Damien Rice Biography
When Maureen and George Rice had their son on December 7 1973 they had no way of knowing that his would be a life of success and prosperity. Damien Rice was brought up in a fairly quiet town of Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. Being a small town boy, his childhood was not amazing and he lived the same life that everyone else did.
Back at home, Rice often loved listening to music from an old recorder that his parents owned. He was drawn to folk music not only because of the content of the lyrics but also because the music was very soothing. When he was bored, that is all that he could think of. After school or when he was free, Rice made a point of playing his instruments and at the same time he wrote lyrics for them and the beats.
For his education, Rice was enrolled at the Salesian College secondary school in Celbridge,UK, here he continued to nurture a passion in music which made young Rice able to carry on a music band with no difficulty. Although he was still in school, Rice opted, together with some of his friends to form the band Juniper. When it was not school time the band would often show up for local gigs for which more money was being made. Form the proceeds, Juniper was able to get a recording of live performances and this was used to get a much needed recording contract for the high school boys.
This worked and Juniper was signed on to Polygram Records. Together with the band, Rice was able to record the singles ‘Single of the Fortnight’ and ‘Weatherman’. Audiences around Ireland fell in love with Juniper and from the number of votes that the song gathered it was clear that they songs were set for top places on music charts. Despite the fair success that Juniper enjoyed the group disbanded in 1998.
Rice went out as a solo artist in 2001 and he released a debut album under the title O. unlike with other works by Rice, this one would be released to an international market. In the UK music market, the album was rated among the top 10 and climbing on music charts. In the US, the same album only made it to top 30 among hit lists, despite this it was a good start for the largely unknown artist. Following the average success of his debut album Rice released a second that was titled 9. This album received considerable sales and it established the name of the new singer both in the local Ireland music markets and on international music scenes. Rice was enjoying so much success that he was placed among the best Irish Acts in 2009 by Irish Times.
Rice is known all over the world for his involvement in numerous charities. He has helped nations across the world to deal with key issues of lack of freedom, hunger disease, and pain. One of the best ways that he provides assistance is by composing theme songs for a variety charity works.
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