Marc Roberts (singer)
{{short description|Irish singer (born 1968)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Irish English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Marc Roberts
| image = Marcroberts.png
| birth_name = Seán Hegarty
| background = solo_singer
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|6|25|df=y}}
|birth_place =Crossmolina, County Mayo, Ireland
| death_date =
| origin =
| instrument =
| genre = Easy listening
| occupation = Singer-songwriter, radio broadcaster, TV presenter
| website = {{URL|marcroberts.ie}}
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
Seán Hegarty (born 25 June 1968), better known by his stage name Marc Roberts, is an Irish singer, best known for representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997. His song, "Mysterious Woman", finished in second place and reached number two on the Irish Singles Chart. He is originally from Crossmolina, County Mayo, and now based in Galway, where he presents a local radio show as well as continuing his singing career. He has to date released six studio albums.
Career
Marc Roberts rose to prominence when he represented Ireland in the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Mysterious Woman". The song finished in second place behind Katrina and the Waves' "Love Shine a Light".{{cite web|url=http://www.esc-history.com/details.asp?key=798|title=Ireland 1997|publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|access-date=22 August 2011|archive-date=25 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525031424/http://www.esc-history.com/details.asp?key=798|url-status=live}} The single made No.2 in the Irish Singles Chart, remaining on the chart for seven weeks.{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement|title=The Irish Charts - All there is to know|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=2 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement|url-status=live}} Following this, he released his debut, self-titled album and second single, "Babe".{{Cite web|url=http://www.marcroberts.ie/index1.html|title=Marc Roberts web site|website=www.marcroberts.ie|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114143244/http://marcroberts.ie/index1.html|url-status=live}}
In the early 2000s, Roberts returned with his second and third albums, Meet Me Half Way (2003) and Once in My life (2005), on which Roberts wrote a number of the songs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.marcroberts.ie/News/The%20Album.htm|title=Garth Brooks|website=www.marcroberts.ie|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712040932/http://www.marcroberts.ie/News/The%20Album.htm|url-status=live}} Around this time, Roberts joined local radio station Galway Bay FM as a guest presenter. Performing a three-hour afternoon show, 12pm to 3pm each Saturday, & Sunday 12pm to 1:30pm, called The Feel Good Factor, he continues in this role as of 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://galwaybayfm.ie/feel-good-factor-marc-roberts/|title=The Feel Good Factor with Marc Roberts - Galway Bay FM|date=8 February 2018|work=Galway Bay FM|access-date=19 March 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319213541/https://galwaybayfm.ie/feel-good-factor-marc-roberts/|url-status=live}}
In 2006, Roberts emerged as a songwriter by co-writing a number of songs on singer Daniel O'Donnell's album, Until the Next Time. This included the single "Crush on You", which reached No.21 in the UK Singles Chart.{{Cite web|url=http://www.marcroberts.ie/News/Crush%20on%20you.htm|title=A Tribute to John Denver|website=www.marcroberts.ie|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712032912/http://www.marcroberts.ie/News/Crush%20on%20you.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/crush-on-you/|title=crush on you {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|language=en|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319213539/http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/crush-on-you/|url-status=live}} The album itself reached No.10 in the UK Albums Chart.{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17215/daniel-odonnell/|title=DANIEL O'DONNELL {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com|language=en|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319213543/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17215/daniel-odonnell/|url-status=live}}
In 2008, Roberts attempted to represent Ireland again in the Eurovision Song Contest with his own composition, "Chances".{{Cite web|url=https://presspack.rte.ie/2008/02/07/rte-announce-eurosong-2008-finalists/|title=RTÉ ANNOUNCE EUROSONG 2008 FINALISTS {{!}} RTÉ Presspack|website=presspack.rte.ie|language=en-US|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319151722/https://presspack.rte.ie/2008/02/07/rte-announce-eurosong-2008-finalists/|url-status=live}} The selection process was made by public vote during a live television broadcast from University of Limerick on Saturday 23 February on RTÉ television. He lost out to "Irelande Douze Pointe" by Dustin the Turkey.
Three more albums followed over the next few years: The Promise (2010), Now and Then (2013) and A Tribute to the Music of John Denver (2015). The last of these saw Roberts embarking on a series of live shows, performing hits of John Denver for the past few years, including a show at Denver's hometown, Colorado.{{Cite news|url=http://ballymaloegrainstore.com/portfolio/music-john-denver-marc-roberts|title=The Music of John Denver by Marc Roberts|date=25 February 2017|work=Ballymaloe Grainstore|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319213717/http://ballymaloegrainstore.com/portfolio/music-john-denver-marc-roberts|url-status=live}}
On 5 July 2024, Marc released his 7th studio album Lilac Road.
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of albums, with selected details ! Title ! Details |
| scope="row" | Marc Roberts
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" | Meet Me Half Way
|
|
| scope="row" | Once In Your Life
|
|
| scope="row" | The Promise
|
|
| scope="row" | Now & Then
|
|
| scope="row" | A Tribute to the Music of John Denver
|
|
| scope="row" | Lilac Road
|
|
=Charted singles=
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="1"| Chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| style="width:40px;"| IRE |
| style="text-align:center;"|1997
|align="left"|"Mysterious Woman" | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"|Marc Roberts |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.marcroberts.ie}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box |
| before=Eimear Quinn
with "The Voice"
| title=Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest
| years=1997
| after=Dawn Martin
with "Is Always Over Now?"
}}
{{s-end}}
{{RTÉ Radio 1}}
{{Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=autocollapse}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 1997|state=autocollapse}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Marc}}
Category:Galway Bay FM presenters
Category:Irish male singer-songwriters
Category:Irish singer-songwriters
Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants
Category:Musicians from County Mayo
Category:Musicians from County Galway
Category:RTÉ Radio 1 presenters
Category:People from Crossmolina