He is the superstar who topped the UK and US single charts in the 70s with songs of endearing tunefulness, unabashed sentiment and existentialist musings. Today, Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan continues to be regarded with tremendous affection and his songs remain well-loved around the world. Last year Gilbert received the Freedom of Waterford City at a ceremony in City Hall.
It was announced this morning that Gilbert O’Sullivan will play his only show in Ireland in 2026, at 3Arena on 10 October 2026. Fittingly, today’s announcement is made on Gilbert’s birthday.
Gilbert will be joined for this date by his band, a string quartet and his long time music collaborator, acclaimed Irish producer and songwriter Bill Shanley.
Gilbert O’Sullivan was born Raymond Edward O’Sullivan in 1946 in Ireland. He moved to Swindon, England with his family aged 7 and after a formal education became a student at Swindon Art College, specializing in graphic design.
But he had another love – music – and after forming and joining local bands as a drummer/vocalist, he started writing his own songs, heavily influenced by The Beatles as writers and Bob Dylan as a performer. Calling himself Gilbert, with a very distinctive image, two singles released by CBS Records and one with the Major Minor label, got little attention. Undeterred, he sent a demo tape to Gordon Mills, the man behind Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck, who impressed with his song writing, became his manager. The result was his first single on the MAM label, Nothing Rhymed, became a UK Top Ten hit in 1970.
More hit singles and a debut album Himself followed. But it was 1972’s Alone Again (Naturally) that sealed his fame, topping the USA charts for six weeks and garnering three Grammy nominations for Best Male Pop Vocal, Song of the Year and Record of the Year in 1973.
Soon after, he got his first three British number one hits with Clair, Get Down and LPBack to Front. Gilbert was named “Songwriter of the Year” at the 18th Ivor Novello Awards, embarked on an 18-city UK tour and a USA tour, performed sold-out concerts, clocked another UK Top 10 hit with Why Oh Why Oh Why and in 1974 won a third Ivor Novello award.
A few years later, Gilbert teamed up with Gus Dudgon (Elton John, Chris Rea) as a producer for his next album. The critically acclaimed Off Centre released by CBS in 1990 produced the international hit What’s In A Kiss.
1990 saw the release of the album In the Key of G, producing a minor hit So What Whilst recording his second album in the 90’s, Sounds of the Loop, which contains the now classic Peggy Lee duet Can’t think straight.
The 2000s saw Gilbert enjoy a career revival with The Berry Vest of Gilbert O’Sullivan returning him to the UK Top 20 in 2004,Gilbertville (2011) enjoying success in the UK and Japan where in 1994 he had a number 1 with the song Tomorrow, Today, and well-received performances at the 2008 Glastonbury Festival and London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2009.
In 2012 his compilation entered the UK album charts at Number 12 Gilbert O’Sullivan: The Very Best Of – A Singer & His Songs (2012) and following this ‘Ooh Wakka Doo’ became the theme song for National Lottery adverts across the UK. Cover versions of his songs continue to be released, Alone Again (Naturally) has been covered by Neil Diamond, Nina Simone and Michael Buble & Diana Krall, also by Elton John & The Pet Shop Boys.
Gilbert O’Sullivan is as creative now as he has ever been across an outstanding career, and the past few years have seen Gilbert O’Sullivan showcase many sides of his musical personality. Be it live shows with his band, full orchestral performances in the UK and Ireland or exploring Latin music on 2015’s Latin Ala G! album, the iconic songwriter has continued to look to the future while his famous back catalogue has, as ever, won him the respect and adoration of fellow musicians and audiences all over the world.
His recent albums, 2018’s Ethan Johns-produced ‘Gilbert O’Sullivan’ and the 2022 Andy Wright-produced ‘Driven’ (both awarded 4-stars in MOJO magazine), both entered the charts in the Top 30 and Top 20 and have seen a rightful renaissance and reappraisal of this outstanding talent.
