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Don Mescall

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Don Mescall
BornCounty Limerick, Ireland
GenresAcoustic / country / folk rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, composer
Years active1994–present
LabelsAGR Television Records
Websitedonmescall.com

Don Mescall is an Irish singer and songwriter from County Limerick. Mescall regularly tours in Ireland and the United Kingdom and plays some major festivals.[1] He splits his time between the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States.

Early career

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Having played in pubs and clubs around Ireland, Mescall landed the job of opening for Richie Havens at the Mean Fiddler in London. Mescall began his set with a new song, "Paradise". Havens liked the song so much that he recorded "Paradise" for his 2002 album "Wishing Well".

Songwriting

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As a songwriter, Don Mescall works alone and also collaborates with other artists/songwriters. In previous years, he was based in Nashville.[2]

Mescall has had songs recorded by a wide range of artists including Rascal Flatts, Clay Aiken, Backstreet Boys, Ronan Keating, Boyzone, Jaydee Bixby, Ramin Karimloo, Aslan, Garou, Geri Halliwell, Neal McCoy, Sharon Corr, Daniel Boys, Cliff Richard, and Richie Havens.

Mescall's song, "Secret Smile" was included on the Rascal Flatts album Still Feels Good which debuted at the No.1 position[3] in the Billboard 200 album chart and the Billboard Country Chart.[4] Weeks later the Backstreet Boys entered the Billboard 200 album charts at No. 7[5] with their album "Unbreakable" which featured Mescall's song, "Trouble Is". This meant Mescall had 2 songs featured on albums in the top ten of the Billboard 200 chart during the week of 17 November 2007. In more recent years Don has had six songs featured on Marina Kaye's "Fearless" Album which went triple platinum in France (2015). Mescall had a Number 1 Irish country single in 2016 with Nathan Carter's "Wanna dance" from the album "Staying up all night" on Decca records.

He had a number 1 single again with (Nathan Carter)'s 'Livin' the Dream'. He also achieved Number 1 in Irish Country charts in 2018 with Nathan Carter's single "This song is for you". Also in 2017, Mescall had a number 1 song with "Angels in Chains" (Geri Halliwell); the single reached number one in Argentina, Peru, and Spain .

In February 2017, Mescall received an Irish World Lifetime Achievement Award for songwriting and production.[6] He received the award for Songwriter of the Year at the Irish Post Country Music Awards 2017 on August 30, 2017.[7]

After having success writing for other artists, Mescall released his own album ‘Lighthouse Keeper’, in November 2018. It debuted at #1 on the Irish Independent Album charts in November 2018.

On August 16, 2019 'Live Long Rock & Roll' was released. It was a tribute single for Henry McCollough, written by Don Mescall and McCollough, and performed by a super band, the McCollough Fusileers. It was released on Ballywonderland records.[8] The band featured Nick Mason on drums, Sir Paul McCartney on bass,[9] Albert Lee on electric guitar, Chris Stainton on Hammond and keyboards, Gary Brooker with lead vocals, Paul Brady and Paul Carrick with backing vocals, Fiachra Trench on strings, and the London Community Gospel Choir as backing vocals. The song was mixed by Steve Lipson and produced by Mescall. The single was featured on the Ballywonderland album by Henry McCollough.[10]

Eurosong 2011

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Mescall took part in the Irish Eurovision Song competition on a Late Late Show Eurosong Special on Friday 11 February 2011. Having been 'mentored' by Ronan Hardiman the pair co-wrote their entry for the competition, "Talking with Jennifer". They placed third with a total score of 68 points.

"The Voice of Ireland" 2012

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Mescall was invited to act as assistant coach[11] on the new Irish TV production of "The Voice of Ireland" which was filmed in Dublin in November 2011. He assisted his friend and co-writer Sharon Corr while appearing on the show which aired at the end of January 2012.

Personal life

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Don Mescall is originally from the parish of Ahane/Lisnagry in County Limerick. He has eight sisters and two brothers. He has also been a vegetarian for more than 20 years.[12]

Discography

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  1. Sunset of Gold – EP
  2. Lucky Star – EP (2004)
  3. Last Chance – EP (2004)
  4. Left in L.A. – single (2005)
  5. You Don't Love Me – EP (2005)
  6. Innocent Run – album (2006)
  7. Fuel for the Fire – EP (2007)
  8. Lighthouse Keeper – album (2018)

Songs written for other artists

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Mescall's songs feature on the following albums, selling more than four million records worldwide:

Artist Album Song Release date
Frances Black Talk To Me (single) Two Strong Hearts 1994
Eleanor Shanley Road to Glory (single) Road to Glory 1995
Eleanor Shanley Eleanor Shanley Road to Glory 1995
Frances Black The Smile on Your Face You're Still The Only One 1996
Natalie Withers Simple Perfect Sunset of Gold 2002
Richie Havens Wishing Well Paradise 23 April 2002
Frances Black Magdalen Laundry (single) Magdalen Laundry 2003
Frances Black How High The Moon Magdalen Laundry, 24 Hours, Rachrai Island, Lucky Star 2003
Lulu Back on Track Time To Fall 7 March 2004
Maryla Rodowicz Maryla Rodowicz Beautiful Regret 2005
Neal McCoy That's Life All Over Again 23 August 2005
Michael Foret Forte Cold Out 1 January 2006
Brian Kennedy All Over The World (single) All Over The World 2006
Brian Kennedy Homebird All Over The World 2006
Ronan Keating All Over Again (single) All Over Again duet with Kate Rusby 29 May 2006
Ronan Keating Bring You Home All Over Again (Feat. Kate Rusby) 29 May 2006
Ronan Keating & Rita Guerra All Over Again (Portuguese Release) All Over Again May 2006
Ronan Keating & Rita Comisi All Over Again (Italian release) All Over Again May 2006
Kelly Chen Especial Kelly All Over Again (duet with Ronan Keating) 21 December 2006
Hummingbird Tougher Than Love Grace of God 2007
Floortje Smit Fearless All Over Again (duet with Ronan Keating) 20 April 2007
Rascal Flatts Still Feels Good Secret Smile 25 September 2007
Backstreet Boys Unbreakable Trouble Is 24 October 2007
Frances Black The Essential Frances Black 24 Hours, Magdelen Laundry, Rachrai Island 2008
The High Kings Fields of Glory (single) Fields of Glory 2008
The High Kings The High Kings Fields of Glory 2008
Eva Avila Give Me the Music You Don't Say No 2008
Jon Peter Lewis Break The Silence No Fire 2008
Garou Heaven's Table (single) Heaven's Table 2008
Garou Piece of My Soul Heaven's Table, What's The Time in NYC, Beautiful Regret 6 May 2008
Clay Aiken On My Way Here Grace of God 6 May 2008
The High Kings Fields of Glory Special Edition GAA Football Final (Irish Independent) Fields of Glory 21 September 2008
Theo Tams Give It All Away Reckless 2009
Cathy Maguire Portrait Nothing But Blue 17 April 2009
Lynn Hilary Take Me With You Sunset of Gold, Shona Mara, Take Me With You, Melody of Life, Erin Beo, Road to Glory 21 April 2009
Rascal Flatts 14 Love Songs for the 14th Secret Smile 9 February 2010
Boyzone Brother Too Late For Hallelujah 8 March 2010
Jaydee Bixby Easy To Love Closer Than You Think 25 May 2010
Anne Brennan Young Love You're Still The Only One 1 May 2011
Luke Dickens Devil in the Wind I'm Givin In 9 September 2011
Jane McNamee How Do I Tell Them You're Still the Only One 20 September 2011
The New Cities Kill the Lights The Hype 27 September 2011
The Three Amigos Radio Pictures Radio Paints, Your Dress, Bandeleros, Champagne 30 November 2011
Aslan Nudie Books and Frenchies Too Late For Hallelujah April 2012
Ramin Karimloo Ramin Constant Angel, Eyes of a Child, Broken Home, Show me Light 9 April 2012
Chila Lynn Real Woman Sparkle 24 April 2012
Brian Kennedy Voice Broken Crown 5 June 2012
Ronan Keating Fires The One You Love Tonight Sept 2012
Richie Hayes What About Me Free World, Walk You Home 8 November 2012
Aslan & Don Mescall In Aid of Pieta House Catch Your Fall April 2013
Kirsty Bertarelli ft Ronan Keating Send Out a Message (To the World) (single) Send Out a Message (To the World) 29 April 2013
Lonestar Life As We Know It With My Eyes Open June 2013
Sharon Corr The Same Sun We Could Be Lovers, Edge of Nowhere, Full Circle, You Say, The Runaround, The Same Sun, Christmas Night Oct 2013
Boyzone BZ20 Rise, Heaven Is, The Hour Before Christmas 25 November 2013
Richie Hayes What About Me Free World, Walk You Home 8 November 2012
Kirsty Bertarelli Indigo Shores There She Goes, Disappeared 12 May 2014
Marina Kaye Homeless EP Live Before I Die, Price I've Had to Pay 16 June 2014
Guilia Radio Junky (single) Radio Junky 17 August 2014
Aslan Bullets & Diamonds Too Late For Hallelujah 13 October 2014
Lisa McHugh A Life That's Good Hey I'm a Woman 24 October 2014
Kirsty Bertarelli The Ghosts Of Christmas Past-EP The Ghosts Of Christmas Past 14 November 2014
MacKenzie Porter The Hour Before Christmas (single) The Hour Before Christmas 24 November 2014
Marina Kaye Fearless Live Before I Die, Price I've Had to Pay 18 May 2015
The Three Amigos On the Road Again - The Essential Collection Radio Paints, Your Dress Looks Its Best, Bandeleros, Champagne 20 November 2015
Nathan Carter Stayin Up All Night Wanna Dance 29 April 2016
Nathan Carter Livin' the Dream (single) Livin' the Dream 2017
Nathan Carter Gone girls (single) Livin' the Dream June 2017
Nathan Carter this song is for you (single) feb 2018
Geri Halliwell Angels in Chains (single) Angels in Chains 19 June 2017
Cliff Richard Rise Up (Album) There's One August 2018
Laurie LeBlanc when its right its right (Album) when its right its right (single) the bigger the better ( single) gone girls ( single) Ive Never Known (single) the belle of the ball, I'm in Love 5 June 2020
Brett Eldredge Sunday Drive(Album ) Sunday Drive (single) july 2020
Sharon Corr The fool and the scorpion (Album ) the heart is a lonely hunter, A Thousand Lives 6 June 2021
Christy Dignam The Man who stayed alive (Album) High (single) What if tonight is all we have ( single) Lucky Star, Hazy Sunshine, Shame the Devil, song for Kathryn, I feel alive, I can't imagine Oct 2021

Compilations, soundtracks and DVDs

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CD Title Song title Performing artist Release date
Absolute Irish Road To Glory Eleanor Shanley 1995
Celtic Heartbeat Road To Glory Eleanor Shanley 1995
Only One Degree of Separation Sunset of Gold, Paradise Don Mescall 2000
A Woman's Heart: A Decade On 24 Hours Frances Black 11 November 2002
A Woman's Heart: Trilogy 24 Hours Frances Black 2 February 2004
The Dome Vol. 40 All Over Again Ronan Keating &Kate Rusby 1 December 2006
Now 64 All Over Again Ronan Keating & Kate Rusby 24 July 2006
Chartbuster Karaoke: Rascal Flatts Vol. 2 Secret Smile Rascal Flatts 1 April 2008
Hot Hits Country Karaoke 8 July Secret Smile Rascal Flatts 1 July 2008
The Voice Within – Songs of Hope Voice of Hope, A Not Too Ordinary Day, Grace of God Peter Corry, Simon Casey 21 July 2008
Precious Moments You're Still The Only One Frances Black
DVD Title Song title Performing artist Release date
The Guitar Style of Richie Havens Paradise Tuition Video 10 December 2002
Alien Tracker You Don't Love Me, Left in L.A. Don Mescall 14 October 2003
Irish Unplugged Rachrai Island Frances Black 24 January 2005
The High Kings – Live in Dublin Fields of Glory The High Kings 26 February 2008
The Voice Within – Songs of Hope Voice of Hope, A Not Too Ordinary Day, Grace of God Peter Corry, Simon Casey 21 July 2008

References

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  1. ^ "Don Mescall at Festivals". Virtualfestivals.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Don Mescall signs on dotted line for Nashville label | Music | News". Hot Press. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Billboard 200 : Oct 13, 2007 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.com. 13 October 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Top Country Albums : Oct 13, 2007 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.com. 13 October 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Billboard 200 : Nov 17, 2007 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.com. 17 November 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Don Mescall to play Monroe's". Galway Advertiser.
  7. ^ Post, Irish. "Foster and Allen honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at The Irish Post Country Music Awards 2017". The Irish Post.
  8. ^ "WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Paul McCartney, Nick Mason and more team up for Henry McCullough tribute song 'Live Long Rock 'n' Roll' co written and produced by internationally acclaimed Irish songwriter Don Mescall". Hotpress.
  9. ^ "Lyric Last Letter Game | Fab Forum". The Beatles Bible. 5 April 2008.
  10. ^ https://www.beatlesnow.com/1608-ballywonderland.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ "The Voice of Ireland - RT? Ten". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  12. ^ "Songwriter for Ronan Keating – Backstreet Boys – Rascal Flatts plus more". Don Mescall. Archived from the original on 4 October 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
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