External links
- Songwriting database
- Valerie Murtagh discography at Discogs
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Valerie Murtagh | |
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| Also known as | Valerie Avon |
| Born | 1936 (age 88–89) Willesden, London, England |
| Genres | Pop music |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1950s–1970s |
Valerie Murtagh (born Patricia Valerie Jenkins,[ citation needed ] 1936) [1] also known under the pseudonym Valerie Avon, is an English singer and songwriter, who was a member of The Avons.
Murtagh was born Willesden, London, England, in 1936.
After singing with the Avons vocal trio between 1958 and 1964, alongside her husband's sister Elaine Murtagh and Elaine's husband Ray Adams, Murtagh became a songwriter under the name Valerie Avon. Together with Adams and Elaine Murtagh, she wrote "Dance On!". [2] [3] Recorded by the Shadows, this was a UK number one hit in 1963, [4] and the year later returned to the UK Singles Chart in a vocal version by Kathy Kirby with lyrics by Marcel Stellman, which reached number eleven. [5]
With her songwriting partner, Harold Spiro, she later wrote "Long Live Love", which was performed by Olivia Newton-John, the UK entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1974. [6]
She also co-wrote the following songs: [7]
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