LIVE BY THE BAY
Join us for an unforgettable night of music, song and timeless entertainment as Gina & The Champions light up the stage on Sunday 19th July at SEACHURCH Ballycotton
Gina, with her band, Gina, Dale Haze and The Champions established themselves as Ireland’s top attraction from the mid-seventies and maintained that coveted position right through the eighties with record breaking attendances at dances and concerts, wherever they performed. Matching their live success with industry recognition, the band were decorated many times over with the most prestigious awards the Irish music industry has to offer.
‘Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions’ began in the unassuming quiet seaside village of Ballycotton in East Cork back in 1973. The bands first recorded output was the track ‘Paper Mansions’ which was released in 1973. The single gave the band a foothold in the Irish music industry and its success was soon surpassed the following year by their first hit ‘Dreams are Good Friends’, still a favourite amongst the bands many fans.
Elevating the band to a national phenomenon was their first number one hit ‘Minnie Minnie Minnie’, a duet with Gina and Dale Haze, which was released in June 1975. The song was energetic, upbeat and fun and seemed to emulate the bands spirit and characterised what was to become something of a trademark for the band.
1978 proved to be a monumental year for Cork city born Gina, firstly with the release of one of her biggest hits ‘The Greatest Lover’ and then to be decorated with two major awards; Gina being voted ‘Irelands Number 1 Pop Singer’ and the band being voted ‘Irelands Top band’. Amazingly this feat was to be repeated a number of times over the following years.
Many music pundits credit Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions with prolonging the celebrated showband and ballroom circuit by a full decade. From the Lilac Ballroom Carndonagh to the Majestic
Ballroom Mallow, the band turned the large, expansive dancehall spaces to a sea of people night in night out.
‘Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions’ made innumerable television appearances both in Ireland and Britain over the course of their lengthy career. Appearances on Gay Byrne’s famed ‘Late Late Show’ were a regular occurrence, performing many of their hits, such as, The Greatest Lover, Give me back my Love, Dreams are Good Friends, Drunken Sailor and many more.
Last year the band celebrated fifty years on the road; bringing joy through music and dance to the hearts of many. To mark this monumental milestone, Gina and The Champions released a very special Limited Edition CD set, ‘Fifty Songs for Fifty Years’ featuring all of their many hits. Don’t miss out on one of the season’s most exciting live gigs.
Secure your tickets now and be part of a night that celebrates great music and unforgettable nostalgia. See you there!