Post by Nicola_lover on Feb 6, 2009 13:46:00 GMT
Louis Walsh
Walsh at a zavvi shop in London, England on 26 November 2007.
Born Michael Louis Vincent
5 August 1952 (1952-08-05) (age 56)
Kiltimagh, County Mayo, Ireland
Michael Louis Vincent
Born 5 August 1952, in Kiltimagh, County Mayo better known as Louis Walsh, is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.
As of November 2006 his acts have totalled 29 UK
No 1 singles, the 29th being 'The Rose' by Westlife.
Contents
1 Band manager
2 Television career
2.1 Popstars
2.2 The X Factor
3 List of groups and performers managed by Walsh
4 Personal views
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Band manager
While working for a record label in Ipswich, Walsh spotted the talents of singer/songwriter Johnny Logan.
Walsh persuaded Logan to enter the 1980 Irish National Song Contest, which he won.
This meant automatic inclusion in the 25th Eurovision Song Contest, which Logan won in front of 500 million TV viewers.
Logan's first album sold half a million copies within three days of its release.
Louis Walsh then decided to create an Irish version of Take That, which the papers picked up on when Walsh advertised the open auditions.
The band created was Boyzone whom Walsh managed to international success achieving 16 top three singles, six of which were Number 1s, as well as four Number 1 albums selling over 12 million copies worldwide.
When Ronan Keating announced he wanted to take a break from Boyzone Walsh continued to manage his career.
Keating achieved a Number 1 hit with Life is a Rollercoaster in 2000 while his album sold 4.4 million copies.
Keating and Walsh later agreed to part company and then had a bitter falling out.
Walsh told the press: "He (Keating) wasn't the most talented one - he's not a great singer and he's got no personality.
" Keating later told Closer magazine: "That man absolutely tried to ruin me and if he thinks we can ever hug and make up he can forget it.
I haven't heard from him in three years and I wouldn't have a problem if I never saw him again. He's not a nice character."
Walsh then went back to the boy band formula to create Westlife.
Walsh had his choice of record companies but eventually signed them to RCA after being impressed by executive Simon Cowell. Their first seven singles from the debut "Swear it Again" reached Number 1 in the UK charts, which still stands as the record for most consecutive number 1 singles from debut.
Walsh continues to manage the band with Westlife having accumulated 14 UK number 1s and 6 number 1 selling albums.
Walsh has also managed groups who enjoyed mild success such as Six and Bellefire, as well as masterminding Lulu's duet album, being her most successful and reaching Number 4 in the UK charts.
Walsh's career as a pop group manager has not been all success, with failed acts such as The Carter Twins.
His notoriety has even led to his own song Louis Walsh by Co. Donegal band The Revs.
Television career
Walsh's first television work was in 2001, in the Irish version of Popstars.
The following year Walsh appeared as a judge on the UK ITV show Popstars: The Rivals with Pete Waterman and Geri Halliwell. Walsh went head to head with Waterman on the show with his all girl band Girls Aloud battling it out with Waterman's boy band One True Voice.
Girls Aloud won and their debut single "Sound of the Underground" reached #1 in the UK. Walsh managed the band to achieve a million single sales while their debut album went platinum.
Walsh also regularly appears on various talent shows on RTÉ in Ireland, the latest being You're A Star.
"You look like a star, you sound like a star...you are a star"
Popstars
Walsh started his career as a judge on various talent shows on the UK version of the Popstars series; a precursor to the Idol series, along with Pete Waterman and Geri Halliwell.
The show was dedicated to groups rather than solo performers, and was axed in 2002.
The X Factor
Walsh appeared from 2004 as a judge, along with Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne on the ITV talent show, The X Factor.
In 2004 Walsh found chart success with G4, who have gone on to have two chart topping platinum selling albums, and completed two tours of the UK.
In 2005 Walsh managed the winner Shayne Ward, whose debut single "That’s My Goal" spent four weeks at UK number one.
In November 2005 it was reported that Walsh quit the show mid-series out of protest regarding his treatment on the show; the most explicit example being fellow judge Osbourne drenching him with drinking water during a live recording.
Walsh returned on the Saturday evening's live show, stating that he could not abandon his remaining competitor and eventual winner, Shayne Ward.
Ward went on to win the competition with over 10 million votes in the final.
Walsh then went on to win The X Factor: Battle of the Stars with actress Lucy Benjamin.
ITV announced in March 2007 that Walsh would not return as a judge on The X Factor, but would remain behind the scenes managing some acts from the show.
According to UK tabloid newspaper The Sun the decision to be replaced with two other judges came as a shock to him.
However, on 22 June 2007, it was confirmed by Walsh that he would be returning as a judge on the fourth series of The X Factor.
Simon Cowell reportedly told off Louis Walsh for his comments about the Spice Girls.
Walsh had said that the girl group were "past their sell-by date" and lacking in talent, but Cowell already had plans to book the girls on the show.
Walsh returned for the fifth series along with Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole who replaced Sharon Osbourne after Osbourne quit in June.
In this series Walsh is mentoring the groups.
He chose JLS, Girlband and Badlashes to represent him in the live shows.
Bad Lashes and Girlband were the first two acts to be eliminated over the first two weeks.
List of groups and performers managed by Walsh
Walsh manages and has managed many singers and groups, including:
Boyzone - 1993-2000, 2007-present
Westlife - 1998-present
Ronan Keating - 2000-Present
Bellefire - 2000-2004 (Now defunct)
Six - 2001-2002 (Now defunct)
Girls Aloud - 2002-2006 (No longer managed by Walsh)
G4 - 2004-2007 (Now Defunct)
Shayne Ward - 2005-present
The MacDonald Brothers - 2006-present
Samantha Mumba - No longer managed by Walsh
Eton Road - 2006-present
The Carter Twins - Now defunct
Kerri Ann - Now defunct
JLS 2008-present (mentoring on X Factor)2008-present
Personal views
He is on record as saying to The Irish Times that, in his opinion, "it wasn't cool to have a gay guy in band".
He has said he was unaware of Gately's sexuality when he selected him for Boyzone and had he known, he would have thought twice about picking him.
Walsh only discovered the truth two months after the band's formation.
Neither did Walsh realise Mark Feehily of Westlife was gay.
See also
Boyzone
Westlife
Presenters Current: Dermot O'Leary · Holly Willoughby
Former: Kate Thornton · Fearne Cotton · Ben Shephard
Judges Current: Simon Cowell · Louis Walsh · Dannii Minogue · Cheryl Cole
Former: Sharon Osbourne · Brian Friedman (Now Creative Director) · Paula Abdul (guest)
Winners Main series: Steve Brookstein · Shayne Ward · Leona Lewis · Leon Jackson
Other series: Lucy Benjamin
Winners' songs "Against All Odds" · "That's My Goal" · "A Moment Like This" · "When You Believe"
Other songs "Hero"
Runners-up Main series: G4 · Andy Abraham · Ray Quinn · Rhydian Roberts
Other series: Matt Stevens
Other Alumni Rowetta Satchell · Cassie Compton · Journey South · Brenda Edwards · Chico Slimani · Maria Lawson · Ben Mills · The MacDonald Brothers · Same Difference · Niki Evans
Walsh at a zavvi shop in London, England on 26 November 2007.
Born Michael Louis Vincent
5 August 1952 (1952-08-05) (age 56)
Kiltimagh, County Mayo, Ireland
Michael Louis Vincent
Born 5 August 1952, in Kiltimagh, County Mayo better known as Louis Walsh, is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.
As of November 2006 his acts have totalled 29 UK
No 1 singles, the 29th being 'The Rose' by Westlife.
Contents
1 Band manager
2 Television career
2.1 Popstars
2.2 The X Factor
3 List of groups and performers managed by Walsh
4 Personal views
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Band manager
While working for a record label in Ipswich, Walsh spotted the talents of singer/songwriter Johnny Logan.
Walsh persuaded Logan to enter the 1980 Irish National Song Contest, which he won.
This meant automatic inclusion in the 25th Eurovision Song Contest, which Logan won in front of 500 million TV viewers.
Logan's first album sold half a million copies within three days of its release.
Louis Walsh then decided to create an Irish version of Take That, which the papers picked up on when Walsh advertised the open auditions.
The band created was Boyzone whom Walsh managed to international success achieving 16 top three singles, six of which were Number 1s, as well as four Number 1 albums selling over 12 million copies worldwide.
When Ronan Keating announced he wanted to take a break from Boyzone Walsh continued to manage his career.
Keating achieved a Number 1 hit with Life is a Rollercoaster in 2000 while his album sold 4.4 million copies.
Keating and Walsh later agreed to part company and then had a bitter falling out.
Walsh told the press: "He (Keating) wasn't the most talented one - he's not a great singer and he's got no personality.
" Keating later told Closer magazine: "That man absolutely tried to ruin me and if he thinks we can ever hug and make up he can forget it.
I haven't heard from him in three years and I wouldn't have a problem if I never saw him again. He's not a nice character."
Walsh then went back to the boy band formula to create Westlife.
Walsh had his choice of record companies but eventually signed them to RCA after being impressed by executive Simon Cowell. Their first seven singles from the debut "Swear it Again" reached Number 1 in the UK charts, which still stands as the record for most consecutive number 1 singles from debut.
Walsh continues to manage the band with Westlife having accumulated 14 UK number 1s and 6 number 1 selling albums.
Walsh has also managed groups who enjoyed mild success such as Six and Bellefire, as well as masterminding Lulu's duet album, being her most successful and reaching Number 4 in the UK charts.
Walsh's career as a pop group manager has not been all success, with failed acts such as The Carter Twins.
His notoriety has even led to his own song Louis Walsh by Co. Donegal band The Revs.
Television career
Walsh's first television work was in 2001, in the Irish version of Popstars.
The following year Walsh appeared as a judge on the UK ITV show Popstars: The Rivals with Pete Waterman and Geri Halliwell. Walsh went head to head with Waterman on the show with his all girl band Girls Aloud battling it out with Waterman's boy band One True Voice.
Girls Aloud won and their debut single "Sound of the Underground" reached #1 in the UK. Walsh managed the band to achieve a million single sales while their debut album went platinum.
Walsh also regularly appears on various talent shows on RTÉ in Ireland, the latest being You're A Star.
"You look like a star, you sound like a star...you are a star"
Popstars
Walsh started his career as a judge on various talent shows on the UK version of the Popstars series; a precursor to the Idol series, along with Pete Waterman and Geri Halliwell.
The show was dedicated to groups rather than solo performers, and was axed in 2002.
The X Factor
Walsh appeared from 2004 as a judge, along with Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne on the ITV talent show, The X Factor.
In 2004 Walsh found chart success with G4, who have gone on to have two chart topping platinum selling albums, and completed two tours of the UK.
In 2005 Walsh managed the winner Shayne Ward, whose debut single "That’s My Goal" spent four weeks at UK number one.
In November 2005 it was reported that Walsh quit the show mid-series out of protest regarding his treatment on the show; the most explicit example being fellow judge Osbourne drenching him with drinking water during a live recording.
Walsh returned on the Saturday evening's live show, stating that he could not abandon his remaining competitor and eventual winner, Shayne Ward.
Ward went on to win the competition with over 10 million votes in the final.
Walsh then went on to win The X Factor: Battle of the Stars with actress Lucy Benjamin.
ITV announced in March 2007 that Walsh would not return as a judge on The X Factor, but would remain behind the scenes managing some acts from the show.
According to UK tabloid newspaper The Sun the decision to be replaced with two other judges came as a shock to him.
However, on 22 June 2007, it was confirmed by Walsh that he would be returning as a judge on the fourth series of The X Factor.
Simon Cowell reportedly told off Louis Walsh for his comments about the Spice Girls.
Walsh had said that the girl group were "past their sell-by date" and lacking in talent, but Cowell already had plans to book the girls on the show.
Walsh returned for the fifth series along with Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole who replaced Sharon Osbourne after Osbourne quit in June.
In this series Walsh is mentoring the groups.
He chose JLS, Girlband and Badlashes to represent him in the live shows.
Bad Lashes and Girlband were the first two acts to be eliminated over the first two weeks.
List of groups and performers managed by Walsh
Walsh manages and has managed many singers and groups, including:
Boyzone - 1993-2000, 2007-present
Westlife - 1998-present
Ronan Keating - 2000-Present
Bellefire - 2000-2004 (Now defunct)
Six - 2001-2002 (Now defunct)
Girls Aloud - 2002-2006 (No longer managed by Walsh)
G4 - 2004-2007 (Now Defunct)
Shayne Ward - 2005-present
The MacDonald Brothers - 2006-present
Samantha Mumba - No longer managed by Walsh
Eton Road - 2006-present
The Carter Twins - Now defunct
Kerri Ann - Now defunct
JLS 2008-present (mentoring on X Factor)2008-present
Personal views
He is on record as saying to The Irish Times that, in his opinion, "it wasn't cool to have a gay guy in band".
He has said he was unaware of Gately's sexuality when he selected him for Boyzone and had he known, he would have thought twice about picking him.
Walsh only discovered the truth two months after the band's formation.
Neither did Walsh realise Mark Feehily of Westlife was gay.
See also
Boyzone
Westlife
Presenters Current: Dermot O'Leary · Holly Willoughby
Former: Kate Thornton · Fearne Cotton · Ben Shephard
Judges Current: Simon Cowell · Louis Walsh · Dannii Minogue · Cheryl Cole
Former: Sharon Osbourne · Brian Friedman (Now Creative Director) · Paula Abdul (guest)
Winners Main series: Steve Brookstein · Shayne Ward · Leona Lewis · Leon Jackson
Other series: Lucy Benjamin
Winners' songs "Against All Odds" · "That's My Goal" · "A Moment Like This" · "When You Believe"
Other songs "Hero"
Runners-up Main series: G4 · Andy Abraham · Ray Quinn · Rhydian Roberts
Other series: Matt Stevens
Other Alumni Rowetta Satchell · Cassie Compton · Journey South · Brenda Edwards · Chico Slimani · Maria Lawson · Ben Mills · The MacDonald Brothers · Same Difference · Niki Evans
