Bob Halligan Jr.

{{Short description|American musician, producer and songwriter}} {{BLP sources|date=January 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}} '''Robert Sidney Halligan Jr.'''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Galbraith|first=Robert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n7PYCgAAQBAJ&q=Robert+Sidney+Halligan&pg=PT524|title=Die Ernte des Bösen: Roman|date=2016-02-26|publisher=Blanvalet Verlag|isbn=978-3-641-18858-0|language=de}}</ref> (born January 3, 1953) is an American singer, musician, music producer and songwriter who has collaborated with many artists, particularly in the hard rock/heavy metal genre, throughout his career. He is currently the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band Ceili Rain, a group he founded that combines Celtic, rock, and contemporary Christian music.<ref name="Syracuse">[http://blog.syracuse.com/musicscene/2007/03/bob_halligan_jr_and_ceili_rain.html Bob Halligan Jr. and Ceili Rain], Syracuse Post-Standard, March 12, 2007</ref>

As a songwriter, Halligan has contributed songs to three albums by the heavy metal band Judas Priest, namely "(Take These) Chains" from 1982's ''Screaming for Vengeance'' and the single "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll" from 1984's ''Defenders of the Faith''.<ref>Herman, Michael.[http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/ceilirain-0802.html Christian Music's Best Kept Secret?], ''Christianity Today'', August 26, 2002.</ref> Judas Priest lead singer Rob Halford included another song by Halligan, "Twist", on the album ''Resurrection'' by his band Halford. In 2024, he was credited with writing the song "The Lodger" from 2024's ''Invincible Shield''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Voice |first=The Metal |date=2024-02-10 |title=Invincible Shield is Judas Priest in 2024, Less Commercial Than Firepower- Says Guitarist Richie Faulkner |url=https://www.themetalvoice.com/post/invincible-shield-is-judas-priest-in-2024-less-commercial-than-firepower-says-guitarist-richie-fau |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=themetalvoice |language=en}}</ref>

Halligan also worked extensively with the hard rock/heavy metal band Kix, beginning in the mid-1980s, when he co-wrote most of the songs on the band's third album, ''Midnite Dynamite.'' Incidentally, one of the most successful songs he has ever written is Kix's near-top ten hit, "Don't Close Your Eyes" (co-written with one-time Crack the Sky frontman John Palumbo and Kix bassist Donnie Purnell), which was featured on the band's follow-up album, ''Blow My Fuse''. The song remains Kix's highest-charting single.

He also wrote the songs "Beat 'Em Up" and "Make Rock Not War" on Blue Öyster Cult's ''Club Ninja'' record, "Rise to It" and "Read My Body" on Kiss' album ''Hot in the Shade'',<ref name="Syracuse"/> "Could've Been You" on Cher's album ''Love Hurts'' and the single "Rock You" for Helix's ''Walkin' the Razor's Edge'' album. In addition, Halligan wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on ''Night of the Crime'' by the 80s heavy metal band Icon. He also co-wrote the song "Bang Down the Door" on Bonfire's 1989's ''Point Blank'' record.

In the Christian rock domain, he has worked with Rick Cua, focusing on Cua's solo career (including his 1985 album ''You're My Road'').

==Solo discography== *''Window in the Wall'' (1991) *''Sprung'' (1994)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.ceilirain.com/en-us/default.aspx Ceili Rain]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Halligan, Bob Jr.}} Category:Musicians from New York (state) Category:Living people Category:1953 births Category:Place of birth missing (living people)