Dolores O'Riordan
Also known as Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan
Career
Active 1990 – 2018
Biography
About Dolores O'Riordan
Standing 5'2" with brown hair and green eyes, Dolores O'Riordan was an Irish musician known for her distinctive voice. Born on September 6, 1971, in Ballybricken, County Limerick, Ireland, she grew up in a Catholic working-class family and began singing in her church choir. In 1990, she left secondary school to join the Cranberries, becoming their lead vocalist and lyricist. Her singing style featured a lilting mezzo-soprano, a signature yodel, and a strong Limerick accent, which set her apart in rock music.
O'Riordan's career with the Cranberries spanned from 1990 to 2018, during which the band released seven studio albums, including four number-one albums. Their breakout album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993), was followed by No Need to Argue (1994), To the Faithful Departed (1996), Bury the Hatchet (1999), and Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2001). After a six-year hiatus starting in 2003, she released two solo albums, Are You Listening? (2007) and No Baggage (2009), before reuniting with the band. The Cranberries released Roses (2012) and toured worldwide. She also served as a judge on The Voice of Ireland during the 2013–14 season and collaborated with the trio D.A.R.K. in 2014.
O'Riordan faced personal struggles, including depression and the pressure of success, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2015. She died on January 15, 2018, at age 46, from drowning due to alcohol intoxication. Posthumously, the Cranberries released In the End (2019), which featured her final vocal recordings and earned a Grammy nomination. Her work has sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide as of 2019, and she received multiple platinum certifications in the US, Canada, and the UK. She was honored with the Ivor Novello International Achievement award and was later named the top female artist on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Died
- Monday 15th of January 2018 (age 46)
- Years Active
- 1990-2018 (started around 18 years old; 28 years active)
- Birthplace
- Ballybricken, County Limerick, Ireland
- Ethnicity
- Caucasian
Body
- Hair Color
- Brown
- Eye Color
- Green
- Weight
- 108 lbs (or 49 kg)
- Boobs
- Real/Natural
Frequently asked
What was Dolores O'Riordan's vocal style known for?
She was recognized for her lilting mezzo-soprano, a signature yodel, and a strong Limerick accent, which she used to emphasize keening in her singing.
How many albums did she release with The Cranberries?
She released seven studio albums with the band, including four that reached number one, and her final album with them, Something Else, came out in 2017.
What were her solo albums?
Her solo work included Are You Listening? (2007) and No Baggage (2009), both released before she reunited with The Cranberries.
What happened after her death?
The Cranberries released In the End (2019) with her final vocal recordings, which received a Grammy nomination, and the band subsequently disbanded.
Did you know
- O'Riordan was 5'2" tall and weighed 108 lbs, with a petite frame.
- She was born on September 6, 1971, and died on January 15, 2018, at age 46.
- Her singing style included a signature yodel and keening, influenced by her Limerick accent.
- With the Cranberries, she sold over 40 million albums during her lifetime, increasing to almost 50 million by 2019.
- She received 14 Platinum certifications in the US, 10 in Canada, and 5 in the UK.
- After her death, she was named the top female artist on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart.
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