Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions
| Company type | Pop ensemble / Showband |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Cork , Ireland |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
| Website | www |
Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions is an Irish pop ensemble established in 1973, known for maintaining chart presence for over twenty years. They were prominent figures within the Irish showband scene until their retirement in 1992. The original members reunited in 2009 and have since performed intermittently throughout Ireland.
Background
Hailing from Cork, the group consisted of a four-member backing band (The Champions) alongside two lead singers: Gina (Mary Hurley) and Dale Haze (Jerdie Mackey). Gina was the primary vocalist on most singles, while Dale Haze also pursued a solo career, releasing an album in 1982. The supporting musicians included Pat Walsh, Mossey Walsh, Eddie Fitzgerald, and Tony Hornibrook.
Throughout their career, they frequently appeared on Irish charts with tracks such as "Minnie Minnie," "Do You Wanna Do It," "You're the Greatest Lover," "Who Do You Wanna Be," "Give Me Back My Love," and "Playing with Fire." The group received multiple accolades as Top Irish Pop Band and briefly abbreviated their name to G, D H and C in 1985.
Despite continued success on the cabaret circuit with the original lineup, the band dissolved in 1992 due to diminishing demand for showbands and personal difficulties, including Gina’s struggle with post-natal depression. Their disbandment occurred without an official farewell announcement. The 2009 reunion tour attracted sold-out audiences at venues like the Cork Opera House and was accompanied by a compilation album titled The Best of Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions. In 2012, they issued a new CD called Baby I Love You, along with remastered anthology releases.
Dale Haze (Jerdie Mackey) died unexpectedly on November 21, 2020, and his burial took place in Kilmacthomas, County Waterford.
Singles
| Date | Single | Irish Charts |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Paper Mansions" | - |
| 1974 | "Dreams Are Good Friends" | 12 |
| "Single Girl" | - | |
| 1975 | "Minnie Minnie" | 5 |
| "Oh! My My" | 22 | |
| 1976 | "Freedom" | 28 |
| "Darling Honey" | - | |
| 1977 | "Do You Wanna Do It" | 2 |
| "I've Been Waiting for You" | 8 | |
| 1978 | "Mary Lou" | 23 |
| 1979 | "You're the Greatest Lover" | 10 |
| "Saturday Night Disco" | - | |
| "Who Do You Wanna Be" | 7 | |
| 1980 | "Let There Be Love" | - |
| 1981 | "Drunken Sailor" | 13 |
| "It's a Real Good Feeling" | 15 | |
| "Give Me Back My Love" | 11 | |
| 1982 | "No-One Can Love" | - |
| 1983 | "More to You Than Meets the Eye" | 14 |
| "Maybe Tomorrow" | 24 | |
| 1985 | "Playing With Fire" | 18 |
| "Don't Talk" | - | |
| 1986 | "I Wanna Live" / "I'm So Sorry" | - |
| "Run Like the Wind" | 15 | |
| 1987 | "There's a Kind of Hush" | - |
| 1988 | "Breakaway" | 18 |
| 1989 | "A Woman in Love" | - |
| 1990 | "Love Me Tender" | 28 |
| 1991 | "I'm Blue" | - |
| 1993 | "The Cause of It All" | - |
NOTE: Last seven singles credited to Gina only
Albums
- From the Beginning (1977)
- Champions Again (1979)
- Gina Dale Haze and the Champions (1981)
- G D H and C (1986)
- Hits and Memories
- Best of Gina Dale Haze and The Champions (2009)
- Baby I Love You (2012)
- Golden Memories Champions Revisited (2012)
In 1982, Dale Haze issued a solo record titled A Real Good Feeling.