Christie Hennessy - RIP

Surrey, UK (Top40 Charts/ MVine/ Red Grape Records) - Christie Hennessy made five double, triple and quadruple platinum albums, and after a break of six years recorded STORIES FOR SALE (MVine/Red Grape Records) which many regarded as his finest work.

Many Irish number 1's have been Christie covers: Christie Moore, Francis Black and Maire Brennan from Clannad all achieved their first number 1 with a Christie Hennessy song. The JCB Song by Nizlopi, which reached the UK and Irish number 1 slot in December 05, quotes Christie's song 'Don't Forget Your Shovel' which was dubbed the 'alternative Irish National Anthem'.

Born in Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland, Christie left school at the age of 11 with severe dyslexia and unable to read or write. In 1972 he released his first album "The Green Album" a limited edition of only 500 copies which now sell for 150 each if you're lucky enough to find one.
Championed by the late John Peel, he recorded The Rehearsal in 1992 with U2's Mother Records, which then went on to outsell U2 that year in Ireland, eventually going triple platinum. Christie then went on to have four further triple platinum albums on the Warner label, before dropping out of the limelight for his choice of a quiet and easy life. Still unable to read or write, Christie wrote all his songs by recording ideas onto scores of cassette tapes and gradually piecing the bits together.

STORIES FOR SALE (his final original album) was produced by Calum & Neill MacColl, sons of Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger.