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James Harry McShane (23 May 1957 – 29 March 1995) was a singer from Northern Ireland, best known as the front-man of Italian band Baltimora, with the hit song "Tarzan Boy".

Jimmy McShane
McShane in 1987
Born	James Harry McShane 23 May 1957 Derry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Died	29 March 1995(1995-03-29) (aged 37) Derry, Northern Ireland
Resting place	Derry City Cemetery
Nationality	British Italian
Other names	Ruby Baltimora
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1982–1988
Musical career
Genres	Italo disco synth-pop new wave dance-pop
Instrument(s)	Vocals, bass, guitar
Labels	EMI Columbia Manhattan
Musical artist

History

McShane was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. Hired as a stage dancer and backing singer, he soon went around Europe with Dee D. Jackson and her band. During a visit to Italy with the band, McShane was attracted to the country's underground dance scene, which led to his settling in Milan in 1984.[1] He told Dick Clark on American Bandstand in 1986 that he fell in love with Italy from that moment. He also learned to speak Italian and acquired Italian citizenship.[2]

He made his debut playing in small clubs in his hometown without success. In view of this, McShane decided to work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the Red Cross until he met Italian record producer & keyboardist Maurizio Bassi, with whom he created Baltimora. The act found success with its most popular single, "Tarzan Boy", released in 1985.

In America, he was overwhelmed with the success of "Tarzan Boy". Some sources state lead vocals were performed by Maurizio Bassi, the group's keyboardist, with McShane actually providing the backing vocals. This still remains uncertain, and McShane lip synced while appearing in the "Tarzan Boy" music video, and not Bassi.[3][4]

Illness and death

McShane was diagnosed with AIDS in Milan during 1994.[5] A few months later he returned to Northern Ireland to spend his final year, and died in his native Derry on 29 March 1995 at the age of 37.[6] A family spokesman issued the following statement after his death: "He faced his illness with courage and died with great dignity." In the centre of Derry, a commemorative plaque was bestowed upon the grave of McShane and his father, who had died three years prior.[7]

References

External links

• Jimmy McShane at Find a Grave

На других языках

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- [en] Jimmy McShane

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[ru] МакШейн, Джимми

Джеймс Гарри «Джимми» МакШейн (англ. James Harry «Jimmie» McShane) (род. 23 мая 1957, Дерри, Северная Ирландия, Великобритания - 29 марта 1995 года, там же) — ирландский и итальянский поп-певец и музыкант. Наиболее прославился благодаря роли вокалиста в итало-диско группе Baltimora и исполнителя её главного хита Tarzan Boy (1984).

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