Sandie Jones

Margaret "Sandie" Jones (9 November 1951 – 19 September 2019) was an Irish singer, best known for representing in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972 with the song "". This marked the only occasion in the history of the contest on which a song was performed in the Irish language.

Early life Sandie Jones was born in Lisle Road, Crumlin, Dublin, one of the eleven children of John and Mary Jones. She began singing at an early age, taking part in local Feis competitions and appearing on a radio broadcast at the age of 9.

Career Since the age of 15, Jones started singing with several local bands, including The Statesmen and the Monaco Showband, before joining the middle-of-the-road group Royal Earls in 1968, with which she gained popularity. At the age of 18, she briefly performed for a residency at Hammersmith Palais, London. After leaving The Dixies in 1973, Jones founded her own band, Sandie Jones and the Boyfriends, later renamed the Sandie Jones Gang.

Final years and death In January 2016, Jones moved to Gunnison, Colorado, to work as a caregiver alongside one of her sisters. She was locally known as Maggie O'Brien. She was cremated and her ashes were buried at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, next to her parents and one of her sisters.

Discography

Albums Title Release date Label Record number Format The Good Old Days 1976 EMI Records IEMC 6006 Vinyl Sandie Jones 1978 Rex Records SPR.1021

Singles + With the Royal Earls Title Release date Label Record number "Reflections of You" July 1969 Release Records RL.514 "Keep in Touch" / "Voice in the Crowd" June 1970 RL.535 "I Don't Want to Play House" 1971 RL.574

+ As Sandie Jones and the Boyfriends Title Release date Label Record number "End of the World" / "It's a Crying Shame" November 1973 Release Records RL.704 "Bim Ban Boom" / "Single Girl" July 1974 EMI Records EMI.5001

+ As the Sandie Jones Band Title Release date Label Record number Peak chart position (Ireland) "Boogie Woogie Dancing Shoes" / "Instrumental" March 1979 Spider Records WEB.006 15 "Shoes On Boots Off" / "Instrumental" December 1979 WEB.017 17

+ As the Sandie Jones Gang Title Release date Label Record number "I Don't Want to Marry Superman" / "Take the Money and Run" 1981 Spider Records WEB.041