Dickie Rock Explained

Dickie Rock
Birth Name:Richard Rock
Birth Date:1936 10, df=y
Birth Place:Cabra, Dublin, Ireland
Instrument:Vocals
Occupation:Singer, songwriter
Associated Acts:Miami Showband

Richard "Dickie" Rock (born 10 October 1936) is an Irish singer.[1] He experienced much success on the Irish charts during the 1960s, but has continued on as a popular live act as well as occasionally hitting the charts ever since.

Early fame

Rock was born in the North Strand, Dublin and raised in Cabra on Dublin's Northside.[2]

Between 1963 and 1972, he was one of the frontmen of the Miami Showband[2] (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.[3] 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.[4] During his time with the Miami Showband, Rock attracted the kind of mass hysteria normally reserved for The Beatles.[5]

In 1966, he sang for Ireland in the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest with the song, "Come Back to Stay".[2] He entered as a solo artist and finished joint fourth (with Belgium).[6] This song also became a number one hit in Ireland.

Solo years

Rock went solo in 1973, although still performed occasionally with the Miami Showband after this.[2]

Later years

Rock 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.[7] In 2021, at the age of 84, Rock retired from showbusiness due to hearing problems.[8]

Personal life

Rock married his wife Judy (née Murray) in 1966.[9] Judy died in April 2022 several weeks after contracting COVID-19.[10] [11]

Discography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Miriam Meets...", 18 October 2009. Rte.ie. 7 October 2021. 23 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023103446/http://www.rte.ie/radio1/miriammeets/1307910.html. live.
  2. Book: The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin. Guinness Publishing. 1992. First. 0-85112-939-0. 2113.
  3. Web site: The Irish Charts - All there is to know. https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement. dead. 2 June 2009. Irishcharts.ie. 7 October 2021.
  4. Web site: Irish charts – straight in at No.1 . 17 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606020501/http://www.irishcharts.ie/facts/straight_at_no1.htm . 6 June 2011 . dead .
  5. Book: O'Toole, Fintan . 2023 . . New York . Liveright Publishing Corporation . 134–135 . 978-1-324-09287-2.
  6. Web site: Official Eurovision website – 1966. Eurovision.tv. 7 October 2021. 5 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110605094045/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=283#participants_283. live.
  7. Web site: O'Loughlin. Mikie. 2019-08-25. Showband star Dickie Rock has announced his retirement from touring music. 2022-01-27. RSVP Live. en. 27 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127005829/https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/showband-star-dickie-rock-announces-19003059. live.
  8. Web site: Carter. Erica. 2021-11-20. Showband star Dickie Rock says his career is 'finished' as he's forced to retire. 2022-01-27. RSVP Live. en. 27 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127005820/https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/showband-star-dickie-rock-says-25506134. live.
  9. Web site: Jordan. Ailbhe. 2020-10-10. Dickie Rock shares heartbreak after wife Judy's five week hospital trauma. 2022-01-27. RSVP Live. en. 27 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127005824/https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/dickie-rock-tells-rtes-brendan-22823678. live.
  10. News: Showband legend Dickie Rock 'devastated' after losing beloved wife Judy (75) to Covid. Irish Independent. Paul. Hyland. 25 April 2022. 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, Judy required hospital treatment and was eventually taken into the intensive care unit..
  11. News: 'She was our rock': Singer Dickie's late wife Judy remembered as a private person who kept the show on the road. Irish Independent. Liam. Collins. 30 April 2022. 30 April 2022.

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