- Darren Holden (musician)
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Darren Holden Born October 29, 1972 Genres country Occupations musician Years active 1998-present Darren Holden (born 29 October 1972) is an Irish singer-songwriter who has performed on Broadway as part of "Riverdance" and "Movin' Out", and in the national tours for both shows. His debut album, Suddenly, released in Ireland and Europe in 1998, contained three Top 30 hit singles.
Contents
Rhythm of the Dance, Riverdance and Movin' Out
Born in the County Kilkenny town of Mooncoin, Darren Holden toured Europe, Russia and Asia extensively from 1994 to 1999, including support slots with such top performers as Paul Young, Belinda Carlisle, Bonnie Tyler, and Uriah Heep.
He joined the new Irish dance/musical Rhythm of the Dance as lead vocalist in 1999 and spent 10 months performing in Scandinavia, Germany, Hungary, Belgium and Yugoslavia. He joined the Broadway production of Riverdance in February 2000 as a featured vocalist. The show ran for 18 months and included promo slots on NBC's Today Show and CBS' Early Show.
While in New York City, New York Holden teamed with country music producer Don Dinicola and recorded an album of contemporary/traditional country tunes. Recording took place in New York as well as at OmniSound in Nashville. Featured musicians included members of the Dixie Chicks band. US country radio embraced the album, and by the end of 2003, three of the tracks had featured heavily on the airplay charts including "Blood and Smoke" which was released by Universal Records, with Miles Copeland's "ARK 21" label releasing "Wherever You Are" (a number 17 hit) and "Ecstatic Electricity". Rodney Crowell once referred to Holden as an Irish Bryan White and invited him to Nashville. They co-wrote the song "Wendy's World".
Holden left Riverdance in June 2003 and moved directly back to Broadway as the lead piano man in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp rock musical "Movin' Out". He was hand-picked for the job by Joel. He performed the role on Broadway for six months before originating the lead role for the US National Tour, which ran from January 2004 to January 2007.[1] He appeared on hundreds of early morning TV and radio shows during this period including NBC, Fox, ABC and CBS. The show also performed in Toronto and Japan.
In August 2006 he released a new CD called Roadworks, much of which he wrote himself. Produced by Bryan Steele (Movin' Out) and Tommy Byrnes (Billy Joel, Stray Cats, Enrique), the album was a success in the US and more notably Japan, where Holden had a massive promotional campaign.
In addition to Paul Young, Belinda Carlisle, Bonnie Tyler and Uriah Heep, he has also worked with such bands and artists as Boyzone, B*Witched and Peter Andre. His rendition of the US National Anthem has garnered such respect that he has even been invited to sing it for President George W. Bush at the Annual White House Christmas Pageant of Peace and Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The High Kings
In June 2007, Holden was invited to become a member of The High Kings, a brand new Irish ballad group. Their debut CD was released on EMI in February 2008 and hit #2 on the Billboard world music charts, as well as hitting the top spot on various Amazon Music Charts. It reached #7 in their native Ireland and has since been certified platinum. There have been three sold out tours of the USA and Ireland.[2]
Holden performed solo in March 2009 with The Kilkenny Gospel Choir, at St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny. He was most recently seen endorsing Optilase Laser Eye Clinic[3] in a TV advertisement for MTV, Sky TV, Channel 4, E4 and TV3. In August 2009, the Sunday World and Daily Mirror newspaper's reported that "Slash" was headhunting Holden to replace Scott Weiland as the new "Velvet Revolver" lead vocalist. Sources close to the LA based group confirmed that Holden had been in talks and material had been recorded.
Holden recently joined his former Boyzone pals, Keith Duffy and Mikey Graham on a charity mountain trek in Peru, to raise funds for Autism Action Ireland and, in October 2009, was back in the recording studio putting the finishing touches on the new High Kings album, which was slated for a 2010 release. Other deals would secure the use of his compositions by the games Rockband game and the newly-issued Wii Fit Family Fun.
On 16 October, Holden attended the funeral of Boyzone friend Stephen Gately, along with members of Westlife, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jason Donovan, David Furnish, and various other figures from the entertainment world. Holden toured extensively with the Dublin group during 1995–97.
Holden attended the Keith Duffy Masquerade Ball with his wife Michelle on Saturday, 5 December in Dublin. He was a special guest performer on the night along with Aslan and Keith Barry.
On Monday, 7 December, entertainment.ie reported him having attended the funeral of Irish folk legend Liam Clancy in Waterford.
The "New York Post" rumor section claimed Holden held a backstage meeting with a musical director at prominent new Broadway musical Memphis on 1 December. Sources close to him have since denied any such meeting, stating he merely "popped in to say hi".
The High Kings brand new album "Memory Lane" was released on 12 February 2010 and rocketed to number 5 in the Irish album charts immediately, following another appearance on The Late Late Show, and further appearances on RTÉ 1 and TV3. Their 3rd National tour began on 21 February with most of the twenty-four dates selling out in minutes.
Holden has been mentoring brand new Irish ballad group "Na Fianna" on their quest to be The all Ireland talent Show champions.
On February 25, Holden and his wife gathered with numerous industry friends including Keith Duffy, Keith Barry, and Rosanna Davison to bid farewell to celebrity optician and socialite Niall Mcrudden who died suddenly on 21 February.
Darren Holden is rumored to be in talks with an Irish TV channel about a possible appearance on a travel documentary, as of July this year.
The High Kings have completed their first US tour in almost 2 years, including dates in New York and Chicago.
On 9 October Holden was one of seven Irish celebrities to spend a week in Tanzania while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin. Other big names on the climb were TV presenters Sile Seoige and Kathryn Thomas, radio personalities Ruth Scott and Jenny Buckley and comedians Karl Spain and Alan Shortt. Holden completed the climb in 5 days and commented that "it was the most physically and mentally challenging week of his life". An RTE television documentary on the event was recorded for broadcast in 2011.
The High Kings have been on their fourth sellout Irish Tour and released a charity single "Whiskey in the Jar" with 8-year-old Adam O'Sullivan, who suffers from a benign brain tumor, with all proceeds again going to Crumlin Hospital and Children's University Hospital, Temple Street. The song was launched with another appearance on The Late Late Show with Adam and Darren chatting to host Ryan Tubridy after the performance.
References
- ^ Fleming, John. "Show gets cast rockin' on their toes" (St. Petersburg Times, January 9, 2005)
- ^ Sinkevics, John. "Kings Continue Strong Irish Singing Tradition" (The Grand Rapids Press, September 14, 2008)
- ^ "Laser Eye Surgery in Ireland". The Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/health-and-beauty/laser-eye-surgery-in-ireland/.
Sources
Categories:- Irish male singers
- Irish songwriters
- Irish pianists
- People from County Kilkenny
- Living people
- 1972 births
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