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Biography by letter : A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other |
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Send "Damien Dempsey" Ringtones to your Cell 
27 year-old singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey is from Donaghmede on Dublin<#8217;s Northside.His earliest musical influences were the post-pub singsongs that his parents used to have at their home when he was toddler. Good, bad or indifferent - everyone had to sing. Today, his unique sound reflects the influence of traditional Irish Sean-Nós as well as his musical heroes, Bob Marley and Elvis Presley.
When he was 16 Damien boxed for Dublin but he remembers not having many bouts, <#8220;I was 12 ½ stone and tall and there weren<#8217;t many others my age in my weight division at the time<#8221; he says.
After completing his secondary education, Damien went on to the Ballyfermot <#8220;Rock School<#8221; (a college specialising in music performance and industry study) for 3 years. The school had its own small record label and star students were rewarded with a release on the label. Damien was chosen for that honour. However, he wisely declined the offer of a contract with the label.
In 1998 after meeting Chris Byrne of Black <#8217;47 who had recently opened <#8220;Rocky Sullivan<#8217;s<#8221;, an Irish bar in New York, Damien left Dublin at Chris<#8217; invitation to perform at Rocky<#8217;s as well as pitch in behind the bar. He returned to Dublin after a hectic three months of working until 4 AM. He claims he came back to Dublin because the bars there closed earlier. His experience in NY is captured on the song, <#8220;NYC Paddy<#8221; that appeared on his first album.
<#8220;They Don<#8217;t Teach This Shit In School<#8221;, his debut album, was released in 2000 and established Damien as a fearless and confrontational songwriter. His coherent and compassionate lyrics illustrate Damien<#8217;s understanding of the human dilemmas that we all face.
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