Shane Filan: The Celebrated Irish Pop Singer
Shane Filan, born on July 5, 1979, in Sligo, Ireland, is a celebrated Irish pop singer with a net worth of $3 million. He is widely recognized as the original lead singer of the successful Irish pop band, Westlife.
Early Life and Education
Filan grew up in a large family with three older brothers and three older sisters. His early years were spent working as a waiter at his family-owned Carlton Café on Castle Street in Sligo. He attended Summerhill College, a Catholic school, where he met two future Westlife bandmates, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily. The trio’s first performance together was in a school production of 'Grease' when they were just 12 years old.
Musical Influences
One of Shane Filan's significant musical influences growing up was the late pop icon Michael Jackson. Shane’s passion for music was evident from a young age, and it followed him throughout his successful career with Westlife and beyond.
Westlife: Rise to Fame
Westlife released their debut album, self-titled 'Westlife', in November 1999. Their remarkable success is evident with 28 platinum discs and over 40 million records sold worldwide. As a gifted songwriter, Shane co-wrote several of Westlife’s famous tracks, including 'Fragile Heart', 'Bop Bop Baby', 'Don't Say It's Too Late', 'Singing Forever', 'Closer', and 'Too Hard To Say Goodbye'.
Collaborations
In collaboration with former Westlife member Brian McFadden, Filan co-wrote songs for other artists such as 'Listen Girl' by John Ostberg, 'The Music Won't Last' by Jerry Given, and 'Sei Parte Oemai Di Me' by II Divo.
Personal Life
Shane married his childhood sweetheart, Gillian, on December 28, 2003, and the couple has three children together. Despite the highs of his career, Shane has also faced personal challenges.
Shane Filan Bankruptcy
In 2012, Shane Filan was forced to file for bankruptcy due to substantial debts from a series of unsuccessful investments.
