Arranger, pianist, producer and singer-songwriter from Derry, Northern Ireland, who attended Queen’s University and St. Columb’s College.
A few of his early compositions were “Foolin’ Time”, “I Can Only Give You Everything” and “Walking the Streets in the Rain”.
He hooked up with lyricist Bill Martin in 1965 and they forged a songwriting tandem that spanned a decade. They co-wrote “Puppet on a String” for the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest and it became a massive hit for Sandie Shaw. It has since been covered over 100 times.
Other hits penned by the duo include “Congratulations” by Cliff Richard, “Fancy Pants” by Kenny, “My Boy” by Elvis Presley, “Requiem” by Slik, “Saturday Night” by the Bay City Rollers, “Surround Yourself with Sorrow” by Cilla Black, and “Thanks” by Bill Anderson.
The Ivor Novello Award was bestowed upon them for “Songwriter of the Year” in 1975.
By the mid-‘80s, Phil had struck out on his own with solo albums such as Classic Tranquility, Phil Coulter’s Ireland and Sea of Tranquility. The latter went on to become the second-highest selling recording ever at the time in his native homeland.
He was prolific in the 1990s, which were filled with more tranquility: American Tranquility, Scottish Tranquility: Piano and Orchestral Classics and A Touch of Tranquility. James Galway collaborated with him on 1997’s Legends and 1998’s Winter’s Crossing.
Meantime, he was commissioned by the Irish Rugby Football Union to compose an anthem for Ireland’s national team. Phil offered up “Ireland’s Call”, which became so well-liked, it was also used by Ireland’s national cricket and hockey teams.
His ties to sport do not end there: In the 2000s, he helped save the Derry City Football Club from financial ruin. He has also served as the club’s president.
This did not preclude him from recording another string of albums that included Celtic Piano, Dreaming in the Dawn, Highland Cathedral and Lake of Shadows.
He and Sharon Browne co-founded Celtic Thunder in 2007 and their live performance at The Helix in Dublin, Celtic Thunder: The Show, went to #1 on the world album charts in 2008.
In 2009, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors bestowed upon him their Gold Badge award.
To open the new decade, he assembled his own concert orchestra and released Heartland—The Composer’s Salute to Celtic Thunder.
In December 2012, he played a series of holiday concerts at the Irish Repertory Theatre.
He is purported to have accumulated 39 gold, 23 platinum and 52 silver albums, a pair of Eurovision awards, one Meteor award, one Rose d’or d’Antibes and one National Entertainment Award.
If you’d like to try your hand at Phil’s music, check out the songbooks, Celtic Thunder: The Music and Tranquility—The Piano Solos of Phil Coulter.
The Celtic Tenors recordings
Still By Your Side (Jimmy MacCarthy/Feargal Murray)
Telarc 80667 (CD: Remember Me)
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Coulter
- http://www.silverlakemusic.com/art/acoulter.html
- http://frogmen.info/biographies/P/phil_coulter_english.htm
- http://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3888961
- http://www.amazon.com/Scottish-Tranquility-Piano-Orchestral-Classics/dp/B000000E21
- http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/2194878/a/Celtic+Piano.htm
- http://www.backstage.com/review/ny-theater/off-broadway/phil-coulter-the-songs-i-love-so-well-irish-repertory-theatre/
- http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=306999&menuid=559&subsiteid=3&
- http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Tranquility-The-Piano-Solos-Of-Phil-Coulter/3596215