in 2010.

Discography

Singles:
*1973 "Tomorrow is Forever" (with the Johnny McEvoy Band) (Irish charts No.14)Irish Charts - search "Gloria"
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*1977 "I'll Get Over You" (with Mississippi) (No.9)
*1977 " One Day at a Time" (with Mississippi) (No.5)
*1978 "Liffey Tinker" (No.12)
* 1978 "One Day at a Time" (re-issue) (No.1)
*1980 "My Younger Days" (No.25)
*1981 "Rest Your Love On Me" (with Brendan Quinn) (No.15)
*1981 "Come by the Hills"
*1982 "Pal of My Cradle Days" (with Mississippi) (No.17)

Albums:
*1977 ''Gloria Darling''
*1978 ''When I Sing for Him''
*1978 ''Gloria's Irish Startime''
*1979 ''One Day at a Time'' (re-issue of ''When I Sing for Him'')
*1980 ''Gloria''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gloria
1951 births
Living people
Irish women singers
Musicians from County Meath
People from Navan