O'Shea is an Australian country music duo composed of Mark (born 16 February 1977) and Jay (previously Kylie Smith) (born 17 January 1974).[1] The duo commenced in 2007 and after relocating to Nashville in 2007, the duo has seen success as artists and songwriters, with nine #1 singles on the Australian country charts,[2] as well as finishing fifth in the Country Music Television 2009 series Can You Duet.[3] The duo have released four studio albums, all of which have peaked inside the ARIA top 50.

O'Shea
O'Shea at CMA Music Festival, 2010
O'Shea at CMA Music Festival, 2010
Background information
GenresCountry
Years active2007–Present
LabelsTrauma
MembersJay O'Shea
Mark O'Shea
Websitetherealoshea.com

O'Shea hosts O'Shea USA, a television show on Foxtel's Country Music Channel.[2]

Solo careers

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1977-2007: Mark's solo career and Zinc

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Originally from Dalby, Queensland, Mark's musical career commenced at the age of seventeen when he won the Gympie Music Muster talent competition in 1993,[4][5] which subsequently led to a record deal.

Mark's debut album was honored with two Golden Guitar Awards from the CMAA for Best New Talent of the Year (1996) for the track "The Swimming Song"[6] and Best Video (1997) for "The Dreamer".[7]

In 2002, Mark formed the rock/pop group Zinc with brother John O'Shea and Adam Ray. The band released one studio album in 2005 and disbanded in 2007. In 2006, Mark toured as a guitarist for Ronn Moss.[8]

1974-2007: Jay's solo career

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Jay was involved in performing arts from a young age, touring the UK and Europe with the Australian Dance-Drill team at age 15.[9][10]

In 2003 Jay signed her first publishing deal with Warner Chappell London. While working in London, Jay co-wrote "Rutinas" with Wendy Page and Jim Marr. The song became the hit single on Chenoa's album Nada Es Igual and reached No. 1 on the Spanish chart in 2005.[citation needed]

O'Shea

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2007–2010: The Formative Years

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In 2007, Mark and Jay moved to Nashville, Tennessee and began performing as a duo and provided support act for artists including Phil Vassar,[11][12] Jimmy Wayne, Sara Evans, and the Oak Ridge Boys.[13]

In 2010, the pair began hosting their own TV show called O'Shea USA which aired on Australia's Country Music Channel (CMC).[14]

2011–2013: Mr. and Mrs.

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In 2011, the duo signed with Sony Music Australia and released their debut studio album Mr. and Mrs.[15] The album featured 11 tracks written/co-written by the duo alongside Nashville co-writers Dave Berg, Josh Leo, and Georgia Middleman and debuted at No. 9 on the ARIA Charts.

In 2011, O'Shea performed at CMC Rocks the Hunter and hosted the DVD coverage of the event.[16][17]

In 2012, O'Shea being won th 2012 CMAA New Talent of the Year Award.[18]

2013–2017: One + One & The Famine and the Feast

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In 2013, Their second studio album One + One debuted at number 3 on the ARIA Country Charts and peaked inside the top 30 on the all genre chart.[19]

In 2015, the duo's album The Famine and the Feast reached number 36 on the ARIA Charts,[20] and number 1 on the ARIA Country Albums chart.[21]

2017–Present: 61-615

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In 2017, O'Shea released the studio album 61-615, which reached number 16 on the ARIA charts. The album's first single, "Start Over", written by Mark, Jay, and singer-songwriter Alex Lloyd, peaked at #1 on The Music Network's national Country Airplay chart.[22]

Personal lives

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Mark and Jay became a couple in 1996 and married in 2004.[23] They have two daughters.[24]

In 2014 Jay collaborated with her birth father, Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst on "The Truth Walks Slowly". Jay met Hirst in 2010 following a long search for her birth parents, after they gave her up for adoption when they were teenagers.[25]

Mark is a keen angler.[26]

Charitable work

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Mark and Jay O'Shea have contributed their talents to the charitable organizations such as World Vision and HeartKids.[27]

Discography

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Albums

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List of studio, with Australian chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[28]
Mr. & Mrs.
  • Released: 30 September 2011[29]
  • Label: Sony Music Australia (886979732926)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
39
One + One
  • Released: 18 January 2013[30]
  • Label: Sony Music Australia (887654215222)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
24
The Famine and the Feast
  • Released: 16 January 2015[31]
  • Label: Sony Music Australia (88875011772)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
36
61-615
  • Released: 28 July 2017[32]
  • Label: Sony Music Australia (88985443792)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
16
Neon Soul
  • Released: 27 May 2022
  • Label: Sony Music Australia
  • Formats: CD, digital download
26
[33]

Awards and nominations

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APRA Awards

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The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.[34]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2012 "Meant to Be" (Kim Carnes, Mark O’Shea, Jay Smith) Country Work of the Year Nominated
2014 "Be with You Tonight" (Tim Nichols, Jay O’Shea, Mark O’Shea) Country Work of the Year Nominated [35]
"Thank You Angles" (Jay O’Shea, Mark O’Shea, Matthew Scullion)

ARIA Music Awards

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The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.[36]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 61-615 Best Country Album Nominated

Country Music Awards of Australia

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The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973.[37]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 O'Shea New Talent of the Year Won
2014 "Thank You Angels" Group or Duo of the Year Won
2017 "The Truth Walks Slowly (In the Country Side)" (featuring Rob Hirst) CMC Video Clip of the Year Won
  • Note: wins only

References

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  1. ^ "Rocker's secret love child revealed". news.com.au. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b "The Story | O'Shea". Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  3. ^ "CMT : Can You Duet : Episodes". Archived from the original on 16 April 2009.
  4. ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales on September 5, 1993 · Page 147". newspapers.com. 5 September 1993. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  5. ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales on June 26, 1994 · Page 169". newspapers.com. 26 June 1994. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  6. ^ "1996". Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  7. ^ "1997". Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Ronn Moss". Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Highlights". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Jay at IACmusic.com, presented by Independent Artists Company – Unsigned – Band Site".
  11. ^ "O'Shea Are Doin' It Old School | HitCountry.TV – Hit Country Music News, Videos & Entertainment Australia". Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  12. ^ "G'Day O'SHEA from Peoria, IL". 26 January 2010 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ "Nashville FM – Fan Favorite O'SHEA Had To Leave CMT's Can You Duet". Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  14. ^ "Digital Rodeo Produces "O'SHEA USA" TV Series to Air on CMC Australia". digitalrodeo.com. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  15. ^ "Latest Radio News, Talk Shows, Sports, Hosts, Personalities". All Access.
  16. ^ "CMC Rocks The Hunter @ Hope Estate Winery". Liveguide.
  17. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "Golden Guitar Winners Announced". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  19. ^ "O'Shea achieve highest ARIA entry". Alberts.
  20. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 31 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  21. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 40 Country Albums". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  22. ^ "MULTI-AWARD WINNING DUO O'SHEA RELEASE THEIR NEW ALBUM '61-615' OUT NOW!". Sony Music Australia. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  23. ^ "Happy 10 year wedding anniversary". twitter.com. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  24. ^ "The Story – O'Shea". therealoshea.com. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  25. ^ "Entertainment Country music star Jay O'Shea discovers her birth father is Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  26. ^ "Australian Fishing: Profile: Mark O'Shea – Country musician, angler – Fishing World". fishingworld.com.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  27. ^ O'Shea (13 February 2013), O'SHEA | Thank You Angels | CHD & HeartKids, retrieved 24 September 2019
  28. ^ "Discography O'Shea". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  29. ^ "Mr. & Mrs. by O'Sheay". Apple Music (Australia). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  30. ^ "One + One by O'Sheay". Apple Music (Australia). Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  31. ^ "The Famine and the Feast by O'Sheay". Apple Music (Australia). Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  32. ^ "61-615 by O'Sheay". Apple Music (Australia). Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  33. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  34. ^ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  35. ^ "Country Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  36. ^ ARIA Award previous winners. "ARIA Awards Best Country Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  37. ^ "Past Award Winners". Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
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