Dana Rosemary Scallon, better known as Dana (born Rosemary Brown on 30 August 1951 in Islington, London), is a Contemporary Catholic music singer, songwriter and former politician. She won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 with "All Kinds of Everything". During a successful career in pop music, Dana evolved into a popular Catholic music singer, writing and performing songs to such people as Pope John Paul II. In 1999, she became a Member of the European Parliament.

Contents 1 Background 2 1970s — all kinds of everything 3 1980s — Catholic taste 4 1990s — USA to MEP 5 2000s — the girl is back 6 Discography 7 External links

Background

Scallon was born in Frederica Street, Islington, London, where she lived for five years until her family moved back to Derry, Northern Ireland, from where they had moved six years earlier to find work. Hers was a musical family—Dad played the trumpet and Mum the piano, and they encouraged their three sons and three daughters to learn how to play an instrument, to sing and dance. Young Rosemary Brown was a quick learner; she won her first talent contest as a six-year-old. Years later she was introduced to her future manager, Tony Johnston, after winning another contest in 1965. This local headmaster and part-time promoter took her under his wing while she prepared for her O-levels at Thornhill College.

After passing all her exams in 1967, a demo tape was sent off to Rex Records (Decca) in Dublin. Decca's manager Michael Geoghegan offered her a recording contract. Her debut single was called "Sixteen", written by Johnston, with the self-penned "Little Girl Blue" on the flip side. It was released on 17 November 1967. By now she was known as Dana, a name chosen by her school friends and thought more suitable for the world of pop.

Dana was now performing in cabaret and folk clubs in the area. On Easter Saturday 1968, dressed in an evening gown, she was driven slowly through the streets in a white Rolls Royce. Passing cheering crowds along the way, she arrived at Clontarf Castle, Dublin. After a few speeches and a fanfare, she found herself on stage, sitting on a throne and wearing a tiara—crowned Queen of Cabaret.

1970s — all kinds of everything

In February 1969, Dana was invited to take part in the Irish National Song Contest with the song "Look Around" by Michael Reade. Shown live on Ireland's RTÉ, she did well and came second. Thinking she had failed, she began to concentrate on passing her A-levels and becoming a music and drama teacher. Then over Christmas, the producer of the contest, Tom McGrath, offered her the chance to take part in the next one. She accepted. This time she came first. The winning song was "All Kinds of Everything", penned by Derry Lindsey and Jackie Smith, two printers from Dublin. She would now represent Ireland in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest in Amsterdam on Saturday 21 March.

The last of twelve to perform that night, and wearing an embroidered cream mini dress, she sang "All Kinds ..." while perched on a stool. Her competitors included Mary Hopkin for the UK (the favourite) and Spain's Julio Iglesias. Dana beat them all to register Ireland's first success in the contest. On her return home she was greeted by thousands of fans, first at Dublin Airport, then at Ballykerry Airport, then at the Guildhall in Derry, where she was carried shoulder high into the building for the official welcome and champagne reception. And finally home—Rossville Street flats in the Bogside. She described the journey to her flat as like "breaking into Colditz", with flowers, fruit and fans everywhere. Dana's victory was something to celebrate for the people of Derry; the Troubles had not long started and the Battle of the Bogside had not long finished.

This now eighteen-year-old schoolgirl took the song to the top of the Irish Singles Chart for nine weeks and the UK Singles Chart for two weeks. Similar positions were achieved in Australia, South Africa and Singapore; in Holland it reached the runner-up spot. It went on to become a million-seller. While still at number one in the UK, Dana was booked into Decca's London studios for two days to record twelve tracks for her first LP. Named after "that song", it was in the shops by June. More hits followed, including "Who Put the Lights Out" (Paul Ryan), "Crossword Puzzle" (Lynsey De Paul-Barry Blue) and "Do I Still Figure in Your Life" (Pete Dello). A label change to GTO produced more chart entries, like "Please Tell Him That I Said Hello" (Shepstone-Dibbens), "It's Gonna Be a Cold Cold Christmas" (Greenaway-Stephens), "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" (Eric Carmen), "Fairytale" (Paul Greedus) and the amusing "Something's Cookin' in the Kitchen" (D.Jordan).

During the '70s, Dana became an all round entertainer. She played the part of a tinker girl in the childrens adventure film The Flight Of The Doves (1971), starring Ron Moody and Jack Wild; took part in summer seasons, her first was in the holiday resort of Scarborough; undertook British and European concert tours, including performances at the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall; starred in theatre runs such as a sell-out week at the London Palladium with Tom Jones; performed in cabaret shows in venues like the Batley Variety Club and London's Talk of the Town (she was voted Top Female Vocalist in the National Club Acts Awards in 1979); and appeared on TV shows, including her own BBC series A Day With Dana and Wake Up Sunday, as well as a 1974 documentary called Who is Rosemary Brown. Pantomimes were also on the agenda: she played the starring role in Cinderella, Alice in Dick Whittington and Maid Marian in Robin Hood.

On 5 October 1978, she married Damien Scallon, a hotelier and businessman from Newry. The wedding was held at St Eugene's Cathedral in Derry. They went on to have four children: two girls and two boys. The couple first met in 1970 when Dana had a street named after her and a reception was held in Damien's Ardmore Hotel in Newry. Nine months after their wedding his hotel was destroyed by a bomb.

1980s — Catholic taste

Dana's parents had a strong sense of religious duty and she and her siblings were taught the importance of daily prayer and going to Mass on Sundays. Despite a few doubts along the way, she never lost her faith. In 1979, she and Damien were inspired to write a Catholic song, "Totus Tuus", named after the motto of Pope John Paul II, who came to Ireland that year. It entered the Irish singles chart on 16 December and stayed there for nine weeks, peaking at number one.

In 1980, the album "Everything is Beautiful" was issued on Warwick Records, containing twenty inspirational songs and pop classics, like "Let it Be", "Morning Has Broken" and "My Sweet Lord". It was to be the stepping stone to her first religious album, "Totally Yours", issued by an American Christian label, Word Records, in 1981. Included on the album was the song "Little Baby", specially written by Dana and Damien for their first child, Grace, born 18 January 1981.

1982 saw her back in the studios recording a secular album for Lite Records called "Magic" (title song written by her brother, Gerry). Then came another summer season (the previous year she appeared in Torquay), this time it was Blackpool with Little and Large. Next came the recording of her second album for Word, "Let There Be Light". The pantomime season followed and Dana was off to Hull where she starred in a production of Snow White.

On 18 August 1983, Susanna Ruth was born. Christmas time arrived to find the mother-of-two playing Snow White once again. Due to the success of the previous season in Hull, the show had been transferred to the West End. There it played to packed houses and the original seven-week run was extended to twelve.

After fifteen years in show business, Hodder and Stoughton published her first book: Dana — An Autobiography, in 1985. It described her growing devotion to God and explained her career change from pop to Catholic music. It also illustrated her sense of humour, hence her success in summer seasons and pantomimes.

1990s — USA to MEP

In 1990, the Scallon family moved to Birmingham, Alabama in the United States, where Damien was now working as the manager for retreats at the traditional Catholic broadcasting network, EWTN. Dana hosted shows for them on TV and radio, called Say Yes and We Are One Body.

Under the management of her sister, Susan Stein (from 1981 to 2005), the CEO for HeartBeat Records, she became a popular Catholic music singer and released many albums with HeartBeat, America's leading Catholic music label.

Dana appeared at conferences and public gatherings across the States. One such occasion was in Cherry Creek State Park, Denver, Colorado, in 1993: To help celebrate the eighth World Youth Day, she was invited to sing her song "We Are One Body", the theme song for the event, live to the Pope. She also sang at the World Youth Day celebrations held in Paris (1997) and in Toronto (2002).

In 1997, before returning home to Ireland where Dana Rosemary Scallon became a candidate for the office of President of Ireland, she received US citizenship, making her a dual Irish and US citizen. Standing as an independent, she came in a creditable third, ahead of the mainstream Irish Labour Party, but losing out to Mary McAleese. In 1999, again as an independent, she won a seat in the European Parliament, representing the Connacht–Ulster European elections constituency. Refusing to associate with any political party, she campaigned on family values and her opposition to abortion.

2000s — the girl is back

Scallon believed life began at conception so in 2001 she opposed a proposed amendment to the Irish constitution that would legalise the 'morning after pill' and IUD. Although the amendment was supported by the mainstream political parties and the Roman Catholic Bishops in Ireland, it was defeated in a referendum.

In 2002, she contested a seat in Galway West in the Irish general election, again as an independent. In what was seen as a backlash against her stance in the previous abortion referendum, she lost, scoring just 3.5% of the vote in her constituency.

In June 2004, Scallon lost her European Parliament seat, taking 13.5% of the vote. Later that year she failed to secure a nomination to the office of President of Ireland against the uncontested incumbent. (All her election results are listed at Elections Ireland.)

In February 2005, Dana returned to the world of entertainment when she spent time on the RTÉ television series "The Afternoon Show" (she took part in a weight loss challenge preceding her daughters summer wedding). In 2006, she and dancer Ronan McCormack were paired together in the RTÉ celebrity dance series Celebrity Jigs 'n' Reels. They made it to the final show and came second.

Also in 2006, Dana and Damien launched their own music label, DS Music Productions. One of the first albums released was "Totus Tuus", a compilation of songs dedicated to the memory of Pope John Paul II and issued on the anniversary of his death. A children's album was released in 2007, entitled "Good Morning Jesus: Prayers & Songs for Children of All Ages". It featured in a special series on EWTN.

Since leaving politics, Dana has spoken at many colleges and universities in Ireland and America, where she talks about Ireland, the European Union and its Constitution, as well as the relationship between Europe and the United States. She received an Honorary Doctorate at one appearance in Stonehill College in Massachusetts.

Discography

Singles

Albums

1967 Sixteen / Little Girl Blue 1968 Come Along Murphy / Patrick O'Donnell 1968 Heidschi Bumbeidschi / Ten Second Girl 1969 Look Around / No Road Back 1970 All Kinds of Everything / Channel Breeze UK #1 1970 I Will Follow You / With a Little Love 1971 Who Put the Lights Out / Always a Few Things UK #14 1971 Today / Don't Cry My Love 1971 Isn't it a Pity / Swallow Fly Away 1972 New Days...New Ways / Love is a Friend of Mine 1972 Crossword Puzzle / Where is he 1973 Do I Still Figure in Your Life / A Ticket to Nowhere 1973 Sunday Monday Tuesday / Corner of the Sky - Morning Glow 1975 Are You Still Mad at Me / There's Nothin' You Can Do to Change My Mind 1975 Please Tell Him That I Said Hello / Darlin' Come Home Soon UK #8 1975 It's Gonna Be a Cold Cold Christmas / The Goodbye Song UK #4 1976 Never Gonna Fall in Love Again / Have Love Will Travel UK #31 1976 Fairytale / Country Girl UK #13 1976 I Love How You Love Me / Darlin' Come Home Soon 1977 Put Some Words Together / Look Before You Leap 1979 Something's Cookin' in the Kitchen / Slipaway UK #44 1979 I Can't Get Over Getting Over You / Everynight 1979 Totus Tuus / Cliffs of Dooneen 1980 When a Child is Born / It's no Secret 1981 Dream Lover / Dance 1981 Lady of Knock 1982 I Feel Love Comin' On / Lovely Baby UK #66 1982 You Never Gave Me Your Love / Marathon 1982 Yer Man 1982 If You Really Love Me / Sad Song 1985 Little Things Mean a Lot / (Crying) Till the Morning Light UK #92 1985 If I Give My Heart to You 1987 Baby Come Back to Me 1989 Harmony 2005 Children of the World

1970 All Kinds of Everything 1974 The World of Dana 1975 Have a Nice Day 1976 Love Songs and Fairytales 1979 The Girl is Back 1980 Everything is Beautiful 1981 Totally Yours 1982 Magic 1983 Let There Be Love 1984 Please Tell Him That I Said Hello 1985 If I Give My Heart to You 1987 In the Palm Of His Hand 1987 No Greater Love 1989 The Gift of Love 1990 All Kinds of Everything (compilation) 1991 Dana's Ireland 1991 The Rosary 1992 Lady of Knock 1993 Hail Holy Queen 1993 Say Yes! 1995 The Healing Rosary 1996 Dana The Collection 1997 Humble Myself 1997 Forever Christmas 1997 Heavenly Portrait 1998 The Best of Dana 1998 Stations of The Cross 2004 Perfect Gift 2005 In Memory of Me 2006 Totus Tuus 2007 Good Morning Jesus!

External links

• HeartBeat Records - Official US Copyright Holder for original Dana recordings.
• DS Music Productions - Dana's Official Website
• EWTN's Dana Website

Preceded by Four-way tie: Lulu, Salomé, Frida Boccara, Lenny Kuhr	Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1970	Succeeded by Séverine
Preceded by Muriel Day	Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1970	Succeeded by Angela Farrell

v • d • e Eurovision winners
1950s	Lys Assia • Corry Brokken • André Claveau • Teddy Scholten
1960s	Jacqueline Boyer • Jean-Claude Pascal • Isabelle Aubret • Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann • Gigliola Cinquetti • France Gall • Udo Jürgens • Sandie Shaw • Massiel • Frida Boccara • Lenny Kuhr • Lulu • Salomé
1970s	Dana • Séverine • Vicky Leandros • Anne-Marie David • ABBA • Teach-In • Brotherhood of Man • Marie Myriam • Izhar Cohen & Alphabeta • Gali Atari & Milk and Honey
1980s	Johnny Logan • Bucks Fizz • Nicole • Corinne Hermès • Herreys • Bobbysocks • Sandra Kim • Johnny Logan • Celine Dion • Riva
1990s	Toto Cutugno • Carola • Linda Martin • Niamh Kavanagh • Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan • Secret Garden • Eimear Quinn • Katrina and the Waves • Dana International • Charlotte Nilsson
2000s	Olsen Brothers • Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL • Marie N • Sertab Erener • Ruslana • Elena Paparizou • Lordi • Marija Šerifović