Ronan Keating is one of the most well-known singer/songwriters of his generation. After bursting onto the scene back in 1994 with Boyzone and quickly winning the heart of many a teenage girl, he then went on to become a highly successful solo artist.
His famous rendition of the classic country song, ‘When you say nothing at all’, was hugely popular and his Irish twist on the song is widely considered to be the best version. Released on the soundtrack of Notting Hill, this shot him to international stardom. Since then he has sold over 20 million records as a solo artist, and is now a judge on the Australian version of the X Factor.
He is also an avid campaigner to raise breast cancer awareness for the Marie Keating Foundation. This was named after his mother who sadly died from the disease. Here’s a look at his illustrious career so far.
Boyzone
In 1993, Louis Walsh, who has since been a well-known judge on the X Factor, decided to put together one of the first ever manufactured bands. He selected Keating, Keith Duffy, Richard Rock, Shane Lynch, Mark Walton and Stephen Gately to make up the band; Boyzone. Walton and Rock were later replaced by Michael Graham. Boyzone started out playing in pubs and clubs before they were signed by Polygram in 1994. Their first single was a cover of ‘Working My Way Back To You’, originally by the Four Seasons (see below).
In their time together, Boyzone had six UK number one singles and nine number ones in Ireland. Twelve of their 24 singles in the UK were in the top two, and they sold over 13 million records in the UK alone. These figures make them the second most successful boy band in Britain ever, behind Take That. The band split in 1999 although they made a brief comeback in 2007, before Gately died in 2009. Walsh went on to manage another very successful Irish boy band called Westlife.
Solo Career
Keating used the Boyzone success as a springboard to his solo career and it was the breakthrough single, ‘When you say nothing at all’, that made him a big name the world over.
Since the release of Ronan, Keating has released a further four studio albums. These are Destination (2002), Turn it on (2003), 10 years of hits (2004) and Bring you home (2006). Four of these albums made it to number one in the UK Albums Chart. In these albums there are collaborations with other world famous recording artists including Elton John, Lulu, LeAnn Rimes and the Bee Gees. One of Ronan’s most successful songs was the hit single ‘The long goodbye’, which was co-written with Paul Brady and is one of the most loved songs amongst Keating’s fans (see below). Keating and Brady won the ‘BMI European song writing award’ for the single.
In 2007, Keating made the Guinness Book of Records for being the only artist ever to have 30 consecutive number one singles in the UK chart, beating the likes of Elvis Presley and Elton John.
Personal Life
In April 1998, Keating married Irish model Yvonne Connolly. They have three children together, Jack, Marie ‘Missy’ and Ali. They separated in 2010 due to Keating’s affair with a Boyzone backing dancer. The divorce was finalized in March 2010. Not long after that Keating announced his engagement to Australian TV producer and model, Storm Uechtritz. It is rumoured that the wedding will take place at Archerfield House and Golf Resort near Edinburgh, Scotland in August 2015.
Ronan has admitted he is a very lucky man and has gushed about his girlfriend after she threw him a surprise party for his birthday.
The surprise party was in London, and was a casino-themed affair where guests had a great time playing classic casino games such as blackjack and roulette. Such games are played frequently online these days but having the actual tables there at the party gave it a real ‘Vegas feel’.
Possible film career?
there is speculation that he may soon be offering his talents to the world of cinema. He has said before that he would like to break into acting but won’t let it affect his work as a recording artist.
Ronan Keating has had a fantastic career so far, with a few ups and downs in his personal life. At the tender age of 38 it looks as though he still has a lot more to give the entertainment industry in the future. Good luck, Ronan.
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