Veteran Irish singer Johnny McEvoy has passed away. He was 81 years old at the time of his passing. He was part of the music industry for over six decades and released many hit songs during his tenure. The artist was known for some of the biggest Irish hits during his time, including ‘Never Learned to Dance’ and ‘The Ballad of John Williams.’
Johnny McEvoy passes away at 81
Johnny McEvoy passed away peacefully at his home in Greystones, Co Wicklow, on Sunday. The news was confirmed by his manager, Darren Farrell, in a report from The Irish Examiner. His children, Jonathan and Alice, also shared a statement and remembered their father and his legacy.Their joint statement read, “Dad’s music meant so much to so many people, but to us, he was just Dad. We’re so grateful for all the love shown to him over the years. Johnny’s funeral will be private, attended by his family, close friends, and some of those he worked alongside over the years. The family thanks everyone for the many kind messages they have received and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”
Tributes pour in for Johnny McEvoy
Soon after the news of his passing was shared online, many people shared condolences and remembered the veteran icon and his impact on the music industry.Mick Foster of Foster and Allen talked about the musician on ‘The Oliver Callan Show’ and shared that McEvoy was one of the first people in the industry in the 90s who started a conversation about mental health. He shared, “I’d say it definitely helped a load of people, because a load of people have this, and they don’t talk about it, and a lot of them wouldn’t know what was wrong with them. But when you have someone of Johnny’s standing in the community, for want of a better way of putting it, and he talks about it, well then, it obviously has to give them a lift.”A fan shared a video of one of McEvoy’s old performances and wrote, “Rest in peace, Johnny McEvoy. Another Irish folk legend has left us today, following on from Donal Lunny only last week. Johnny reached #1 in Ireland in 1966 with the hit Mursheen Durkin, covered by everyone from The Dubliners to The Pogues. Let’s Have A Blast In His Honor.” Another social media user shared, “Muirsheen Durkin was the very first song I sang along to as a child, back in the 1960s. I knew all the words. RIP Johnny McEvoy.”Musician Sharon Shannon remembered the artist in a social media post, writing, “I’ve always loved his gorgeous voice and the sincerity with which he delivered the lyrics of every song he sang. I also loved his passion for Irish history and the wonderful way he introduced and brought those great old songs to life at his shows. He was also a gifted songwriter, as well as a brilliant interpreter of both traditional and contemporary songs.”
Who was Johnny McEvoy?
Johnny McEvoy was born on April 24, 1945, in Banagher, County Offaly. He was a famed Irish folk and country singer-songwriter with a fruitful career in the music industry that spanned over six decades. He was born to John McEvoy, who worked as a bus driver, while his mother, Emily McEvoy, was a housewife.He started his career around the time he turned 18, in the duo The Ramblers Two, alongside Michael Crotty. Around 1966, he rose to fame as a solo artist after his song, ‘Muirsheen Durkin,’ became a big hit after its release and charted to the top of the music charts. Some of his most popular works include ‘The Boston Burglar,’ ‘Nora,’ ‘Long Before Your Time,’ ‘Rich Man’s Garden,’ ‘Michael,’ ‘Going To California,’ ‘The Ballad of John Williams,’ and ‘Never Learned To Dance.‘He is survived by his children, Jonathan and Alice, and grandchildren Kyle, Isabella, and Cinéad. His wife, Odette, whom he met in 1967, passed away in November 2013 after battling ovarian cancer for three years.
