Whelan, Bill (1950– )

Irish composer, arranger, and keyboard player. He wrote the music for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest interval-piece, Riverdance (1994), which developed into the phenomenally successful dance show of the same name. Born in Limerick, he was a member of Planxty 1979–81, and co-wrote their Eurovision interval piece in 1981, Timedance. He has composed music for films, including Bloomfield (1970), Lamb (1984), and Some Mother's Son (1996), and has worked with various contemporary and folk artists such as U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, Andy Irvine, Paul Brady, and Stockton's Wing. His compositions include The Ó Riada Suite (1987), The Seville Suite (1992).

Whelan's talent can perhaps best be described as bringing aspects of different musical traditions together to form attractive hybrids. This is most evident in Riverdance, which draws from Irish traditional, Spanish Flamenco, Balkan, gospel, jazz, and classical styles.