1980s
After she scored an Irish number one with the Pope John Paul II tribute, "Totus Tuus" in January 1980, the much larger American Christian market became a possible outlet for her music. During a visit to the National Religious Broadcasters' conference in Washington, opened by US President Jimmy Carter, she signed a recording contract with Word Records. Meanwhile, Warwick Records issued Everything is Beautiful in late 1980. Subtitled 20 Inspirational Songs, the album contained covers of songs like "Let it Be", "Morning Has Broken" and "My Sweet Lord" and became her biggest-selling album in the UK. It was followed by "Totally Yours" in 1981, her first Christian album for Word.
She was soon back in the studios again to make Magic in 1982, a pop album for Lite Records. It included four songs by her younger brothers, John and Gerald Brown as well as "I Feel Love Comin' On", which was to be Dana's final UK chart entry. Dana released the official World Cup song for the Northern Ireland football team, "Yer Man", which was recorded with the full squad heading to Spain for the finals. Following this, she recorded her second album for Word, Let There Be Love, containing a variety of tracks from up-tempo to an old Irish hymn sung in Gaelic.
A tour of America took place in 1984 to promote the Word albums: Dana appeared in concert halls, churches and colleges, as well as TV and radio. After fifteen years in show business, Hodder and Stoughton published her first book, Dana – An Autobiography, in 1985, which told of her family life, pop career and growing devotion to God. Dana finally saw the Pope in 1987 at the Superdome in New Orleans. She was invited to perform "Totus Tuus" before a gathering of 80,000 or more.
Read more about this topic: Dana Rosemary Scallon