Valerie Murtagh

Valerie Murtagh (born Patricia Valerie Jenkins, 1936, Willesden, London, England, also known under the pseudonym Valerie Avon) is an English singer and songwriter, who was a member of The Avons.

After singing with the Avons vocal trio in the 1950s and 60s, alongside her husband's sister Elaine Murtagh and Elaine's husband Ray Adams, Murtagh became a songwriter under the name Valerie Avon. Together with Adams and Elaine Murtagh, she wrote "Dance On!". This was a UK number one hit in 1963, and the year later returned to the UK Singles Chart in a vocal version by Kathy Kirby with lyrics by Marcel Stellman.

With her songwriting partner, Harold Spiro, she later wrote "Long Live Love", which was performed by Olivia Newton-John, the UK entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1974.

She also co-wrote the following songs:

• "In Summer" (Billy Fury) – Ray Adams, Valerie Avon and Elaine Murtagh
• "Don't Move Away" (Cliff Richard) – Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro
• "Annabella Umbrella" (Cliff Richard) – Valerie Avon, Neilburg, Harold Spiro
• "Easy Lovin', Easy Livin'" (Georgie Fame) – Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro
• "Easy Loving" (The Troggs) – Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro
• "Desdemona" (The Searchers) – Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro
• "I'm Gonna Find Myself A Girl" (Gene Pitney) – Ray Adams, Valerie Avon and Elaine Adams (Elaine Murtagh)

• Jon Kutner, "Dance On!", 1000 UK Number One Hits, Omnibus Press, 2010
• "Shadows, The – Dance On! (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13. 
• Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 491. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
• Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 304. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
• "Long Live Love – Oliviia Newton-John". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13. 
• Valerie Avon. "Valerie Avon – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-01-13. 
• "Billy Fury – I'll Never Fall In Love Again / In Summer (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13. 
• "Don't Move Away – Cliff Richard : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-01-13. 
• "Cliff Richard Featuring Shadows, The – The Cliff Richard Story (Box Set, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13. 
• "Easy Lovin', Easy Livin' – Georgie Fame : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2013-01-13. 
• "Troggs, The – Easy Loving / Give Me Something (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13. 
• "Gene Pitney – I'm Gonna Find Myself A Girl (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13.