The Nolans

The Nolans

The Nolans are a British-Irish girl group who formed in 1974 as The Nolan Sisters, before changing their name in 1980. They are best known for their hit single "I'm In the Mood for Dancing". Released in December 1979, the song reached number three in the UK in February 1980 and topped the Japanese charts in November 1980. Five of the sisters, Anne, Denise, Maureen, Linda, and Bernie, became regular guest performers on numerous television shows in the UK in the 1970s and supported Frank Sinatra on his 1975 European tour. Denise left for a solo career in 1978 and youngest sister Coleen, who had previously made occasional appearances (including appearing in the I'm In the Mood for Dancing video), became a full-time member in 1980, replacing Anne. Between 1979 and 1982, the group had seven UK top 20 hits, including "Gotta Pull Myself Together" (1980) "Who's Gonna Rock You" (1980), "Attention to Me" (1981) and "Chemistry" (1981). They were particularly successful in Japan and won the 1981 Tokyo Music Festival with the song "Sexy Music". Anne returned to the group in 1982, before Linda left in 1983. The group won a Japanese Grammy (Tokubetsu Kikaku Shō) in 1992. Coleen, then Bernie, both left the group and from 1995 Anne and Maureen continued as a duo, before recruiting Julia Duckworth and Anne's daughter Amy Wilson in 2000. The group disbanded in 2005, with Maureen Nolan having been a permanent member for 31 years. The sisters have pursued varying solo careers in acting, music and television presenting. In 2009, Maureen, Linda, Bernie, and Coleen Nolan, reformed for a 25-date concert tour of the UK and Ireland, spawning an album and DVD.

Update this biography »
Complete biography of The Nolans »