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Revision as of 14:23, 5 August 2006 by Vintagekits (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Conway Sisters are a semi-professional singing group from Sligo, Ireland who have achieved a measure of fame through their appearances on The X Factor television programme.
Beginnings
Laura, Marie, Sharon and Sinead Conway were born and raised in Sligo, Ireland. The four girls grew up with a passion and love of music and performing. In 2002, the four sisters formed The Conway Sisters. Throughout 2002 they wrote, produced, and recorded music, and played locally. That year, they released a single, "What Do You Do?", which debuted in the Top 20 and launched a tour of Ireland. "What Do You Do?" was quickly followed by "Now That It's Over" and "Miss You", both of which also entered the Top 20, and their debut album, Waiting for You.
The X Factor and afterwards
In May 2005 the sisters auditioned for the UK television programme, The X Factor in hopes that they would crack the UK market. Along with twelve other acts, they made it through to the final stages of the competition where viewers began to vote for their favourite acts following mentorship from a variety of vocal coaches and music tutors.
In Week 5 of The X Factor knockout stages, The Conways first found themselves in the bottom two acts facing the judges' expulsion vote together with crowd favourite Maria Lawson. Lawson was voted off on the vote of Louis Walsh, prompting booing from the studio audience and fellow judge Sharon Osbourne to claim that "he voted with his passport." The decision provoked controversy in the UK media, especially when it was revealed that Walsh had known the Conways personally prior to the competition and lead to a witch-hunt within the British media against the sisters.
Following their nomination for expulsion and the generally negative comments of their mentor, Simon Cowell, the Conways worked for the next episode of the show without Cowell's guidance, an action which the judge said earned the group more respect from him. Despite this, Cowell persisted with negative comments when he considered them appropriate and the Conways were eventually voted off the show in Week 7 following their third week of being in the bottom two acts. Upon their dismissal from the competition, the group claimed that Louis Walsh had been their true mentor. Upon their expulsion from the competition the vocal coach who works closely with Simon Cowell claimed they were four of the most talented singers he had ever worked with.
The Conway Sisters released a new album, Waiting For You, in 2006.