NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Celtic Thunder and Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, have announced a new catalog partnership, set to begin with the upcoming release of The Very Best of Celtic Thunder. The 20-song collection – which includes seven all-time Celtic Thunder favorites updated and re-recorded by the current ensemble – arrives in stores on March 10.

Three times named as Billboard's "Top World Music Artist," "Top World Music Album," and "Top World Music Imprint," Celtic Thunder has celebrated Celtic music and heritage over the course of 11 albums and nine concert specials, all featuring stirring ensemble numbers as well as solo performances showcasing each individual member's distinctive gifts. Each new production has proven more magical and creative than the last, employing dramatic imagery, lighting, and choreography to conjure the true spirit of Celtic lore and legend.

The Very Best of Celtic Thunder gathers 20 all-ensemble highlights from Celtic Thunder's most beloved productions, spanning Irish and Celtic folk standards "She Moved Thru The Fair," "Mo Ghile Mear" to contemporary classics such as "Hallelujah," "Mull Of Kintyre," and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Celtic Thunder showstoppers like "Heartland" and the unforgettable finale, "Ireland's Call," showcase the vocal dexterity and wonderful harmonies of the ensemble's principal artists, including Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, George Donaldson, Neil Byrne, Emmett O'Hanlon, Colm Keegan, Emmet Cahill, Damian McGinty, and Paul Byrom. Also featured are rousing group numbers "A Place In The Choir," "Seven Drunken Nights," and "Rocky Road To Dublin," as well as longtime fan favorites "Steal Away," "Maid Of Culmore," and "Star Of The County Down."

The Very Best of Celtic Thunder features songs originally found on 2008's Celtic Thunder: The Show and Celtic Thunder: The Show Act Two, as well as Take Me Home (2009), It's Entertainment! (2010), Storm (2011), Heritage (2011), Voyage (2012), and Mythology (2013). Those chart-topping collections – as well as Celtic Thunder Christmas (2010), Voyage II (2012) and Holiday Symphony (2014) – will all be reissued by Legacy in the coming months. In addition, Celtic Thunder's nine best-selling DVDs will also be released, including Celtic Thunder: The Show, Take Me Home, It's Entertainment!, Storm, Heritage, Celtic Thunder Christmas, Voyage, Voyage II, and Mythology. For regularly updated release information, please log on to www.legacyrecordings.com.

Celtic Thunder is currently traveling North America on The Very Best of Celtic Thunder Tour 2015, with dates continuing through late April. Backed as ever by the Celtic Thunder Band, the new production stars Colm Keegan, Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, Emmett O'Hanlon, and Neil Byrne, with former Celtic Thunder cast member Damian McGinty (Glee) featured as Special Guest Artist. For complete details and ticket information – including pre-show Soundcheck Parties and post-show VIP Artist Events for Fan Club members – please see www.celticthunder.com/best.

Celtic Thunder has been a phenomenon since its inception in 2007 by creator/producer Sharon Browne, achieving worldwide ticket sales of more than 700,000 and global album and DVD sales now in excess of 2 million (including multiple platinum and gold certifications in Canada and Australia). What's more, Celtic Thunder has proven one of Public Television's most popular artists, ranking among the network's top 5 audience-generating acts with over 18,000 broadcasts of concert specials like 2008's Celtic Thunder: The Show and 2012's Voyage.

As a hugely successful touring act, Celtic Thunder has performed over 800 shows, including eight North American tours and three of Australia. Memorable highlights include President and Mrs. Obama's St. Patrick's Day celebration at the White House, a 2012 concert at The Pentagon paying tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces, several fundraisers benefitting the Wounded Warrior program, and 2012's "Benefit Concert For Hurricane Sandy Victims," an intimate event which raised more than $50,000 for residents of Sandy-ravaged Rockaway Beach, New York. As if that weren't enough, Celtic Thunder has twice opened New York City's world famous St. Patrick's Day Parade and made appearances on such high profile TV appearances as NBC's TODAY and CBS This Morning.

Celtic Thunder has also staked a major presence online, with more than 200,000 likes on the Celtic Thunder Official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/celticthunder) and over 36,000 followers on Twitter (@celticthunder).  In addition, over 90,000 fans subscribe to Celtic Thunder's own e-newsletter, "The Celtic Times," while the official Celtic Thunder YouTube channel – a.k.a. "The Thunder Tube" – has earned more than 25 million views at www.youtube.com/user/TheThunderTube.

For more news and information, please visit  www.celticthunder.ie, www.facebook.com/celticthunder, twitter.com/CelticThunder (@celticthunder), www.youtube.com/user/TheThunderTube, and www.legacyrecordings.com.

THE VERY BEST OF CELTIC THUNDER TOUR – SPRING 2015

www.celticthunder.com/best

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SOURCE Legacy Recordings

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