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Biography
Use British English|date=April 2012Use dmy dates|date=April 2012Infobox musical artist| name = Feargal Sharkey| image = FergalSharkey.jpg| caption = Pictured in 2009| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Sean Feargal Sharkey| alias =| birth_date = birth date and age|1958|8|13|df=yes| origin = Derry , Northern Ireland| death_date =| instrument = Lead singer|Vocals | genre = Punk rock , pop punk , pop| occupation = Musician, A& R manager; music industry executive | years_active = 1976–1991 (as an active performer) 1992–present (within musical management)| label = Virgin Records A& M Records (U.S.) Zarjazz Records | associated_acts = The Undertones , The Assembly Sean Feargal Sharkey (born 13 August 1958) is a singer from Northern Ireland who first found fame as the lead vocalist of pop punk band The Undertones . Since moving away from performing in the early 1990s, he has performed various roles supporting the UK's commercial music industry, winning several awards and honors for his work in that area.
Sharkey, who was born in Derry , Northern Ireland was a co-founder of The Undertones at their inception in 1976. http://uk.music.yahoo.com/ar-268125-bio--The-Undertones Undertones biography – Yahoo& #33; Music In the 1970s they played in many locations throughout Northern Ireland, including the Flamingo Ballroom in Ballymena and Chester's in Portrush .
The Undertones had several UK hits with songs such as "Here Comes The Summer", "My Perfect Cousin", "Wednesday Week" and "It's Going To Happen". The band split in 1983 citing musical differences, with Sharkey pursuing a solo career and other members of the band forming That Petrol Emotion the following year.
Before his solo career took off, he was also the singer of the one-shot group The Assembly with ex- Yazoo (band)|Yazoo and Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke (pre- Erasure ). In 1983 their single "Never Never" was a UK No. 4 hit.
Solo career (1984–1991)
Sharkey's debut single was a collaboration with Madness (band)|Madness member Chas Smash|Cathal Smyth titled " Listen to Your Father ". The single was released on Madness's label Zarjazz Records in 1984, reaching No. 23 in the UK chart. The track was performed on Top of the Pops with members of Madness.
Sharkey's solo work was significantly different from the post-punk offerings of The Undertones. His best-known solo material is the 1985 UK chart-topping single penned by Maria McKee , " A Good Heart ", which went to No. 1 in several countries in 1985. He also had UK Top 5 hit in 1986 with "You Little Thief". This song had a link with "A Good Heart": " You Little Thief " was written by Benmont Tench , a member of Tom Petty 's band, about his relationship with McKee in response to her writing "A Good Heart" about him. His eponymous debut album reached No. 12 in the UK Albums Chart .
Following on from his second album Wish (Feargal Sharkey album)|Wish in 1988, he achieved further success in 1991 with his UK Top 30 album Songs From The Mardi Gras , which produced the No. 12 hit single " I've Got News for You ".
Music industry (1992–present)
Starting in the early 1990s Sharkey moved into the business side of the music industry, initially as A& R for Polydor Records , and then as managing director of EXP Ltd. He was appointed a member of the Radio Authority for five years from December 1998 to December 2003.
He became chairman of the UK Government task force the 'Live Music Forum' in 2004, to evaluate the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on the performance of live music,cite news|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2005/12/01/feargal_sharkey_feature.shtml|date=1 December 2005|title=Where I live – Berkshire|publisher=BBC and gave public evidence before the Culture, Media and Sport Committeecite web|url= http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/culture__media_and_sport.cfm |title=Parliament.uk |publisher=Parliament.uk |date=28 April 2010 |accessdate=18 November 2011 on 11 November 2008.
In 2008, Sharkey was appointed as the CEO of British Music Rights, replacing Emma Pike.cite web|url= http://www.britishcopyright.org/page.asp? site=main& pagetype=newsstory& id=34|title=BMR appoints Feargal Sharkey and Andy Heath|accessdate=24 September 2008|work=British Copyright Council |publisher=British Copyright Council|location=United Kingdom In October 2008, he became head of UK Music ,cite web|url= http://www.ukmusic.org/page/staff|title=UK Music Staff an umbrella organisation representing the collective interests of the UK's commercial music industry. He has become prominent in criticising the use of Form 696 by the Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police ' requiring event promoters to provide data on performers and audiences.cite web|url= http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1003889459|title=Sharkey Warns MPs On Policing Of Concert Licensing|work=Billboard|date=11 November 2008|accessdate=20 February 2009|last=Paine|first=Andrew Sharkey resigned from UK Music 11 November 2011cite web|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/nov/11/feargal-sharkey-resigns-uk-music|title=Feargal Sharkey stands down as chief of UK Music|work=The Guardian |date=11 November 2011|accessdate=17 November 2011
Awards and honours
In 2004, Sharkey was awarded the "Scott Piering Award", by the radio industry for "recognising achievement in the promotion of music and the understanding of the music industry to their colleagues in radio". He is the only member of the Radio Authority to have been honoured in this way by the radio industry.cite web|url= http://www.radioacademy.org/about/honours/ |title=Honours |publisher=The Radio Academy |accessdate=18 November 2011
In 2006 he got the "Bottle Award", at the International Live Music Conference for "outstanding contribution to the live music industry".cite web|url= http://www.ilmc.com/arthurs_hall_of_fame.html |title=Ilmc.com |publisher=Ilmc.com |accessdate=18 November 2011
In 2008, Sharkey was awarded a Honorary "Doctor of Arts", by the University of Hertfordshire in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of music.cite web|last=Ashton |first=Robert |url= http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp? sectioncode=1& storycode=1036216& c=1 |title=Musicweek.com |publisher=Musicweek.com |date=20 November 2008 |accessdate=18 November 2011
In 2009 he entered The Guardian 's MediaGuardian 100, described as the "MediaGuardian's annual guide to the most powerful people in television, radio, newspapers, magazines, digital media, media business, advertising, marketing and PR", at number 56.cite news|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/10/feargal-sharkey-mediaguardian-100-2009|work=The Guardian |location=London|title=Feargal Sharkey|date=13 July 2009|accessdate=2 May 2010
In 2010 he appeared in Wired (magazine)|Wired s The Wired 100, "Who are the people who shape the Wired world," at number 45.cite web|url= http://www.wired.co.uk/wired-magazine/archive/2010/05/features/the-wired-100-positions-11-to-50.aspx |title=Wired.co.uk |publisher=Wired.co.uk |date=19 July 2011 |accessdate=18 November 2011 In 2010 he received a Doctor of Letters honoris causa from the University of Ulster in recognition of his services to music.cite web|url= http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2010/5213.html |title=University Of Ulster News Release – Honorary Degree for Music Innovator Feargal Sharkey |publisher=News.ulster.ac.uk |accessdate=18 November 2011
Discography
Albums
Feargal Sharkey (album)|Feargal Sharkey (1985) – UK Albums Chart|UK No. 12
Wish (Feargal Sharkey album)|Wish (1988)
Songs From The Mardi Gras (1991) – UK #27
Singles
1984 " Listen to Your Father " UK Singles Chart|UK No. 23
1985 " Loving You (Feargal Sharkey song)|Loving You " UK No. 26, Switzerland No. 23, Australia No. 97
1985 " A Good Heart " UK No. 1 (2 weeks), Australia No. 1 (1 week), Austria No. 13, Canada No. 4, The Netherlands No. 1, Norway No. 6, Switzerland No. 3, US #74,.
1986 " You Little Thief " UK No. 5, Australia No. 4, Switzerland No. 27
1986 " Someone to Somebody " UK No. 64, Australia No. 64
1986 " It's All Over Now " Australia only
1988 " More Love (Feargal Sharkey song)|More Love " UK No. 44, Australia No. 61
1988 " Out of My System "
1988 "If This is Love" Promo only
1991 "Cry Like a Rainy Day" Promo only
1991 " I've Got News for You " UK #12cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title= British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher= Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=494
1991 "Women & I"
1991 "To Miss Someone"
References
reflist|colwidth=30em
External links
http://www.ukmusic.org Ukmusic.org
Feargal Sharkey Persondata | NAME =Sharkey, Feargal | ALTERNATIVE NAMES =Sharkey, Sean Feargal | SHORT DESCRIPTION =Northern Irish singer; British music industry executive | DATE OF BIRTH =1958-08-13 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Derry , Northern Ireland, UK | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Sharkey, Feargal Category:Irish male singers Category:Irish pop singers Category:Male singers from Northern Ireland Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:British music industry executives Category:The Undertones members Category:Pop singers from Northern Ireland
