O'Shea (band)

O'Shea
O'Shea at CMA Music Festival, 2010
Background information
Genres	Country
Labels	Trauma
Associated acts	Zinc
Website	therealoshea.com
Members	Jay O'Shea Mark O'Shea

O’Shea is a country music duo formed by husband and wife team Mark O’Shea (born 16 February 1977) and Jay O’Shea (née Smith). Since relocating to Nashville, TN in 2007, the duo has seen success not only as artists, but also as songwriters, and finalists in the Country Music Television series Can You Duet.^[1]

Early careers

Individually Mark and Jay have both seen success as independent artists as their career has taken them across the globe. Originally from Dalby, Queensland Mark had begun his musical career at an early age by winning the Gympie Music Muster talent competition which led to a record deal he signed at age 17. His debut album earned Mark two Golden Guitar awards from the CMAA for Best New Talent of the Year (1996) for the track "The Swimming Song"^[2] and Best Video (1997) for "The Dreamer".^[3] Eventually Mark left his solo career to form rock/pop group Zinc that signed with Los Angeles based label, Trauma. The band's first single released in Australia, "The Morning After" (co-written with Mark Hudson), reached No. 22 on the ARIA Charts in 2004.^[4] In 2006, Mark toured as a guitarist for artist Ronn Moss and also had his own song "When We Kissed" recorded and released on Moss' Uncovered album in 2005.^[5]

In addition to her musical endeavors, Jay also toured the UK and Europe with the Australian Dance-Drill team at age 15.^[6][7] In 2003 Jay signed her first publishing deal with Warner Chappell London. While working in London, Jay co-wrote "Rutinas" with Wendy Page and Jim Marr. It became the hit single on Chenoa's album Nada Es Igual and reached No. 1 on the Spanish chart in 2005.

Forming O'Shea

In 2007, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee and began performing as a duo. O'Shea was soon travelling across the US to open for artists Phil Vassar,^[8][9] Jimmy Wayne, Sara Evans, and the Oak Ridge Boys.^[10]

While working with Nashville-based Australian producer Mark Moffat the duo recorded the hit single "Old School". The video for the single reached No. 7 on Australia's Country Music Channel in 2010.^[11] The next single released, "Smash", co-written with Kim Carnes, reached No. 1 on CMC's Top 50 Video Countdown.^[12] In 2011, O'Shea performed at CMC Rocks the Hunter and hosted the DVD coverage of the event.^[13][14]

In 2010, the pair began hosting their own TV show called O'Shea USA which aired on Australia’s Country Music Channel (CMC).^[15]

In 2011, the duo signed with Sony Australia to release their debut album Mr. and Mrs.^[16] The album featured 11 tracks written/co-written by the duo alongside Nashville co-writers Dave Berg, Josh Leo, and Georgia Middleman. It debuted at No. 9 on the ARIA Charts.^[17]

O'Shea was awarded the 2012 CMAA New Talent of the Year Award.^[18]

Their album One + One debuted at number 3 on the ARIA Country Charts and cracked the top 30 on the all genre chart in 2013.^[19]

In 2015, the duo's album The Famine and the Feast reached number 36 on the ARIA Charts,^[20] and number 1 on the ARIA Country Albums chart.^[21]

Jay O'Shea

In 2014 Jay collaborated with her birth father, Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst on "The Truth Walks Slowly". Jay met Hirst in 2010 following a long search for her birth parents, after they gave her up for adoption when they were teenagers.^[22]

Touring

In 2013, O'Shea supported the Australian tour by Cliff Richard.^[23]

Awards

^[24]

Songwriting

Videos

References

External links

• Official website
• www.facebook.com/therealoshea