Ronnie Carroll (Ronald Cleghorn; 18 August 1934 – 13 April 2015) was a Nort… Read Full Bio ↴Ronnie Carroll (Ronald Cleghorn; 18 August 1934 – 13 April 2015) was a Northern Irish singer, entertainer and political candidate.
Carroll was born Ronald Cleghorn in Roslyn Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1934, the son of a plumber. He scored his first hit in 1956 with "Walk Hand in Hand" on the Philips label.
He is the only singer to have represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest two years in succession. Having taken part in the 1960 UK Eurovision selection contest with the song "Girl with a Curl", he returned to win the selection and be Britain's entry in the 1962 contest, and with the song "Ring-a-Ding Girl" shared fourth place, the same placing he reached in 1963 with "Say Wonderful Things". This success was followed by two Top 10 hits during 1962 and 1963, but a lack of good material meant that he could not sustain a chart presence. In 1962 he appeared on the bill of "The Winifred Atwell Show". From Monday, 17th September, 1962, for one week only, he gave twice nightly performances at the Brighton Hippodrome.
Carroll subsequently worked on cruise ships, including the QE2, with John Marcangelo who was the drummer with the Ronnie Carroll Orchestra. He played a pop musician named 'Ronnie' in the 1965 film Man in the Dark.
In 2005, he released a comeback album, Back on Song.
Carroll contested his home Hampstead and Highgate constituency seat in the 1997 UK General Election, and the Uxbridge by-election in July that year with the Rainbow Alliance. He stood in the 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election as a candidate for Make Politicians History and received 29 votes, despite announcing that he was trying to enter the record books by receiving no votes.
He stood as a candidate (under the name 'The Eurovisionary Carroll') for the 2015 general election, in the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency. Nominations had closed on 9 April 2015, just four days before his death, but polling day was not until 7 May. He was standing as an independent so the poll continued; if he had won the election, the ballot would have been re-run at a later date. In the event he polled 113 votes to finish sixth out of seven candidates.
Through work in variety theatre he met his first wife, Millicent Martin, to whom he was married from 1958 to 1960. His second wife was the Olympic runner June Paul with whom he ran an unsuccessful nightclub in Grenada. He was declared bankrupt in 1974 and his second marriage ended. Carroll later married and divorced a third wife, South African-born Glenda Kentridge.
He latterly lived in Hampstead, north London, and was a regular caller to phone-in shows on BBC London 94.9. He died in London on 13 April 2015, at age 80. He was survived by two sons with June and a daughter and son, his children with Glenda.
Singles discography
"Walk Hand in Hand" – (1956) – UK Singles Chart - No. 13
"The Wisdom of a Fool" – (1957) – No. 20
"Footsteps" - (1960) – No. 36
"Ring-A-Ding Girl" – (1962) – No. 46
"Roses Are Red" – (1962) – No. 3
"If Only Tomorrow" – (1962) – No. 33
"Say Wonderful Things" – (1963) – No. 6
Carroll was born Ronald Cleghorn in Roslyn Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1934, the son of a plumber. He scored his first hit in 1956 with "Walk Hand in Hand" on the Philips label.
He is the only singer to have represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest two years in succession. Having taken part in the 1960 UK Eurovision selection contest with the song "Girl with a Curl", he returned to win the selection and be Britain's entry in the 1962 contest, and with the song "Ring-a-Ding Girl" shared fourth place, the same placing he reached in 1963 with "Say Wonderful Things". This success was followed by two Top 10 hits during 1962 and 1963, but a lack of good material meant that he could not sustain a chart presence. In 1962 he appeared on the bill of "The Winifred Atwell Show". From Monday, 17th September, 1962, for one week only, he gave twice nightly performances at the Brighton Hippodrome.
Carroll subsequently worked on cruise ships, including the QE2, with John Marcangelo who was the drummer with the Ronnie Carroll Orchestra. He played a pop musician named 'Ronnie' in the 1965 film Man in the Dark.
In 2005, he released a comeback album, Back on Song.
Carroll contested his home Hampstead and Highgate constituency seat in the 1997 UK General Election, and the Uxbridge by-election in July that year with the Rainbow Alliance. He stood in the 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election as a candidate for Make Politicians History and received 29 votes, despite announcing that he was trying to enter the record books by receiving no votes.
He stood as a candidate (under the name 'The Eurovisionary Carroll') for the 2015 general election, in the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency. Nominations had closed on 9 April 2015, just four days before his death, but polling day was not until 7 May. He was standing as an independent so the poll continued; if he had won the election, the ballot would have been re-run at a later date. In the event he polled 113 votes to finish sixth out of seven candidates.
Through work in variety theatre he met his first wife, Millicent Martin, to whom he was married from 1958 to 1960. His second wife was the Olympic runner June Paul with whom he ran an unsuccessful nightclub in Grenada. He was declared bankrupt in 1974 and his second marriage ended. Carroll later married and divorced a third wife, South African-born Glenda Kentridge.
He latterly lived in Hampstead, north London, and was a regular caller to phone-in shows on BBC London 94.9. He died in London on 13 April 2015, at age 80. He was survived by two sons with June and a daughter and son, his children with Glenda.
Singles discography
"Walk Hand in Hand" – (1956) – UK Singles Chart - No. 13
"The Wisdom of a Fool" – (1957) – No. 20
"Footsteps" - (1960) – No. 36
"Ring-A-Ding Girl" – (1962) – No. 46
"Roses Are Red" – (1962) – No. 3
"If Only Tomorrow" – (1962) – No. 33
"Say Wonderful Things" – (1963) – No. 6
Roses Are Red
Ronnie Carroll Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Roses Are Red' by these artists:
Al Grant long time ago On graduation day You handed me your book, I s…
Albert West A long, long time ago On graduation day You handed me your…
Andri from Pagefire It′s invisible, but so touchable and I can feel it on…
Aqua Roses are red and Violets are blue Honey is sweet, But not a…
Aqua (Mp3Mad.CoM) Roses are red and Violets are blue Honey is sweet, But no…
Big Bag Roses are red Violets are blue Here is some cocaine And here…
Billy Vaughn Roses are red, my love A long, long time ago On…
Bobby Vinton (Roses are red, my love, doo-doo-da-doo) A long, long time …
Daniel O'Donnell Roses are red, my love Doo, doo, da, doooo A…
Dickey Lee (Roses are red my love) A long long time ago on…
Fabares Shelley Roses are red, my love, doo doo da doooo A long,…
Freddy Fender A long, long time ago On graduation day You handed me your…
Hugh X. Lewis I met you in a garden in an old Kentucky…
I.N.D. Just to know that I Will see you today Makes me wake…
J.Hill She loves me, she loves me not Roses are red, cannot…
Jessica Harp C&P 1999 Jessica Harp Unpublished Work All Rights Reserv…
Jim Reeves (Roses are red my love violets are blue) A long long…
Joe Loss and His Orchestra I want some red roses for a blue lady, Mister florist,…
JohnJack Julia Your beauty it astounds me I am lost in your eyes…
Jon Caryl I'll believe it when I see it Cause you said you're…
Kids Carnival Roses are red, Violets are blue, Sugar is sweet, And so are …
Lew White Roses are red, my love Doo, doo, da, doooo A…
Mac Band I'll do anything to prove to you I care for…
Mr. Berk Mawar Merah Mawar merah yang tersimpan kan kembali bersemi…
N-Toon Just to know that I will see you today Makes me…
Pietro Lacirignola his Clarinet and Orchestra O my Luve is like a red, red rose That’s…
Ronnie Carroll & Wally Scott & His Orchestra I want some red roses for a blue lady, Mister florist,…
Shelley Fabares Roses are red, my love, doo doo da doooo A long,…
The Cootees Roses are red and violets are blue. I was all alone…
The Kelly Family Roses of red Fall in my hand He smiled and turned away Roses…
the mac band I'll do anything to prove to you I care for…
various artists [JD] (Lil Bow Wow) Uh-huh, yo (Oh, oh) Uh-huh, yo (Uh-huh, o…
Webb Pierce (Roses are red my love) A long long time ago on…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ronnie Carroll:
Around the World Tengo que decirte, Que antes que llegaras Ya todo estaba pre…
Ring a Ding Girl I was strollin' Through the park one evening When a…
Ring-A-Ding Girl I was strollin' Through the park one evening When a…
Say Wonderful Things Say wonderful things to me I think you're wonderful too Say …
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@marklemon9446
This is the very first track I liked having heard it in my grans huge bassy radiogram back in 1964. I've loved it ever since and I'm 64 now.
@Gannett2011
At boarding school in the early 80s, we had a Dansette record player and a box of singles. This was one of them, haven't heard this for nearly 40 years.
@nathancatchpole6665
this is a really nice song I love it, I love all of the love songs from the 50's and 60's
@Arwar555
Beautiful song. Brings back memories of day we left school
@davidbell9815
I heard this song over the years without knowing who recorded it, and it's a very immediate and catchy song. I picked up Say Wonderful Things today, which is also great, and now know a bit more about this artist.🎶
@Dibleydog
I think this is the best version
@georgehenderson2650
Underated artist
@steviewevie
Ronnie had the biggest hit with this song in the UK, but still seems the only version you hear is from Bobby Vinton! RIP Ronnie
@davidscott9483
Love this song from way back
@lyndajohnston3272
The artist formerly known as Ronnie Cleghorn.