Celtic Thunder

Last updated

Celtic Thunder
OriginIreland
Genres
Years active2007–present
Labels Decca, Verve, Legacy
MembersNeil Byrne
Emmet Cahill
Damian McGinty
Ronan Scolard
Past membersPaul Byrom
George Donaldson†
Daniel Furlong
Keith Harkin
Colm Keegan
Ryan Kelly
Michael O'Dwyer
Emmett O'Hanlon
Website Official website

Celtic Thunder is an Irish singing group and stage show known for its eclectic, theatrical style show. The group is backed by the Celtic Thunder Band on their concert tours, and their live shows are known for the use of dramatic set pieces (often invoking symbols of ancient Celtic mythology), visual effects, and highly choreographed staging.

Contents

Since the original group's formation in 2007, Celtic Thunder has released twelve albums as well as ten live performances on DVD, three of which were split into two releases.

History

Celtic Thunder was conceived in the mind of producer Sharon Browne (Celtic Collections) who started the group in 2007. Celtic Thunder debuted in August 2007 at The Helix in Dublin, Ireland. [1] They are accompanied by the Celtic Concert Orchestra under the direction of Phil Coulter, the musical director of the group.

In December 2008, 2009 and 2011, Billboard magazine named Celtic Thunder Top World Album Artist. [2] Their first three albums also placed in the top 10 for World Albums.

In March 2009, Celtic Thunder opened the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in New York City.

On 28 November 2010, Celtic Thunder member Paul Byrom announced his resignation from the group to begin a solo career. He left the group when the 2010 concert tour was over.

In 2011, Damian McGinty (the group's youngest member) entered and won the Oxygen reality show The Glee Project. On 21 August 2011, McGinty announced on The Glee Project 's Live Viewing Party, that he would be stepping down from Celtic Thunder due to his new role on Glee . [3] McGinty returned to the group in 2015, and has been on their subsequent albums.

George Donaldson died of a heart attack 12 March 2014 in his home in Glasgow. [4]

Members

Current members

Past members

Band

Creative team

Discography and videography

Studio albums

TitleDate of releaseMedia formatFeatured soloistsNotesSalesCertifications
Celtic Thunder: The Show18 March 2008CD & DVDByrom, Donaldson, Harkin, Kelly, McGinty
  • US: 231,000 [5]
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum (DVD) [6]
Celtic Thunder: Act Two16 September 2008CDByrom, Donaldson, Harkin, Kelly, McGinty
  • US: 193,000 [5]
Celtic Thunder: Take Me Home14 July 2009CD & DVDByrom, Donaldson, Harkin, Kelly, McGinty
  • ARIA: Platinum (DVD) [7]
Celtic Thunder: It's Entertainment!9 February 2010CD & DVDByrne, Byrom, Donaldson, Harkin, Kelly, McGinty
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum (DVD) [6]
Celtic Thunder: Christmas12 October 2010CD & DVDByrne, Byrom, Donaldson, Harkin, Kelly, McGinty
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum (DVD) [7]
Celtic Thunder: Heritage22 February 2011CD & DVDByrne, Byrom, Donaldson, Harkin, Kelly, McGinty
  • ARIA: Platinum (DVD) [6]
Celtic Thunder: Storm20 September 2011CD & DVDByrne, Byrom, Donaldson, Harkin, Kelly, McGintyRecorded in 2009
  • ARIA: Gold (DVD) [6]
Celtic Thunder: Voyage28 February 2012CD & DVDByrne, Cahill, Furlong, Donaldson, Harkin, Kelly
  • US: 76,000 [8]
  • ARIA: Platinum (DVD) [9]
Celtic Thunder: Voyage II25 June 2012CD & DVDByrne, Cahill, Furlong, Donaldson, Harkin, Kelly,For online purchase only, re-released 2015 as New Voyage
Celtic Thunder: Mythology19 February 2013CD & DVDByrne, Cahill, Donaldson, Harkin, Keegan, KellyAlso available as 2 CD deluxe edition
  • ARIA: Platinum (DVD) [10]
Celtic Thunder: Christmas Voices11 October 2013CDByrne, Cahill, Donaldson, Harkin, Keegan, KellyRe-released 2014 as Holiday Symphony, 2015 as The Classic Christmas Album
The Very Best of Celtic Thunder13 March 2015CDByrne, Byrom, Cahill, Donaldson, Harkin, Keegan, Kelly, McGinty, O'HanlonAlso features re-recorded tracks to include Keegan and O'Hanlon
Celtic Thunder: Inspirational29 September 2017CDByrne, Byrom, Cahill, Donaldson, Furlong, Harkin, Kelly, McGinty, O'DwyerFeatures new tracks recorded May 2017 and a few old tracks
Celtic Thunder X2 March 2018CD & DVDByrne, Cahill, Kelly, McGinty, O’DwyerA new show for 2018 to celebrate 10 Years of Celtic Thunder
Celtic Thunder: Homeland12 March 2021CD & DVDByrne, Cahill, Donaldson, Harkin, Keegan, Kelly, McGinty, O'Dwyer, O'HanlonA new album and show celebrating the Irish music from the past 10 years of Celtic Thunder
Celtic Thunder: Odyssey24 November 2023 (CD) & 30 April 2024 (DVD)CD & DVDByrne, Cahill, Kelly (CD), McGinty, Scolard (DVD)A new show for 2023
Celtic Thunder: The Live Experience22 November 2024CDByrne, Cahill, McGinty, ScolardA live recording of Celtic Thunder: Odyssey

In 2015 Legacy re-released the whole Celtic Thunder back-catalogue, including re-releases of Celtic Thunder, Celtic Thunder: Act Two, Take Me Home, It's Entertainment!, Christmas (with new art work), Heritage, Storm, Voyage, New Voyage (originally entitled Voyage II), Mythology and The Classic Christmas Album (originally entitled Holiday Symphony). Some of the songs originally sung by Paul Byrom got re-recorded by Emmett O'Hanlon or Colm Keegan. All tracklists were revised.

Compilations

TitleDate of releaseMedia formatNotes
Celtic Thunder: Ireland's Call2010CDQVC bonus CD released along with It's Entertainment!; includes 5 tracks
Celtic Thunder: The Irish Collection2011CD11-track compilation released along with Storm; includes 1 new recording
Celtic Thunder: Heartland2012CD plus DVD15-track compilation
Celtic Thunder: Islands2013CD12-track compilation released for Celtic Thunder Cruise 2013; includes 2 new recordings
Celtic Thunder: Home2013DVDincludes fan favourites from previous DVDs
Celtic Thunder: Myths & Legends25 October 2013CD plus DVDAustralian exclusive package; behind the scenes DVD plus 14-track CD Mythology leftovers
Celtic Thunder: My Land18 April 2014CD plus DVDAustralian exclusive package; documentary DVD plus 8-track CD including Mythology leftovers
George2014CD & DVD16-track George Donaldson tribute album
Celtic Horizons2014CD16-track compilation released for Celtic Thunder Cruise 2014
Celtic Thunder: Celtic Roots Myths & Legends30 October 20153 CDs plus 3 DVDsamazon.com exclusive set including the complete Mythology recording session
Celtic Thunder: Emmet Cahill's Ireland2017CD13 track album featuring Emmet Cahill
Celtic Thunder: Ireland2020CD15 track album

Live albums

TitleDate of releaseMedia formatFeatured soloistsNotesCertifications
Celtic Thunder: Live & Unplugged at Sullivan Hall New York2013CD & DVDByrne, Cahill, Donaldson, Harkin, Keegan, Kellyfilmed in December 2012
Celtic Thunder: Legacy, Vol. 126 February 2016CD, DVD, Blu-ray, VinylByrne, Harkin, Keegan, Kelly, McGinty, O'HanlonMcGinty is credited as "special guest"
  • ARIA: Gold (DVD) [11]
Celtic Thunder: Legacy, Vol. 212 August 2016CD, DVDByrne, Harkin, Keegan, Kelly, McGinty, O'Hanlononly available through PBS pledge drive until officially released in fall 2016

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References

  1. "Celtic Thunder in Dublin". WLIW21. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 1 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  2. "World Albums Artists – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  3. The Glee Project
  4. Celtic Thunder Announces the Passing of Principle Singer George Donaldson. pbs12.org. Retrieved 27th February 2024
  5. 1 2 Wete, Brad (1 October 2013). "Justin Timberlake's 'The 20/20 Experience' & 12 More Two-Album/One-Year Releases". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  7. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  8. "Upcoming Releases 2013". Hits Daily Double. 25 January 2013. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  10. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 23 July 2020.