Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions are an Irish pop group who formed in 1973 and remained a successful chart act for the next two decades. They were one of the most popular club acts in Ireland, playing on the

showband The Irish showband was a dance band format popular in Ireland from the mid-1950s to mid-1980s. The showband was based on the internationally popular six- or seven-piece dance band. The band's basic repertoire included standard dance numbers and ...

circuit until their retirement in 1992. In 2009 they staged a reunion (with all the original members) and they continue to perform at selected venues around Ireland.

Background

The group, originally from

Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

, consisted of a four-piece backing band (The Champions) and two lead singers (Gina and Dale Haze). Female lead Gina (real name Mary Hurley) took the vocal duties on most of the singles, while male lead Dale Haze (real name Jerdie Mackey) provided lead vocals on many songs and released a solo album in 1982. Members of the backing group were Pat Walsh, Mossey Walsh, Eddie Fitzgerald and Tony Hornibrook. They featured regularly in the Irish charts – their biggest hits including "Minnie Minnie", "Do You Wanna Do It", "You're the Greatest Lover", "Who Do You Wanna Be", "Give Me Back My Love" and "Playing with Fire". They were voted Top Irish Pop Band in a number of voters polls over the period also. Briefly during 1985, they shortened their name to ''G, D H and C''. The group remained popular on the cabaret circuit and continued to play with the same line-up. In 1992 the group split due to the shift in popularity of the Irish showband genre and concert bookings began to dry up. Gina was also married to member Pat Walshe and after giving birth to her second child suffered

post-natal depression Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth, which can affect both sexes. Symptoms may include extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, irritability, and chan ...

and found it difficult to continue. The group never announced a split however and didn't perform a farewell gig. In October 2009, the original line-up reunited for an Irish tour, performing many of their hits. A night at the

Cork Opera House Cork Opera House is a theatre and opera house in Cork in Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the Nort ...

was sold out three months in advance. A compilation album ''The Best of Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions'' was released to tie in with this. In 2012 they released a new CD ''"Baby I Love You'' and re-mastered a number of their earlier hits to produce 3 new CDs. Dale Haze, real name Jerdie Mackey, died suddenly on November 21st 2020. He was buried in his native Kilmacthomas Co Waterford.

Selected discography

Singles

NOTE: Last seven singles credited to Gina only

Albums

*''From the Beginning'' (1977) *''Champions Again'' (1979) *''Gina Dale Haze and the Champions'' (1981) *''G D H and C'' (1986) *''Hits and Memories'' *'' Best of Gina Dale Haze and The Champions'' (2009) * ''Baby I Love You'' (2012) * ''Golden Memories Champions Revisited'' (2012) Dale Haze also released a solo album in 1982 called ''A Real Good Feeling''.

References

External links

Official website

Facebook Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gina, Dale Haze And The Champions Irish pop music groups Irish pop singers Musical groups from Cork (city) Musical groups established in 1973 Musical groups disestablished in 1992 Musical groups reestablished in 2009