Ronan Keating Bio - Biography

Name Ronan Keating
Height
Naionality Ireland
Date of Birth March 3, 1977
Place of Birth Dublin, Ireland
Famous for
He joined the band Boyzone after being spotted by Louis Walsh when he turned 7; and later briefly co-managed fellow Irish boy band Westlife. Although Boyzone never officially disbanded, they had not released a single since 1999 but reformed in 2007. He has continued with his own solo career, clocking up a total of 14 UK top 10 singles as well as three UK Number One albums in addition to his success with the group.

In 2003, Ronan was awarded with a prestigious "BMI European song-writing award" for his song The Long Goodbye, which enjoyed success in the United States as a number one single on the US country charts when it was covered by Brooks & Dunn.

In October 2004, Ronan released 10 Years of Hits to celebrate his first decade in the music industry. The album went straight to number one in the UK and to date has sold nearly two and a half million copies worldwide. Also in October Ronan was entered in the Guinness Book of Records for being the only artist ever to have 30 consecutive top 10 singles in the UK chart.

His fourth studio album Bring You Home was released on June 5, 2006 and entered the UK album charts at number three, eventually going Gold of sales 100,000+. It reached the top ten in Germany and several other territories across the world.

In June 2004, Ronan made a trip to Ghana as his first job as a Fair Trade ambassador for Christian Aid. Ronan spent a week visiting farmers and families across central Ghana to see first hand how unfair trade laws are destroying livelihoods.

On July 6, 2005, he performed at Murrayfield Edinburgh for 50,000 people at "The Final Push", it was the final concert of Live 8, to raise awareness for the plight of Africa.

In October 2005, Ronan went to Rome where he was appointed as a UN Goodwill Ambassador via the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). This came out of his work started in 2004 with Christian Aid and the Trade Justice Campaign.

On June 6, 2006, Ronan sang at the World Cup opening party at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany in front of an audience of nearly 250,000 people. Also in June 2006, Ronan posed naked for Cosmopolitan magazine's 10 Years Of Naked Centrefolds.

On September 7, 2006, Ronan Keating met his idol Cristiano Ronaldo. They have now become good friends and Ronan is now believed to be an avid Man Utd fan. He is also quoted as saying Cristiano Ronaldo is the best footballer ever.

Ronan presented the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997, presented the MTV Europe Music Awards in 1997 and 1999, and co-presented the MTV Asia Awards in 2002 with Mandy Moore. He has hosted the Miss World contest, dueted with Elton John at Madison Garden in New York and has sung for the Pope twice. He performed for Prince Charles at The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday which took place at the Tower of London. He performed on stage for the Swedish Royal family at the Crown Princess Victoria's Birthday Celebrations, and at the Opening Ceremony of 19th European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg.

Over the years he has won Smash Hits best solo male. He was also given a tree in London's Hyde Park for performing for The Prince's Trust. He also has a World Music Award for the best selling Irish artist.

Ronan is scheduled to go back on the road with Boyzone, as they are doing a 21 date arena tour of the UK and Ireland. The tour begins in Belfast on the 25th May 2008.

Ronan ran in the London Marathon on 13 April 2008. He ran a personal best time of 3hr 59min. He raised money for Cancer Research and you are still able to sponsor him here:

Ronan Keating Photos