Also known as Valerie Avon Name Valerie Murtagh Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter Role Singer | Instruments Vocals Genres Pop music Years active 1960s–1970s | |
 | ||
Birth name Patricia Valerie Murtagh Similar People | ||
The Teen-toners - Dance On (Elaine Murtagh/Valerie Murtagh/Ray Adams)
Valerie Murtagh (born Patricia Valerie Jenkins, 1936, Willesden, London, England, also known under the pseudonym Valerie Avon) is an English singer and songwriter, who was a member of The Avons.
Contents
Career
After singing with the Avons vocal trio in the 1950s and 60s, alongside her husband's sister Elaine Murtagh and Elaine's husband Ray Adams, Murtagh became a songwriter under the name Valerie Avon. Together with Adams and Elaine Murtagh, she wrote "Dance On!". This was a UK number one hit in 1963, and the year later returned to the UK Singles Chart in a vocal version by Kathy Kirby with lyrics by Marcel Stellman.
With her songwriting partner, Harold Spiro, she later wrote "Long Live Love", which was performed by Olivia Newton-John, the UK entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1974.
She also co-wrote the following songs: