Don Mescall
Don Mescall is an Irish singer and songwriter from County Limerick. He splits his time between the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States.
Early career
Having played in pubs and clubs around Ireland, Mescall landed the job of opening for Richie Havens at the Mean Fiddler in London. Mescall began his set with a new song, "Paradise". Havens liked the song so much that he recorded "Paradise" for his 2002 "Wishing Well" album.Songwriting
As a songwriter, Don Mescall works alone and also collaborates with other artists/songwriters. In previous years, he was based in Nashville.Mescall has had songs recorded by a wide range of artists, including Rascal Flatts, Clay Aiken, Backstreet Boys, Ronan Keating, Boyzone, Jaydee Bixby, Ramin Karimloo, Aslan, Garou, Geri Halliwell, Neal McCoy, Sharon Corr, Daniel Boys, Cliff Richard, and Richie Havens.
Mescall's song, "Secret Smile," was included on the Rascal Flatts album Still Feels Good, which debuted at the No.1 position in the Billboard 200 album chart and the Billboard Country Chart. Weeks later, the Backstreet Boys entered the Billboard 200 album charts at No. 7 with their album "Unbreakable" which featured Mescall's song, "Trouble Is". This meant Mescall had 2 songs featured on albums in the top ten of the Billboard 200 chart during the week of 17 November 2007. In recent years, Don has featured six songs on Marina Kaye's "Fearless" Album, which went triple platinum in France. Mescall had a Number 1 Irish country single in 2016 with Nathan Carter's "Wanna dance" from the album "Staying up all night" on Decca records.
Again, he had a number 1 single with 's 'Livin' the Dream'. He also achieved Number 1 in Irish Country charts in 2018 with Nathan Carter's single "This song is for you". Also in 2017, Mescall had a number 1 song with "Angels in Chains" ; the single reached number one in Argentina, Peru, and Spain.
In February 2017, Mescall received an Irish World Lifetime Achievement Award for songwriting and production. He received the Songwriter of the Year award at the Irish Post Country Music Awards 2017 on August 30, 2017.
After having success writing for other artists, Mescall released his own album ‘Lighthouse Keeper’ in November 2018. It debuted at #1 on the Irish Independent Album charts in November 2018.
On August 16, 2019, 'Live Long Rock & Roll' was released. It was a tribute single for Henry McCollough, written by Don Mescall and McCollough, and performed by a super band, the McCollough Fusileers. It was released on Ballywonderland records. The band featured Nick Mason on drums, Sir Paul McCartney on bass, Albert Lee on electric guitar, Chris Stainton on Hammond and keyboards, Gary Brooker with lead vocals, Paul Brady and Paul Carrick with backing vocals, Fiachra Trench on strings, and the London Community Gospel Choir as backing vocals. The song was mixed by Steve Lipson and produced by Mescall. The single was featured on the Ballywonderland album by Henry McCollough.
Eurosong 2011
Mescall participated in the Irish Eurovision Song competition on a Late Late Show Eurosong Special on Friday, 11 February 2011. Having been 'mentored' by Ronan Hardiman, the pair co-wrote their entry for the competition, "Talking with Jennifer." They placed third with a total score of 68 points."The Voice of Ireland" 2012
Mescall was invited to act as an assistant coach on the new Irish TV production of "The Voice of Ireland," which was filmed in Dublin in November 2011. He assisted his friend and co-writer Sharon Corr while appearing on the show, which aired at the end of January 2012.Personal life
Don Mescall is originally from the parish of Ahane/Lisnagry in County Limerick. He has eight sisters and two brothers. He has also been a vegetarian for more than 20 years.Discography
- Sunset of Gold – EP
- Lucky Star – EP
- Last Chance – EP
- Left in L.A. – single
- You Don't Love Me – EP
- Innocent Run – album
- Fuel for the Fire – EP
- Lighthouse Keeper – album
Songs written for other artists
Mescall's songs feature on the following albums, selling more than four million records worldwide:| Artist | Album | Song | Release date |
| Frances Black | Talk To Me | Two Strong Hearts | 1994 |
| Eleanor Shanley | Road to Glory | Road to Glory | 1995 |
| Eleanor Shanley | Eleanor Shanley | Road to Glory | 1995 |
| Frances Black | The Smile on Your Face | You're Still The Only One | 1996 |
| Natalie Withers | Simple Perfect | Sunset of Gold | 2002 |
| Richie Havens | Wishing Well | Paradise | 23 April 2002 |
| Frances Black | Magdalen Laundry | Magdalen Laundry | 2003 |
| Frances Black | How High The Moon | Magdalen Laundry, 24 Hours, Rachrai Island, Lucky Star | 2003 |
| Lulu | Back on Track | Time To Fall | 7 March 2004 |
| Maryla Rodowicz | Maryla Rodowicz | Beautiful Regret | 2005 |
| Neal McCoy | That's Life | All Over Again | 23 August 2005 |
| Michael Foret | Forte | Cold Out | 1 January 2006 |
| Brian Kennedy | All Over The World | All Over The World | 2006 |
| Brian Kennedy | Homebird | All Over The World | 2006 |
| Ronan Keating | All Over Again | All Over Again duet with Kate Rusby | 29 May 2006 |
| Ronan Keating | Bring You Home | All Over Again | 29 May 2006 |
| Ronan Keating & Rita Guerra | All Over Again | All Over Again | May 2006 |
| Ronan Keating & Rita Comisi | All Over Again | All Over Again | May 2006 |
| Kelly Chen | Especial Kelly | All Over Again | 21 December 2006 |
| Hummingbird | Tougher Than Love | Grace of God | 2007 |
| Floortje Smit | Fearless | All Over Again | 20 April 2007 |
| Rascal Flatts | Still Feels Good | Secret Smile | 25 September 2007 |
| Backstreet Boys | Unbreakable | Trouble Is | 24 October 2007 |
| Frances Black | The Essential Frances Black | 24 Hours, Magdelen Laundry, Rachrai Island | 2008 |
| The High Kings | Fields of Glory | Fields of Glory | 2008 |
| The High Kings | The High Kings | Fields of Glory | 2008 |
| Eva Avila | Give Me the Music | You Don't Say No | 2008 |
| Jon Peter Lewis | Break The Silence | No Fire | 2008 |
| Garou | Heaven's Table | Heaven's Table | 2008 |
| Garou | Piece of My Soul | Heaven's Table, What's The Time in NYC, Beautiful Regret | 6 May 2008 |
| Clay Aiken | On My Way Here | Grace of God | 6 May 2008 |
| The High Kings | Fields of Glory Special Edition GAA Football Final | Fields of Glory | 21 September 2008 |
| Theo Tams | Give It All Away | Reckless | 2009 |
| Cathy Maguire | Portrait | Nothing But Blue | 17 April 2009 |
| Lynn Hilary | Take Me With You | Sunset of Gold, Shona Mara, Take Me With You, Melody of Life, Erin Beo, Road to Glory | 21 April 2009 |
| Rascal Flatts | 14 Love Songs for the 14th | Secret Smile | 9 February 2010 |
| Boyzone | Brother | Too Late For Hallelujah | 8 March 2010 |
| Jaydee Bixby | Easy To Love | Closer Than You Think | 25 May 2010 |
| Anne Brennan | Young Love | You're Still The Only One | 1 May 2011 |
| Luke Dickens | Devil in the Wind | I'm Givin In | 9 September 2011 |
| Jane McNamee | How Do I Tell Them | You're Still the Only One | 20 September 2011 |
| The New Cities | Kill the Lights | The Hype | 27 September 2011 |
| The Three Amigos | Radio Pictures | Radio Paints, Your Dress, Bandeleros, Champagne | 30 November 2011 |
| Aslan | Nudie Books and Frenchies | Too Late For Hallelujah | April 2012 |
| Ramin Karimloo | Ramin | Constant Angel, Eyes of a Child, Broken Home, Show me Light | 9 April 2012 |
| Chila Lynn | Real Woman | Sparkle | 24 April 2012 |
| Brian Kennedy | Voice | Broken Crown | 5 June 2012 |
| Ronan Keating | Fires | The One You Love Tonight | Sept 2012 |
| Richie Hayes | What About Me | Free World, Walk You Home | 8 November 2012 |
| Aslan & Don Mescall | In Aid of Pieta House | Catch Your Fall | April 2013 |
| Kirsty Bertarelli ft Ronan Keating | Send Out a Message | Send Out a Message | 29 April 2013 |
| Lonestar | Life As We Know It | With My Eyes Open | June 2013 |
| Sharon Corr | The Same Sun | We Could Be Lovers, Edge of Nowhere, Full Circle, You Say, The Runaround, The Same Sun, Christmas Night | Oct 2013 |
| Boyzone | BZ20 | Rise, Heaven Is, The Hour Before Christmas | 25 November 2013 |
| Richie Hayes | What About Me | Free World, Walk You Home | 8 November 2012 |
| Kirsty Bertarelli | Indigo Shores | There She Goes, Disappeared | 12 May 2014 |
| Marina Kaye | Homeless EP | Live Before I Die, Price I've Had to Pay | 16 June 2014 |
| Guilia | Radio Junky | Radio Junky | 17 August 2014 |
| Aslan | Bullets & Diamonds | Too Late For Hallelujah | 13 October 2014 |
| Lisa McHugh | A Life That's Good | Hey I'm a Woman | 24 October 2014 |
| Kirsty Bertarelli | The Ghosts Of Christmas Past-EP | The Ghosts Of Christmas Past | 14 November 2014 |
| MacKenzie Porter | The Hour Before Christmas | The Hour Before Christmas | 24 November 2014 |
| Marina Kaye | Fearless | Live Before I Die, Price I've Had to Pay | 18 May 2015 |
| The Three Amigos | On the Road Again - The Essential Collection | Radio Paints, Your Dress Looks Its Best, Bandeleros, Champagne | 20 November 2015 |
| Nathan Carter | Stayin Up All Night | Wanna Dance | 29 April 2016 |
| Nathan Carter | Livin' the Dream | Livin' the Dream | 2017 |
| Nathan Carter | Gone girls | Livin' the Dream | June 2017 |
| Nathan Carter | this song is for you | feb 2018 | |
| Geri Halliwell | Angels in Chains | Angels in Chains | 19 June 2017 |
| Cliff Richard | Rise Up | There's One | August 2018 |
| Laurie LeBlanc | when its right its right | when its right its right the bigger the better gone girls Ive Never Known the belle of the ball, I'm in Love | 5 June 2020 |
| Brett Eldredge | Sunday Drive | Sunday Drive | july 2020 |
| Sharon Corr | The fool and the scorpion | the heart is a lonely hunter, A Thousand Lives | 6 June 2021 |
| Christy Dignam | The Man who stayed alive | High What if tonight is all we have Lucky Star, Hazy Sunshine, Shame the Devil, song for Kathryn, I feel alive, I can't imagine | Oct 2021 |
Compilations, soundtracks and DVDs
| DVD title | Song title | Performing artist | Release date |
| The Guitar Style of Richie Havens | Paradise | Tuition Video | 10 December 2002 |
| Alien Tracker | You Don't Love Me, Left in L.A. | Don Mescall | 14 October 2003 |
| Irish Unplugged | Rachrai Island | Frances Black | 24 January 2005 |
| The High Kings – Live in Dublin | Fields of Glory | The High Kings | 26 February 2008 |
| The Voice Within – Songs of Hope | Voice of Hope, A Not Too Ordinary Day, Grace of God | Peter Corry, Simon Casey | 21 July 2008 |