Brian Edward Patrick Kennedy, born on October 12, 1966 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is an Irish singer. He began his career as a chorus on recordings by fellow Northern Ireland singer-songwriter Van Morrison in 1988. Brian Kennedy's breakthrough came with the release of his debut album The Great War of Words in March 1990, which featured the minor hit single "Captured". In 1991, he formed the duo Sweetmouth with Mark E. Nevin, releasing the album Goodbye to Songtown. Brian Kennedy's solo career gained significant traction in the mid-1990s when he signed with RCA Records and released A Better Man in November 1996. This album reached number 19 in the UK and produced several hit singles including "A Better Man", "Life Love and Happiness", and "Put the Message in the Box". In 2003, his version of "You Raise Me Up" became his biggest hit, reaching number 4 in the UK charts and number 3 in Ireland. He represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the self-penned song "Every Song Is a Cry for Love", finishing in 10th place. Brian Kennedy has also authored two novels: The Arrival of Fergal Flynn (2004) and Roman Song (2005).
