Gloria (Irish singer)

Gloria Smyth (born Navan, Co. Meath May 1951), better known as Gloria is an Irish singer.^[1][2] She rose to fame in Ireland during the 1970s with "One Day at a Time" which became the biggest Irish hit of all time. 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.^[2] 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, Gloria found work playing piano with another band, before joining the Maurice Lynch Showband as a singer in the late 1960s.^[3]

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.^[4] She began recording Gospel and Country songs in Nashville and appeared three times on the Praise the Lord show.^[5] 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).^[6] 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.^[7] It came from her album When I Sing for Him, which was certified silver.^[5] She was popular in the dancehalls at the time, singing with her backing band, The Mississippi.

Gloria announced her retirement in May 2001, when she turned 50.^[8] She has since returned to music, performing with her sister Patrice, based in Navan, Co. Meath.^[9]

Personal life

She married Don Sherry, a musician with a showband in 1973 and they had a daughter Laura.^[8] Gloria and her husband's marriage broke down however in 2010.^[10]

Discography

Singles:

• 1973 "Tomorrow is Forever" (with the Johnny McEvoy Band) (Irish charts No.14)^[11]
• 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