Valerie Murtagh (born Patricia Valerie Jenkins,^{[citation needed]} 1936, Willesden, London, England,^[1] also known under the pseudonym Valerie Avon) is an English singer and songwriter, who was a member of The Avons.

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!".^[2][3] This was a UK number one hit in 1963,^[4] and the year later returned to the UK Singles Chart in a vocal version by Kathy Kirby with lyrics by Marcel Stellman.^[5]

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.^[6]

She also co-wrote the following songs:^[7]

• "In Summer" (Billy Fury) – Ray Adams, Valerie Avon and Elaine Murtagh^[8]
• "Don't Move Away" (Cliff Richard) – Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro^[9]
• "Annabella Umbrella" (Cliff Richard) – Valerie Avon, Neilburg, Harold Spiro^[10]
• "Easy Lovin', Easy Livin'" (Georgie Fame) – Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro^[11]
• "Easy Loving" (The Troggs) – Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro^[12]
• "Desdemona" (The Searchers) – Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro -- U.S. #94^[13]
• "I'm Gonna Find Myself A Girl" (Gene Pitney) – Ray Adams, Valerie Avon and Elaine Adams (Elaine Murtagh)^[14]

See also

• United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest

References

External links

• Songwriting database
• Valerie Murtagh discography at Discogs