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| '''Michael Louis Vincent'''<ref>http://www.thedailygoss.com/x-factor/louis:-i-have-no-more-love-for-hope/</ref> (born ] ]), known as '''Louis Walsh''', is an ] manager in the ], and a judge on the ] show '']''. | '''Michael Louis Vincent'''<ref>http://www.thedailygoss.com/x-factor/louis:-i-have-no-more-love-for-hope/</ref> (born ] ]), known as '''Louis Walsh''', is an ] manager in the ], and a judge on the ] show '']''. He is openly gay. | ||
| As of ] his acts have totalled 29 UK #1 singles<ref>http://www.xfactor.tv/page.asp?partid=24</ref>, the 29th being 'The Rose' by ]. | As of ] his acts have totalled 29 UK #1 singles<ref>http://www.xfactor.tv/page.asp?partid=24</ref>, the 29th being 'The Rose' by ]. | ||
Revision as of 19:17, 14 March 2008
| Louis Walsh | |
|---|---|
 Walsh at a zavvi shop in London, England on November 26 2007. | |
| Born | Michael Louis Vincent (1952-08-05) 5 August 1952 (age 72) Kiltimagh, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Notable credit(s) | Irish Popstars, The X Factor and Popstars: The Rivals |
Michael Louis Vincent (born 5 August 1952), known as Louis Walsh, is an Irish manager in the music industry, and a judge on the ITV show The X Factor. He is openly gay.
As of November 2006 his acts have totalled 29 UK #1 singles, the 29th being 'The Rose' by Westlife.
Band manager
While working for a record label in Ipswich, Walsh spotted the talents of singer/songwriter Johnny Logan. Walsh persuaded Logan to enter the 1980 25th Eurovision Song Contest, which Logan won in front of 500 million TV viewers. Logan's first album sold half a million copies within three days of its release.
Walsh then decided to create an Irish version of Take That, which the papers picked up on when Walsh advertised the open auditions. The band created was Boyzone whom Walsh managed to international success achieving 16 top three singles, six of which were Number 1s, as well as four Number 1 albums selling over 12 million copies worldwide.
When Ronan Keating announced he wanted to take a break from Boyzone Walsh continued to manage his career. Keating achieved a Number 1 hit with Life is a Rollercoaster in 2000 while his album sold 4.4 million copies. Keating and Walsh later agreed to part company and then had a bitter falling out. Walsh told the press: "He (Keating) wasn't the most talented one - he's not a great singer and he's got no personality." Keating later told Closer magazine: "That man absolutely tried to ruin me and if he thinks we can ever hug and make up he can forget it. I haven't heard from him in three years and I wouldn't have a problem if I never saw him again. He's not a nice character."
Walsh then went back to the boy band formula to create Westlife. Walsh had his choice of record companies but eventually signed them to RCA after being impressed by executive Simon Cowell. Their first seven singles from the debut "Swear it Again" reached Number 1 in the UK charts, which still stands as the record for most consecutive number 1 singles. Walsh continues to manage the band with Westlife having accumulated 14 UK number 1s and 6 number 1 selling albums.
Walsh has also managed groups who enjoyed mild success such as Six and Bellefire, as well as masterminding Lulu's duet album, being her most successful and reaching Number 4 in the UK charts. Walsh's career as a pop group manager has not been all success, with failed acts such as The Carter Twins. His notoriety has even led to his own song Louis Walsh by Co. Donegal band The Revs.
Television career
Walsh made his first television appearance in 2001 in the Irish version of Popstars. The following year Walsh appeared as a judge on the UK ITV show Popstars: The Rivals with Pete Waterman and Geri Halliwell. Walsh went head to head with Waterman on the show with his all girl band Girls Aloud battling it out with Waterman's boy band One True Voice. Girls Aloud won hands down and their debut single "Sound of the Underground" achieved the coveted UK holiday #1; Waterman's group got the #2 slot and the Cheeky Girls who auditioned on the show but were rejected got the #3 position. Walsh managed the band to achieve a million single sales while their debut album went platinum.
Walsh also regularly appears on various talent shows on RTÉ in Ireland, the latest being You're A Star.
X Factor
Walsh appeared from 2004 as a judge, along with Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne on the ITV talent show, The X Factor. In 2004 Walsh found chart success with G4, who have gone on to have two chart topping platinum selling albums, and completed two tours of the UK. In 2005 Walsh managed the winner Shayne Ward, whose debut single "That’s My Goal" spent four weeks at UK number one, and whose debut album has sold over 3 million copies.
In November 2005 it was reported that Walsh quit the show mid-series out of protest regarding his treatment on the show; the most explicit example being fellow judge Osbourne drenching him with drinking water during a live recording. Many viewers regarded this merely as a publicity stunt and Walsh returned on the Saturday evening's live show, stating that he could not abandon his remaining competitor and eventual winner, Shayne Ward. Ward went on to win the competition with over 10 million votes in the final, and whose debut single "That’s My Goal" spent four weeks at UK number one, and debut album has sold over 3 million copies. Walsh then went on to win The X Factor: Battle of the Stars with actress Lucy Benjamin.
In 2006 during series 3 of the The X Factor, Walsh was involved in an incident when he offended an angry female contestant, who then proceeded to attempt to throw Simon Cowell's glass of water over Walsh. However, Walsh knew what she was about to do and he threw his glass of water over her before she wet him. She then threw Simon's glass over him, then smashed it on the desk. The contestant later went on to claim in an interview with an The X Factor website, that she would audition again next year with a water pistol. After his group Eton Road were eliminated, Walsh pledged to support them after the series finished.
ITV announced in March 2007 that Walsh would not return as a judge on The X Factor, but would remain behind the scenes managing some acts from the show. According to UK tabloid newspaper The Sun the decision to be replaced with two other judges came as a shock to him. However, on June 22, 2007, it was confirmed by Walsh that he would be returning as a judge on the fourth series of The X Factor. He mentored the 25-and-overs and chose Daniel DeBourg, Niki Evans and Beverley Trottman to represent him in the live rounds of the show. None of his chosen contestants made the final, with Niki Evans being voted out one week before the final.
Simon Cowell reportedly told off Louis Walsh for his comments about the Spice Girls. Walsh had said that the girl group were "past their sell-by date" and lacking in talent, but Cowell already had plans to book the girls on the show.
List of groups & performers managed by Walsh
Walsh manages and has managed many singers and groups, including:
- Kerri Ann - Now defunct
- Bellefire - Now defunct
- Boyzone - Reunited 16/11/2007 for a tour
- The Carter Twins - Now defunct
- G4 - Now Defunct
- Six - Now defunct
- Girls Aloud - No longer managed by Walsh
- Ronan Keating - No longer managed by Walsh
- Samantha Mumba - No longer managed by Walsh
- Eton Road - No longer managed by Walsh.
- Shayne Ward
- Westlife
See also
References
- http://www.thedailygoss.com/x-factor/louis:-i-have-no-more-love-for-hope/
- http://www.xfactor.tv/page.asp?partid=24
- Star Trip: Ronan Keating: "Louis Walsh tried to ruin me!"
- Furious Walsh walks out on X Factor | the Daily Mail
- X Factor Hurls Water on Louis Walsh » Propeller
- BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Walsh to step down from X Factor
- Simon scolds Louis
External links
- Louis Walsh at itv.com/xfactor
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