Richard Rock (10 October 1936 – 6 December 2024), known professionally as Dickie Rock, was an Irish singer.[1] Chiefly associated with the era of showbands in Ireland, Rock came to prominence as a member of The Miami Showband in the 1960s, subsequently becoming a solo artist in 1973. He represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1966. Rock continued to tour for several decades until his retirement in 2021.[2]
Dickie Rock | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Richard Rock |
| Born | 10 October 1936 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 6 December 2024 (aged 88) Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1963–2021 |
| Spouse |
Judy Murray
(m. 1966; died 2022) |
Early career
editRock was born on 10 October 1936[3][4] in the North Strand, Dublin, and raised in Cabra on Dublin's Northside.[5]
Between 1963 and 1972, he was one of the frontmen of the Miami Showband,[5] who were later in the headlines due to the Miami Showband killings incident. He had 13 top-ten hits with the Miami Showband, including seven number ones.[6] Dickie Rock and the Miami Showband were the first Irish artists to go straight into the number one spot with "Every Step of the Way" in 1965.[7] During his time with the Miami Showband, Rock attracted the kind of mass hysteria normally reserved for The Beatles.[8]
In 1966, he sang for Ireland in the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest with the song, "Come Back to Stay".[5] He entered as a solo artist and finished joint fourth (with Belgium).[9] This song also became a number one hit in Ireland.[10]
Solo years
editRock went solo in 1973, although he still performed occasionally with the Miami Showband after this.[5]
Later years
editRock continued to tour well into his eighties. Following a third RTÉ documentary (one in the 1960s, another in the 1980s and another in 2006) about Rock and his place at the forefront of the Irish showband scene, he received a lifetime achievement award in October 2009. In 2019, he announced his final tour would be held in October that year.[11] In 2021, at the age of 84, Rock retired from showbusiness due to hearing problems.[12]
Personal life and death
editRock married Judy Murray in 1966.[13] She died in April 2022, several weeks after contracting COVID-19.[14][15]
Rock died at St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, on 6 December 2024, at the age of 88.[16][17] He was buried in Cabra on 12 December 2024, after a funeral mass celebrated by Father Brian D'Arcy at the Church of the Most Precious Blood.[18][19]
Discography
editIrish chart singles[20]
- 1963 "There's Always Me" (IR #1)
- 1964 "I'm Yours" (#1)
- 1964 "From the Candy Store On the Corner" (#1)
- 1965 "Just for Old Time's Sake" (#2)
- 1965 "Round and Round" (#2)
- 1965 "Every Step of the Way" (#1)
- 1965 "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" (#4)
- 1965 "Wishing it Was You" (#1)
- 1966 "Come Back to Stay" (#1)
- 1966 "Darling I Love You" (#4)
- 1967 "When You Cry" (#7)
- 1967 "Baby I'm Your Man" (#13)
- 1968 "Simon Says" (#1)
- 1968 "Christmas Time and You" (#10)
- 1969 "Emily" (#12)
- 1970 "When My Train Comes In" (#15)
- 1971 "My Heart Keeps Telling Me" (#7)
- 1971 "Cathedral in the Pines" (#15)
- 1972 "Till (Mini Monster)" (#9)
- 1973 "The Last Waltz" (#15) – first solo single
- 1973 "Maxi single" (#11)
- 1977 "Back Home Again" (#1)
- 1978 "It's Almost Like a Song" (#18)
- 1980 "Coward of the County" (#11)
- 1982 "When the Swallows Come Back from Capistrano" (#24)
- 1988 "The Wedding" (#18)
- 1989 "I'll Never Stop Wanting You" (#10)
- 1989 "Come Home to Ireland for Christmas" (#25)
References
edit- ^ ""Miriam Meets...", 18 October 2009". Rte.ie. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Irish singer Dickie Rock dies aged 88". BBC News. 6 December 2024.
- ^ Nolan, Philip (7 December 2024). "Why iconic entertainer Dickie Rock's death marks the end of a golden era in Irish entertainment". Extra.ie. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ Byrne, John (6 December 2024). "Legendary Irish singer Dickie Rock dies aged 88". RTE.ie. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2113. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Irish charts – straight in at No.1". Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (2023). We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland. New York: Liveright Publishing Corporation. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-1-324-09287-2.
- ^ "Official Eurovision website – 1966". Eurovision.tv. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Irish singer Dickie Rock dies aged 88". BBC News. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ O'Loughlin, Mikie (25 August 2019). "Showband star Dickie Rock has announced his retirement from touring .on the 6 of December 2024 rock passed away.music". RSVP Live. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Carter, Erica (20 November 2021). "Showband star Dickie Rock says his career is 'finished' as he's forced to retire". RSVP Live. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Jordan, Ailbhe (10 October 2020). "Dickie Rock shares heartbreak after wife Judy's five week hospital trauma". RSVP Live. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Hyland, Paul (25 April 2022). "Showband legend Dickie Rock 'devastated' after losing beloved wife Judy (75) to Covid". Irish Independent. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
Judy Rock, the wife of Irish showband legend Dickie Rock, has passed away in a Dublin hospital. Mrs Rock (75) was being treated at St Vincent's Hospital for several weeks after contracting Covid-19, but she sadly died earlier this evening... It comes as last month both Dickie and Judy contracted Covid-19. Dickie Rock (85) was very unwell and said he was suffering from flu-like symptoms, but he was able to recover at home. However, his wife required hospital treatment and was eventually taken into the intensive care unit.
- ^ Collins, Liam (30 April 2022). "'She was our rock': Singer Dickie's late wife Judy remembered as a private person who kept the show on the road". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ White, Jack. "Showband singer Dickie Rock dies, aged 88". The Irish Times. No. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
- ^ O'Loughlin, Ciara (8 December 2024). "Funeral details announced for showband legend Dickie Rock". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ "Death Notice of Richard (Dickie) Rock". RIP.ie. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ Lynott, Laura (12 December 2024). "Dickie Rock's son performs heartfelt tribute to 'King of Cabra' as showband legend laid to rest". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Dickie Rock". Irish Showbands. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
External links
edit- Dickie Rock at IMDb
- Dickie Rock discography at Discogs
