Murtagh was a member of the Avons with her sister-in-law,
Valerie Murtagh. Towards the end of her singing career she moved into songwriting; the best known of her songs is "
Dance On!", a hit record for both
the Shadows in 1962 and
Kathy Kirby in 1963, which she wrote with Valerie and Ray Adams. She also wrote "
In Summer", a number 5 hit for
Billy Fury in 1963, as well as songs recorded by
Petula Clark and
Tom Jones. She married Ray Adams in 1964. She formed the Elaine Avon Artiste Management & Agency in 1984; it specialised in providing performers for luxury cruise lines. ==References==