Christie Hennessy

Christie Hennessy (born Edward Christopher Ross; 19 November 1945 – 11 December 2007) was an Irish folk singer-songwriter. Although unable to read or write due to severe dyslexia, he still wrote his own songs such as "Roll Back the Clouds" and "All the Lies That You Told Me".

Early life Hennessy was born in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. His first guitar was made, especially for him, from a tea chest when he was six years old by his friend Jerry Quirke. He left school at the age of eleven and a half.

His first job was as a messenger boy, and it was then that he discovered that it was important to be able to read. He was unable to read or write due to severe dyslexia, but still enjoyed his library of books. He later worked on building sites in London.

Career In 1972 he released his first record, The Green Album, on Westwood, a small label. With scant publicity or promotion, the album made little impact and only 500 copies of the record were pressed.

Hennessy returned to the studio in 2007, one final time to record an album with both Luka Bloom and Christy Moore sharing vocals on one of the tracks.

In 2005, Christy Moore's rendition of Hennessy's "Don't Forget Your Shovel" was referenced in a UK Number One single "The JCB Song" by Nizlopi: "And the engine rattles my bum like berserk. While we're singin, 'Don't forget your shovel if you want to go to work!'" It was further referenced in the video for the same song; as the line is sung, the characters in the JCB pass a shop called "Christie's Shovels".

Death Hennessy died on 11 December 2007 in a London hospice, aged 62. He was reported to have died from pleural mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer, which has been attributed to his younger years spent working on building sites in London where he was exposed to asbestos dust. Just before he died he had been touring in Ireland but had to cancel due to the illness. His ashes were buried in Old Rath Cemetery, Tralee. A commemorative statue of Christie was erected in Central Plaza, just off the town square in Tralee in November 2009.

Discography

Albums

YearAlbum details Peak chart positionsCertifications Label: N/A – – 2018 The Last Goodbye Released: 16 November 2018 Label: Universal 9 – "—" denotes albums that did not chart, or wasn't released in that country. "+" denotes a posthumous release.

Singles

Year of releaseSingle details Peak chart positions(Irl)1991 Roll Back the Clouds Label: Son Entered Chart: 20 June 1991 Weeks in Chart: 8 41991 Oh Jealous Heart Label: Record Services Entered Chart: 10 October 1991 Weeks in Chart: 4 151993 If You Were to Fall Label: WEA Entered Chart: 4 April 1993 Weeks in Chart: 5 10