Nicola Kerr joined the New Seekers in 1979 after the departure of Vivien Banks. Well-known in Ireland as a session singer and for her roles in musical theatre, Nicola had previously sung alongside singer-songwriter Paul Lyttle in a group called Chips. One of the other members of the group was Linda Martin, who later represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest, coming second in 1984 with a Johnny Logan song, Terminal Three, and winning in 1992 with another Johnny Logan song, Why Me?
Long after Nicola had left Chips Decca released an album by the group on the Rex label. Nicola's place was taken by Irene McElroy, who is pictured on the album sleeve.
After leaving Chips Nicola joined Tommy and Jimmy Swarbrigg to represent Ireland in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest. Billed as the Swarbriggs Plus Two, the two girl / two boy line-up was Ireland's answer to the UK's Brotherhood of Man - Eurovision winners the previous year with Save Your Kisses For Me. The fourth member of the group was Alma Carroll, who had previously competed to represent Ireland in 1968 and 1973.
The 1977 contest to select Ireland's entry was held at the RTE television studios in Dublin on 20th February and was hosted by Mike Murphy. The Swarbriggs Plus Two were up against seven other entries, including Chips. After listening to the songs ten regional juries cast their votes, placing Chips in 4th place with 13 points and the Swarbriggs Plus Two in first place with 25 points. Their winning song, It's Nice To Be In Love Again, was arranged by future Riverdance composer Bill Whelan.
Eurovision Song Contest 1977
Irish National Final
Artist / Song |
Points |
Pos. |
Swarbriggs Plus Two
It's Nice To Be In Love Again
|
25 |
1st |
Jamie Stone
If I Give My Love
|
19 |
2nd |
Colm C.T. Wilkinson
There Was A Dream
|
18 |
3rd |
Chips
Goodbye, Goodbye
|
13 |
4th |
Denis Allen
Da-Dum-Da-Dum-Da I Love You So
|
12 |
5th |
Dickie Rock
I Can't Go On Without You
|
8 |
6th |
D.J. Curtin
You Can Not Stop The Music
|
5 |
7th |
Sunshine
Look Before You Leap
|
0 |
8th |
The Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Wembley Conference Centre on 7th May and was presented by Angela Rippon. Although It's Nice To Be In Love Again was in the lead as the final few juries came to give their votes, the Swarbriggs Plus Two were edged into third place (with 119 points) behind the UK entry, Rock Bottom by Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran (with 121 points) and the French winner, L'Oiseau Et L'Enfant by Marie Myriam (with 136 points).
After working with the Swarbriggs Nicola sang for a short while with the jazz-based band Stacc, which also had a stab at Eurovision glory. You Put The Love In My Heart, written by J. Drummond and produced by Stacc, came 2nd in the Irish National Finals to find the country's 1978 Eurovision entry. The contest was broadcast on 5th March 1978 and was again hosted by Mike Murphy. Colm T. Wilkinson was the runaway winner on this occasion, having finished 3rd the year before. Chips again finished fourth.
Eurovision Song Contest 1978
Irish National Final
Artist / Song |
Points |
Pos. |
Colm C.T. Wilkinson
Born To Sing
|
46 |
1st |
Staac
You Put The Love In My Heart
|
16 |
2nd |
Gemma Craven
All Fall Down
|
12 |
3rd |
Chips
Happy Days
|
8 |
4th |
Reform
You Gotta Get Up
|
7 |
5th |
Sheeba
It's Amazing What Love Can Do
|
6 |
6th |
Jamie Stone
Over Again
|
4 |
7th |
Danny Doyle
Lonely Now
|
1 |
8th |
While she was a member of Stacc, Nicola met and worked with Caitriona Walsh. In a scenario reminiscent of the one in 1970 where Lyn Paul followed Eve Graham from The Nocturnes to the New Seekers, Caitriona would soon follow Nicola into the New Seekers as well.
Nicola and Caitriona recorded three singles with the New Seekers - Love Is A Song, Tell Me and California Nights. While they were with the group Nicola and Caitriona also sang with Eurovision star Johnny Logan, recording backing vocals on a song called Hollywood.
Nicola Kerr (left) pictured with Kathy Ann Rae of the New Seekers.
Nicola left the New Seekers in August 1980. In September she turned her talents to hosting a TV programme, Hot Shot, for Ulster Television. Over the Christmas and New Year period (9th December - 31st January), she starred with Frank Carson in Cinderella at the Grand Opera House, Belfast.
In 1981 Nicola tried her luck at Eurovision again, taking part in the contest to find Ireland's Eurovision entry with a song called The One In My Life. In a keenly fought contest Nicola finished in joint fifth place with a creditable 14 points.
Eurovision Song Contest 1981
Irish National Final
Artist / Song |
Points |
Pos. |
Sheeba
Horoscopes
|
21 |
1st |
Nevada
My Pet Parrot
|
18 |
2nd |
Duskey Sisters
Where Does That Love Come From
|
16 |
3rd |
Tony Kenny
Can't Be Without You
|
16 |
3rd |
Helen Jordan
Share My Love
|
14 |
5th |
Nicola Kerr
The One In My Life
|
14 |
5th |
Tara
Not Tonight Josephine
|
1 |
7th |
Sylvia McFaddon
Don't Walk Away
|
0 |
8th |
Three-and-a-half years later, in November 1984, Nicola made it into the charts singing backing vocals on Murray Head's hit single One Night In Bangkok (RCA CHESS 1). Taken from the ABBA musical Chess, the single got to number 12 in the UK charts. Nicola appeared with Murray Head on Top Of The Pops and travelled the world promoting the song.
In 1989 Nicola again entered the contest to find Ireland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. On this occasion she tied in third place with Noelle.
Eurovision Song Contest 1989
Irish National Final
Artist / Song |
Points |
Pos. |
Kiev Connolly & The Missing Passengers
The Real Me
|
104 |
1st |
Honor Heffernan
Easy
|
97 |
2nd |
Nicola Kerr
This Isn't War (It's Revolution)
|
79 |
3rd |
Noelle
It Was Meant To Be
|
79 |
3rd |
Jenny Newman
Angel Eyes
|
77 |
5th |
Linda Martin
Here We Go
|
71 |
5th |
Dave Lalor
Song For You
|
68 |
7th |
Barry Rowland
Uaigneach
|
48 |
8th |
Little was heard of Nicola after this, but on 2nd May 1997 the Daily Mirror published an article by Richie Taylor about Ireland's past entries in the Eurovision Song Contest: "Nicola" we were told "is still involved in the music business in London."
On 23rd May 1999 the Daily Mirror published another article (this time by Anne Boylan) which covered the same ground: "The first winner was in 1970 when Dana sang All Kinds Of Everything, and most people remember the double success of Johnny Logan in 1980 and 1987. But what happened to the rest of the Ireland's contenders?"
"1977: France won. Alma Carroll, Nicola Kerr and Tommy and Jimmy Swarbrigg finished third with It's Nice To Be In Love Again... Nicola now lives in London where she works in musicals. Alma Carroll runs a successful PR company in Dublin." (Daily Mirror, 23rd May 1999, page 6)
In 2008 Nicola released an album titled Sleepytime Lullabies. a mix of traditional lullabies, cradle songs and nature sounds to help parents calm and soothe their babies and infants. Mother & Baby magazine said of it: "Parents will enjoy it even after their baby has nodded off!"
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