Here, in no particular order, is a list of ten really sound, down to earth, unpretentious yet famous trad musicians who I've been lucky enough to meet. If you've met them and they've not been nice to you, chances are there's something wrong with you!
Martin Hayes
Dennis Cahill
Mary Shannon
Johnny Connolly
Charlie Lennon
Ciarán Tourish
Kitty Hayes
Eoin O'Neill (bouzouki)
James Byrne (RIP)
Mick O'Brien
Though I haven't had the pleasure to meet many of the bigger names in trad, I'd add Michael Holmes and Roger Landes to that list. Both genuinely nice guys.
I find that decent behavior is the norm at most levels of the trad world, and this is also true in most other genres as well. Most of the musicians I've met, like most of the people I've met, are decent and friendly people.
Usually, I think, anything else is either a sign of someone having a bad day, or of someone who is secretly afraid that they're a fraud and someone will find them out.
Here's One's Ive met a lot some only a few time's
But I've been nothing but happy, in there Company,,,
Cathal Hayden,Brian McGrath - Fiddle / Banjo
Gerry and Eilish O'Connor - Fiddle's
Dermi and Tara Diamond - Fiddle / Flute
Thee entire Mooney family Gweedore, Co. Donegal
Gabriel McArdle , Ciran Curran, Gary hasting -Fermanagh
Ben Lennon, Tommy People's, - Fiddle's
Martin McGinley,Maurice Bradley,- Fiddle's
Ciaran Kelly ,Damian McKee - Accordion's,,
My Old Fleadh Hero,, Leslie Bingham - Flute Co.Down
In fact Any musician I've ever met from Co,Down,,, lol.
Just a few - I'd Better Come back in the morning - ; )
jim,,,
Oh per-lease!
'What's your favourite top ten name drops ?' threads re as stupid & childish as 'What's your top ten reels and favourite associated trousers ?' threads.
Siobhan Peoples is not only one of my favorite fiddlers, but a genuine person as well. We have been online friends for a few years and last year she sent me a Christmas card and a CD as well!!
OK then!
Let's start a list of well known non-patronizing repugnant stuck up egotistical wonkers with bad breath and who want to bed your daughters that one has played this music with.
This won't mean anything across the pond, but Brian Clough (football manager) said of Frank Sinatra "He's met me". Now there's a proper sense of self regard!
I have a good few to name, some have already been done:
Kevin Burke
Mick O'Brien
The lads from Lunasa (years ago)
Tom and Eamonn Doorley (the former is my flute teacher)
Eamonn's wife Julie Fowlis (not ITM but still a type of trad)
Benny McCarthy (another Danu; member the box player)
Kieran Hanrahan (my mandolin teacher)
Peter Browne (the piper; and my former flute teacher)
Tommy Hayes
Kevin Glackin
Liam O'Connor (fiddle)
Mick Broderick
Eoin Dillon
Paudie O'Connor
Dennis Cahill
Here's two controversial people that were nice to me:
Frankie Gavin
Seamus Tansey
I am sorry but what is the point of this thread other than some name dropping? People have a go at Jig/Spellbreaker/etc for name dropping Christy Barry and Jackie Daly and then something like this comes along.
It is great that you have met these folk and they turned out to be normal human beings and not bloated egotists demanding only the purest mineral water served up by babies dressed as leprechauns. What baffles me however is why you should expect them to be anything other than nice people to begin with. The vast majority of people I have met through playing traditional music have been really nice folk and whether they have got an attitude or a big chip on their shoulder seems to bear no relation to whether or not they are actually good musicians.
Pretty much 95 of musicians I've met, famous or otherwise, have been extremely nice folks, generous with their music, chat and friendly advice.
And I'm a bodhran player!
Show me a person with a hobby and I'll show you a nice person.
Re Brian Clough: one match when the pitch was invaded Cloughy ran to the side line and gave one of the hooligans a clip round the ear. The commentator said, "Well now the sh*t really has hit the fan."
I was just trying out a bit of positivity on this board, I guess some of ye just don't like positivity.
There's plenty of not so nice people in the trad world who shun others in sessions and so forth. I just thought I'd pay tribute to some of the nicer more famous people who we could all learn from for their humility and generosity.
Thank you yaalhouse and No Cause for Alarm for making me regret being positive. You made me realise why I stopped posting things on this board a few years ago........TIme to return to lurking mode....
I don't know fnarr, it's like talking about ones lovers in public, which this BBS is, call me old fashioned but to my mind a lady or a gentleman shouldn't kiss and tell.
This thread reminds me of the book "Coffee, Tea, or Me?" (from back in the days when we called them "stewardess" instead of "flight attendant"). There were two lists in the back of the book (the titles are approximate):
1. Nice Celebrities Who Have Flown With Us
2. Other Celebrities Who Have Flown With Us
But even so, I have to add Paddy Keenan to our "nice" list--and also agree with those who said that most everybody in Irish trad is a decent sort of person. Must be because there's no money in it.
Most, if not all, of the famous musicians I met in my lifetime are dead. I remember meeting a cousin of Bridie Gallagher (The girl from Donegal) in a pub in Camden Town in the late fifties. A lovely chap but a crap singer.
Sorry fnarr - I didn't want to step on your positivity. Positive threads are good and more of them would also be good. It is just a bit name-droppy and would more than likely lead to some wisearse creating a mirror thread based on "Up their own ar*e, famous trad musicians".
It is so annoying to talk of name dropping in such a small world as trad where everybody meets regularily and there are no barriers with access for everybody to sessions where great musicians play. It is by far the most annoying negative thing for me on this forum. fnarr has posted a lovely positive post and is almost turned on as a namedropper for relating his experience . Complete sh*te! Keep posting fnarr.
Now free reed, he's a musician Id like to meet. If only for the stories! but I dare say the tunes would be mighty.
Being a relative new comer to the music, many of the guys I would be truly in awe of have sadly left us.
One guy who I found a great pleasure to chat with, and study with is Brendan Mulkere, a consummate master.
Wow, what can I say, you lucky folk like Bernard getting to sit with him week after week for a decade.! envy!
Such a broad range of interests, aware, intelligent, thoughtful, kind, considerate, a real gentleman . [jeez I hope hes not reading this! LOL]
If you get the opportunity to meet and study with him leap at the chance. Id say that to any and every fiddler Ive met and Ive met and played with a few.
Mmm, the great majority of them are still "down to earth" and very pleasant.
Billy Connolly is still OK (i'm sure) and he has always said "Hello" to me on the very rare occasions we've met in Edinburgh. I'm sure he'll not remember who I am though.
Frankie Gavin's been fine too.. on the very few occasions on which I've spoken to him.
Of ocurse, there's no reason why any of them shouldn't be nice if you are pleasant and treat them with the same resepect as you'd offer any other human being. that includes letting them have "a bit of space" too.
"I was just trying out a bit of positivity on this board, I guess some of ye just don't like positivity."
I agree that it is disheartening when some of the finest exponents of Irish trad are trashed and criticized in this forum unfairly and in ways that seem to be saying more about the person criticizing them than the musician being criticized. But I won't be adding to this list because at the end of the day, all these people are just that--people... and famous musicians being regular people is something that gets lost in hyperbole of genres like pop music.
One of the things I love about the world of Irish music is the accessibility of the people who play it... even the most famous among them. There are players that are the equivalent of the Beatles of Irish trad, yet it isn't that rare to have actually met some of them and even become friends. I can't think of any I wouldn't enjoy the company of and I have the utmost admiration and respect for many.
I remember once reading a thread in here where a few members were attacking a certain trad fiddler as if he was single-handedly destroying Irish music. He happened to be one I knew quite well, and my experiences with him demonstrated he was one of the most sincere, honest and generous people I have known. He also has made stunning contributions to Irish music, yet he was being thoroughly trashed in here. So yes... I like positivity... carry on...
I should also add that much depends on the location and circumstances where you meet people.
Just because someone is friendly with you at a pub session, festival or whatever doesn't mean that you can knock on his/her door and ask to borrow a cup of sugar, a fiver for a pint of Guiness... or both.
I'm sure Billy wouldn't be as friendly if I approached him in Los Angeles as opposed to our paths crossing at some folky event back home.
A thread like this is essentially divisive and certainly does not reek of the positivity claimed by the OP and others.
For instance, I've met (and in some cases interviewed) seven of the people listed by the OP. My experiences don't match his own in all those cases, but there's no way I'm going to start a debate about who's decent and who isn't. Musicians are musicians, just as people are people. Sometimes you eat the bear and ...
In the 1980s Brendan Mulkere was the lifeblood of Irish music in London. Without him there'd have been little teaching of young musicians and certainly none of the major events on the South Bank, in Camden and in Brent.
Did Jig really write 'Being a relative new comer to the music'?
[What baffles me however is why you should expect them to be anything other than nice people to begin with.]...unfortunately, some of the ludicrous traits of the rock/pop "band" paradigm and "stardom" paradigm indeed seeped into the itm paradigm a bit over the decades, including here and there, the phenom of bloated ego, inflated self-regard, or diva syndrome....i just finished reading keith richards' autobio, which is a fantastic read, particularly the sections pertaining to music, which got me on a kick of reviewing some history including my first screening of the amazing documenhtary by photographer Robert Frank, "mouthbreather Blues," now viewable in segments on youtube. while The Riffer himself comes off as pretty down-to-earth in the autobio, it's impossible to finish it and/or view this film, without being sickened by the "rock god" phenom and feeling that the "rock stars" compare poorly character-wise (and often music-wise as well) to their claimed idols in the folk blues tradition. which is a longways-round way of saying that musicos, particularly musicos from folk/popular roots, who get "notions" about themselves--and there are a few in this tradition--are just about always clownish.......a hilarious and refreshing thing in itm is that some of the more comical examples seem to be targets of mirth and contempt from their own musical peers....
ha, i see the robert frank documentary on the rolling stones has received an automatic title change from the censor program....don't miss it, it's great, and thought-provoking a propos of the theme of this thread....
The really down to earth 'famous musicians' treat me, a relative beginner, the same as my more 'advanced' friends. But I'll keep their names to myself.......
I've bought pints for Henry and Sid Kipper, Ron Kavana, Andy Irvine, that Flook bloke who plays whistles who isn't McGoldrick and a good few others. Not one of the buggers ever bought me one back.
Brian, that was it. And Liam O'Flynn. And Dick Gaughan. No wonder I'm so bloody poor. If I think of any more I probably won't mention it. I don't like to name-drop. Kevin Burke spoke to me once. Nice chap. Christy read out a request for my two (then) little kids at the Colston in Bristol. Oh God, there are hundreds of 'em.
In1963 I touched one of the Bachelors as he was leaving Blackpool central pier. OK, he brushed past me then, but at least I didn't waste money buying him a bloody pint. Did I mention that I said hello to Eamonn Andrews once in London?
Maybe this entire thread is down to whether you think of yourself a bona fide musician or a starstruck fan who indulges in a bit of amateur dabbling...
Speaking of famous musicians, it's always the soundman who has the most interesting stories. I saw Mose Allison once when he was so dissatisfied with the sound that he came right off stage & made his own adjustments. I've only really met about 5 traditional musician which I would consider famous. But I have played with at least 2 musicians who have played with several famous musicians. I met Frank Zappa.
Also, of course, there is a difference between being introduced to someone you happen to recognize and walking up and gushing, 'I've always been a fan et cetera...'
I guess there will always be negativity on internet forums--I responded to this post to say good things about a person I respect and admire. That's all.
No one who plays this music is "famous" in the serious sense of the word. And nearly all of them are down to earth, by definition: they play traditional Irish music.
So it's not name dropping to mention the folks you've made music with or enjoyed a bit of crack with.
But the starry-eyed fan syndrome wears thin, given the circumstances cited in my first paragraph. No need for celebrity worship.
My perspective maybe a bit different from all you jaded musicians who live in areas surrounded by top-end recording artists. I live out amongst the far flung diaspora where Irish music is a novelty, not a way of life. Therefore when Kevin Burke or John Whelan take time to fly out to come to our community, play a house concert, and then have tunes with us afterwards, it's more like a "bucket-list moment." For people like us who "name drop" it isn't to boast or suggest we are validated in anyway simply because we played with so-and-so. It's just a case of joy and appreciation. Back in September I got to have a few tunes with John Whelan (accompanied by the wonderful Zac Leger) Since I had spent the first 5 years of my playing learning tunes off his albums, it was a blast for me to finally meet him and play the very sets I had learned from his recordings.
So, to the cynical who hate these threads, simply change the channel. I'm sure a guitar/dots/bodhran thread should come along any moment now to occupy your time...
Time for a digression. Am I the only one here who finds the "bucket-list" phenomenon to be profoundly depressing and to miss the point of life and living it?
If I walk through life with a checklist of things that I want to have done, isn't that a sort of premature and hypothetical nostalgia?
"Remember that time when I'm gonna see the Taj Mahal?"
Just one of many things that seem weird to me about The Way We Live Now.
Alright, perhaps "Bucket-List" was too melodramatic. May I just say "really cool" then? And when something really cool happens, I like to talk about it. I'm a talker. Sure, playing with a few tunes in agroup where Kevin Burke happens to also be playing isn't like having sex with swimsuit models, but I still like to talk about it because it was fun.
No, Jusa, mine was the too melodramatic one. We should be clear on this: my moans about the Way We Live Now are ALWAYS too melodramatic. Doesn't mean they're not true. Sort of a "ha ha, only serious" thing.
Speaking of melodramatic, these 2 posts are.
The 1st is the end of the OP,
"If you've met them and they've not been nice to you, chances are there's something wrong with you!"
...
The next statement, by same person, begins;
"I was just trying out a bit of positivity on this board, I guess some of ye just don't like positivity."
No offense frisbee, but you're stacking your deck.
I like this thread since it gives me names of folks to look up and listen to
Also, name dropping is kind of nice in the sense that it lets you know that these folks who are well-known don't leave our "orbit" - they come back and play with folks who are just learning or who are carrying the backbone of the tradition in little pubs or house parties. The fact that Kevin Burke comes up alot here tells me he is the kind of person who feels enough kinship with "the rest of us" to come give back part of what he got growing up.
I can't imagine Jimmy Page coming back and just sitting around to jam with a bunch of basement guitar players....LOL
And there is really no substitute for getting to play with/be around someone in person. Recordings are nice and even performances but I really think that alot of the learning in this tradition is nonverbal so it's great to be around such fantastic players.....there are definitely things I've learned from Kevin that I wondered about on his recordings/performances but when I see and hear him do them right next to me I'm like "OH! That's how you do that...." (Hooray for that twerpy sound.....)
I"m very bummed I missed getting to play with Oisin last night...if only I'd known he was going to a session....he's on my bucket list.....LOL
Anyway I appreciate this thread....as a relative newcomer.
One of the fiddlers previously mentioned was playing in one of our older venues. By older I mean I high ceiling, marginally insulated, room in one of this town's oldest structures. People were coming in & keeping their coats on, as the heating wasn't working properly.
The fiddler has a dry sense of humor & let us know how much he enjoyed the temperature. Well, it did help keep the beer cold. He played lots of tunes. Told lots of stories. Spoke with everyone he could afterwards. I know he has joined in on some local sessions. I just haven't been there, on those ocassions.
You know him.
I would add Kevin Crawford of Lunhasa. Have talked to him several times at the Sebastpol Celtic Festival in California. He's as hilarious in person as he is onstage!
I've had the good fortune to meet a few famous players and it's always a treat because they don't come to this neck of the woods much. John Doyle is worth a special mention. He was in town playing with Joan Baez and looked up our local session to come have some tunes on his off night. The session went until the pub tossed us out at 2am and John treated us to some great songs he'd written. It doesn't get much more down-to-earth than that!
I sometimes tell my high school students that I've been lucky enough to play with/meet/talk to/take lessons from _________, the world's foremost living player of the _______, and they think it's pretty cool. And then promptly forget about it
Then I tell them I shook Chris Paul's hand once and they remember years later. (He's a talented pro basketball player here in the states).
I've had pleasant conversations with both Billy Conolly and Van Morrison, both allegedly grumps if you believe everything you hear. My son and his friends were sat near Connolly in a curry house in Aberdeen not too long ago, and he chatted freely with them.
I've also had friends lose it and bite someone's head off in a pub music situation .. we can't always be at our best
So I was mindin’ my own business arranging Ravel for the pipes and sitar, and in comes Seamus Ennis. Begob Sean, says Shamo, I can die happy now I’ve heard you play. Then I see Donal. Donal, sez I, bid you ever think of them Carolan tues – the Planxties – Good name for a band, my man – sorry man – ‘scuse me – Christy, You’re a fine singer. You ever think of singin’ political stuff ? No ? Don’t. Ah – Peter Carberry – New baby girl ? Congratulations Peter sez I. Good stuff. Now Pete, my man, the missus is a good looking lady, so the chizzler will too. Get her a banjo, man, sez I – Good lookin’ chick playing a banjo – Can’t lose, Pete, can’t lose. Then I hear this kid playing the fiddle. Kid, I said, you could be big. Maybe real big. What’s you’re name ? Frankie ? Frankie, kid, you could make it, but you play too slowly…You gotta speed it up, kid. Ah Finbar – Finbar, man, there’s only two things wrong with your piping….. When I got out of hopsital, up comes Davy. Sure, kid, says I – left handed pipers can make it. There’s Joe. Joe, sez I – nice box playing, but too bouncy, man, too bouncy. Thank you boss sez Joe. The in comes Noel. Sure Noel I said – I wouldn’t worry about being from the Three Parishes. You could maybe make it kid. The guy sits up – Really ? He sez Three Parishes and all ? Then there was the time I met Alec - Alec, my man, sez I – Ever been to Greece ? Ah – Johnny – You should go there too. The I hear this other kid playing a fiddle. Kid, I said, you could be big. Maybe real big. What’s you’re name ? Martin ? Martin, kid, I said- You gotta brand. Brand. Hair, kid, grow hair. Worked for Alice Cooper. Then I see Flats. Flats, sez I – forget the flute. Molloy has that stitched. Flats, sez I, you gotta dance. Dance, man …Then there was time….
"Oh per-lease!
'What's your favourite top ten name drops ?' threads re as stupid & childish as 'What's your top ten reels and favourite associated trousers ?' threads."
You might have a point, Yhaalhouse. Perhaps we should have a thread about all the famous trad musicians we haven't met and wouldn't want to anyway because everyone knows they're self obsessed arrogant *&*ẃç%!s and aren't really even all that good anyway.
Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Here, in no particular order, is a list of ten really sound, down to earth, unpretentious yet famous trad musicians who I've been lucky enough to meet. If you've met them and they've not been nice to you, chances are there's something wrong with you!
Martin Hayes
Dennis Cahill
Mary Shannon
Johnny Connolly
Charlie Lennon
Ciarán Tourish
Kitty Hayes
Eoin O'Neill (bouzouki)
James Byrne (RIP)
Mick O'Brien
Great people all. Anyone like to add to the list?
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by The Tune Composer
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Though I haven't had the pleasure to meet many of the bigger names in trad, I'd add Michael Holmes and Roger Landes to that list. Both genuinely nice guys.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by eisdear
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I'll add just about every musician I've ever met (except for Billy Connolly*). But I didn't keep a list of their names.
* He told me to F off the first time I met him.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by skreech
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Mike McGoldrick is a top bloke too. As is Desi and John Jo.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by I ♥ Dow
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Me.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by bodhran bliss
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Forget that. I am not really "down to earth".
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by bodhran bliss
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I find that decent behavior is the norm at most levels of the trad world, and this is also true in most other genres as well. Most of the musicians I've met, like most of the people I've met, are decent and friendly people.
Usually, I think, anything else is either a sign of someone having a bad day, or of someone who is secretly afraid that they're a fraud and someone will find them out.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Gerry O'Connor - met him at Ar Ais Aris in Buncrana a few years ago, pure gentleman
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by banjo'd
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Here's One's Ive met a lot some only a few time's
But I've been nothing but happy, in there Company,,,
Cathal Hayden,Brian McGrath - Fiddle / Banjo
Gerry and Eilish O'Connor - Fiddle's
Dermi and Tara Diamond - Fiddle / Flute
Thee entire Mooney family Gweedore, Co. Donegal
Gabriel McArdle , Ciran Curran, Gary hasting -Fermanagh
Ben Lennon, Tommy People's, - Fiddle's
Martin McGinley,Maurice Bradley,- Fiddle's
Ciaran Kelly ,Damian McKee - Accordion's,,
My Old Fleadh Hero,, Leslie Bingham - Flute Co.Down
In fact Any musician I've ever met from Co,Down,,, lol.
Just a few - I'd Better Come back in the morning - ; )
jim,,,
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by FIDDLE4
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Kevin Burke - and he has lots of funny stories too!
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by thejigisup
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Ah, bliss, yer also not "famous."
"Infamous," yes, I'll grant you that.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Frankie Gavin
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by ayedbl
Name drop city...
Oh per-lease!
'What's your favourite top ten name drops ?' threads re as stupid & childish as 'What's your top ten reels and favourite associated trousers ?' threads.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by yhaalhouse
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Siobhan Peoples is not only one of my favorite fiddlers, but a genuine person as well. We have been online friends for a few years and last year she sent me a Christmas card and a CD as well!!
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by horatio spens the blademan
Pretentious lying bastards who play this music...
OK then!
Let's start a list of well known non-patronizing repugnant stuck up egotistical wonkers with bad breath and who want to bed your daughters that one has played this music with.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by yhaalhouse
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
okay - your mother
hah! just kidding
good idea though...
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by airport
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Or...list the famous baritone ukulele Irish trad players you've played with.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by TaoCat
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
WTF?
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
"WTF?"
NCFA, lol.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Solidmahog
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Rip Van Splypher the famous dutch piper.
Nice bloke, full of great advice;
"Suck suck
don't blow".
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Solidmahog
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
This won't mean anything across the pond, but Brian Clough (football manager) said of Frank Sinatra "He's met me". Now there's a proper sense of self regard!
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by RichardB
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I have a good few to name, some have already been done:
Kevin Burke
Mick O'Brien
The lads from Lunasa (years ago)
Tom and Eamonn Doorley (the former is my flute teacher)
Eamonn's wife Julie Fowlis (not ITM but still a type of trad)
Benny McCarthy (another Danu; member the box player)
Kieran Hanrahan (my mandolin teacher)
Peter Browne (the piper; and my former flute teacher)
Tommy Hayes
Kevin Glackin
Liam O'Connor (fiddle)
Mick Broderick
Eoin Dillon
Paudie O'Connor
Dennis Cahill
Here's two controversial people that were nice to me:
Frankie Gavin
Seamus Tansey
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Why Bother?
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Enda Scahill is a really nice, down to earch fella.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by gabriel
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I am sorry but what is the point of this thread other than some name dropping? People have a go at Jig/Spellbreaker/etc for name dropping Christy Barry and Jackie Daly and then something like this comes along.
It is great that you have met these folk and they turned out to be normal human beings and not bloated egotists demanding only the purest mineral water served up by babies dressed as leprechauns. What baffles me however is why you should expect them to be anything other than nice people to begin with. The vast majority of people I have met through playing traditional music have been really nice folk and whether they have got an attitude or a big chip on their shoulder seems to bear no relation to whether or not they are actually good musicians.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Pretty much 95 of musicians I've met, famous or otherwise, have been extremely nice folks, generous with their music, chat and friendly advice.
And I'm a bodhran player!
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by RockyRoader
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Show me a person with a hobby and I'll show you a nice person.
Re Brian Clough: one match when the pitch was invaded Cloughy ran to the side line and gave one of the hooligans a clip round the ear. The commentator said, "Well now the sh*t really has hit the fan."
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by gam
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Ouch. That name just dropped on my foot!
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I was just trying out a bit of positivity on this board, I guess some of ye just don't like positivity.
There's plenty of not so nice people in the trad world who shun others in sessions and so forth. I just thought I'd pay tribute to some of the nicer more famous people who we could all learn from for their humility and generosity.
Thank you yaalhouse and No Cause for Alarm for making me regret being positive. You made me realise why I stopped posting things on this board a few years ago........TIme to return to lurking mode....
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by The Tune Composer
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I don't know fnarr, it's like talking about ones lovers in public, which this BBS is, call me old fashioned but to my mind a lady or a gentleman shouldn't kiss and tell.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Solidmahog
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
fiddlecraver
Yep - Totally Agree about '' Siobhan Peoples '' ...
Have only met / played once with her in Donegal - But after chatting with her over the Internet - Your spot on about Her !
jim,,,
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by FIDDLE4
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
This thread reminds me of the book "Coffee, Tea, or Me?" (from back in the days when we called them "stewardess" instead of "flight attendant"). There were two lists in the back of the book (the titles are approximate):
1. Nice Celebrities Who Have Flown With Us
2. Other Celebrities Who Have Flown With Us
But even so, I have to add Paddy Keenan to our "nice" list--and also agree with those who said that most everybody in Irish trad is a decent sort of person. Must be because there's no money in it.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by John Galt
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Most, if not all, of the famous musicians I met in my lifetime are dead. I remember meeting a cousin of Bridie Gallagher (The girl from Donegal) in a pub in Camden Town in the late fifties. A lovely chap but a crap singer.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Free Reed
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Sorry fnarr - I didn't want to step on your positivity. Positive threads are good and more of them would also be good. It is just a bit name-droppy and would more than likely lead to some wisearse creating a mirror thread based on "Up their own ar*e, famous trad musicians".
For every reaction and all that...
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
"For every action" - even!
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
It is so annoying to talk of name dropping in such a small world as trad where everybody meets regularily and there are no barriers with access for everybody to sessions where great musicians play. It is by far the most annoying negative thing for me on this forum. fnarr has posted a lovely positive post and is almost turned on as a namedropper for relating his experience . Complete sh*te! Keep posting fnarr.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by big_tab
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Now free reed, he's a musician Id like to meet. If only for the stories! but I dare say the tunes would be mighty.
Being a relative new comer to the music, many of the guys I would be truly in awe of have sadly left us.
One guy who I found a great pleasure to chat with, and study with is Brendan Mulkere, a consummate master.
Wow, what can I say, you lucky folk like Bernard getting to sit with him week after week for a decade.! envy!
Such a broad range of interests, aware, intelligent, thoughtful, kind, considerate, a real gentleman . [jeez I hope hes not reading this! LOL]
If you get the opportunity to meet and study with him leap at the chance. Id say that to any and every fiddler Ive met and Ive met and played with a few.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by piobagusfidil
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Mmm, the great majority of them are still "down to earth" and very pleasant.
Billy Connolly is still OK (i'm sure) and he has always said "Hello" to me on the very rare occasions we've met in Edinburgh. I'm sure he'll not remember who I am though.
Frankie Gavin's been fine too.. on the very few occasions on which I've spoken to him.
Of ocurse, there's no reason why any of them shouldn't be nice if you are pleasant and treat them with the same resepect as you'd offer any other human being. that includes letting them have "a bit of space" too.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Johnny Jay
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
"I was just trying out a bit of positivity on this board, I guess some of ye just don't like positivity."
I agree that it is disheartening when some of the finest exponents of Irish trad are trashed and criticized in this forum unfairly and in ways that seem to be saying more about the person criticizing them than the musician being criticized. But I won't be adding to this list because at the end of the day, all these people are just that--people... and famous musicians being regular people is something that gets lost in hyperbole of genres like pop music.
One of the things I love about the world of Irish music is the accessibility of the people who play it... even the most famous among them. There are players that are the equivalent of the Beatles of Irish trad, yet it isn't that rare to have actually met some of them and even become friends. I can't think of any I wouldn't enjoy the company of and I have the utmost admiration and respect for many.
I remember once reading a thread in here where a few members were attacking a certain trad fiddler as if he was single-handedly destroying Irish music. He happened to be one I knew quite well, and my experiences with him demonstrated he was one of the most sincere, honest and generous people I have known. He also has made stunning contributions to Irish music, yet he was being thoroughly trashed in here. So yes... I like positivity... carry on...
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Phantom Button
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Nice John.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by big_tab
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I'll add Brendan McGlinchey to the list. Great fellow. Met him at summer school workshops a couple of times.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
And nice Jack..
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by big_tab
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I should also add that much depends on the location and circumstances where you meet people.
Just because someone is friendly with you at a pub session, festival or whatever doesn't mean that you can knock on his/her door and ask to borrow a cup of sugar, a fiver for a pint of Guiness... or both.
I'm sure Billy wouldn't be as friendly if I approached him in Los Angeles as opposed to our paths crossing at some folky event back home.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Johnny Jay
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
We'll... this IS planet Earth and we ARE talking about human beings after all. I have, on occasion, been disappointed.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Phantom Button
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
A thread like this is essentially divisive and certainly does not reek of the positivity claimed by the OP and others.
For instance, I've met (and in some cases interviewed) seven of the people listed by the OP. My experiences don't match his own in all those cases, but there's no way I'm going to start a debate about who's decent and who isn't. Musicians are musicians, just as people are people. Sometimes you eat the bear and ...
In the 1980s Brendan Mulkere was the lifeblood of Irish music in London. Without him there'd have been little teaching of young musicians and certainly none of the major events on the South Bank, in Camden and in Brent.
Did Jig really write 'Being a relative new comer to the music'?
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by MacCruiskeen
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Very true, Jack.
You could even meet you best mate in the pub and get a grumpy response if he or she was having an "off day".
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Johnny Jay
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Food for thought - John
< and also agree with those who said that most everybody in Irish trad is a decent sort of person. Must be because there's no money in it.>
You just might be right there ?
jim,,,
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by FIDDLE4
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
[What baffles me however is why you should expect them to be anything other than nice people to begin with.]...unfortunately, some of the ludicrous traits of the rock/pop "band" paradigm and "stardom" paradigm indeed seeped into the itm paradigm a bit over the decades, including here and there, the phenom of bloated ego, inflated self-regard, or diva syndrome....i just finished reading keith richards' autobio, which is a fantastic read, particularly the sections pertaining to music, which got me on a kick of reviewing some history including my first screening of the amazing documenhtary by photographer Robert Frank, "mouthbreather Blues," now viewable in segments on youtube. while The Riffer himself comes off as pretty down-to-earth in the autobio, it's impossible to finish it and/or view this film, without being sickened by the "rock god" phenom and feeling that the "rock stars" compare poorly character-wise (and often music-wise as well) to their claimed idols in the folk blues tradition. which is a longways-round way of saying that musicos, particularly musicos from folk/popular roots, who get "notions" about themselves--and there are a few in this tradition--are just about always clownish.......a hilarious and refreshing thing in itm is that some of the more comical examples seem to be targets of mirth and contempt from their own musical peers....
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by ceemonster
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
ha, i see the robert frank documentary on the rolling stones has received an automatic title change from the censor program....don't miss it, it's great, and thought-provoking a propos of the theme of this thread....
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by ceemonster
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
The really down to earth 'famous musicians' treat me, a relative beginner, the same as my more 'advanced' friends. But I'll keep their names to myself.......
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by minijackpot
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Ah, bliss, yer also not "famous."
"Infamous," yes, I'll grant you that.
# Posted on November 29th 2010 by Will Harmon
Why not?
I reckon all of the others boast about having been in a session with Bliss.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by bodhran bliss
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I've bought pints for Henry and Sid Kipper, Ron Kavana, Andy Irvine, that Flook bloke who plays whistles who isn't McGoldrick and a good few others. Not one of the buggers ever bought me one back.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Brian, that was it. And Liam O'Flynn. And Dick Gaughan. No wonder I'm so bloody poor. If I think of any more I probably won't mention it. I don't like to name-drop. Kevin Burke spoke to me once. Nice chap. Christy read out a request for my two (then) little kids at the Colston in Bristol. Oh God, there are hundreds of 'em.
In1963 I touched one of the Bachelors as he was leaving Blackpool central pier. OK, he brushed past me then, but at least I didn't waste money buying him a bloody pint. Did I mention that I said hello to Eamonn Andrews once in London?
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Starstruck fan or musician?
Maybe this entire thread is down to whether you think of yourself a bona fide musician or a starstruck fan who indulges in a bit of amateur dabbling...
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by yhaalhouse
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Speaking of famous musicians, it's always the soundman who has the most interesting stories. I saw Mose Allison once when he was so dissatisfied with the sound that he came right off stage & made his own adjustments. I've only really met about 5 traditional musician which I would consider famous. But I have played with at least 2 musicians who have played with several famous musicians. I met Frank Zappa.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Ben Steen
Gush...
Also, of course, there is a difference between being introduced to someone you happen to recognize and walking up and gushing, 'I've always been a fan et cetera...'
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by yhaalhouse
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I once gushed over the Kane sisters when I met them in Ennis... I was like a start-struck teenager... so embarrassing...
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Phantom Button
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I guess there will always be negativity on internet forums--I responded to this post to say good things about a person I respect and admire. That's all.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by horatio spens the blademan
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
No one who plays this music is "famous" in the serious sense of the word. And nearly all of them are down to earth, by definition: they play traditional Irish music.
So it's not name dropping to mention the folks you've made music with or enjoyed a bit of crack with.
But the starry-eyed fan syndrome wears thin, given the circumstances cited in my first paragraph. No need for celebrity worship.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
My perspective maybe a bit different from all you jaded musicians who live in areas surrounded by top-end recording artists. I live out amongst the far flung diaspora where Irish music is a novelty, not a way of life. Therefore when Kevin Burke or John Whelan take time to fly out to come to our community, play a house concert, and then have tunes with us afterwards, it's more like a "bucket-list moment." For people like us who "name drop" it isn't to boast or suggest we are validated in anyway simply because we played with so-and-so. It's just a case of joy and appreciation. Back in September I got to have a few tunes with John Whelan (accompanied by the wonderful Zac Leger) Since I had spent the first 5 years of my playing learning tunes off his albums, it was a blast for me to finally meet him and play the very sets I had learned from his recordings.
So, to the cynical who hate these threads, simply change the channel. I'm sure a guitar/dots/bodhran thread should come along any moment now to occupy your time...
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
A metronome one is long overdue. Just think - it would be a breeze to namedrop Kevin Burke in such a thread.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Steve Shaw
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Just to clarify - it isn't starry-eyed fan syndrome either. Its the opportunity to play with a great musician whom you have admired for a long while.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
It really reminds me of the old joke about a guy who goes into the confessional:
Old guy: Father, forgive me for I have sinned. Last night I had sex all night with two Swedish swimsuit models. It was amazing!
Priest: When was your last confession my son?
Old guy: I've never been to confession - I'm Jewish!
Priest: Then why are you telling me this?
Old guy: Are you kidding? I'm telling EVERYBODY!
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Time for a digression. Am I the only one here who finds the "bucket-list" phenomenon to be profoundly depressing and to miss the point of life and living it?
If I walk through life with a checklist of things that I want to have done, isn't that a sort of premature and hypothetical nostalgia?
"Remember that time when I'm gonna see the Taj Mahal?"
Just one of many things that seem weird to me about The Way We Live Now.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Jusa - I love it. I've heard it before, but I still love it!
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Alright, perhaps "Bucket-List" was too melodramatic. May I just say "really cool" then? And when something really cool happens, I like to talk about it. I'm a talker. Sure, playing with a few tunes in agroup where Kevin Burke happens to also be playing isn't like having sex with swimsuit models, but I still like to talk about it because it was fun.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
No, Jusa, mine was the too melodramatic one. We should be clear on this: my moans about the Way We Live Now are ALWAYS too melodramatic. Doesn't mean they're not true. Sort of a "ha ha, only serious" thing.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
How is this for down to earth?
Speaking of melodramatic, these 2 posts are.
The 1st is the end of the OP,
"If you've met them and they've not been nice to you, chances are there's something wrong with you!"
...
The next statement, by same person, begins;
"I was just trying out a bit of positivity on this board, I guess some of ye just don't like positivity."
No offense frisbee, but you're stacking your deck.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I like this thread since it gives me names of folks to look up and listen to
Also, name dropping is kind of nice in the sense that it lets you know that these folks who are well-known don't leave our "orbit" - they come back and play with folks who are just learning or who are carrying the backbone of the tradition in little pubs or house parties. The fact that Kevin Burke comes up alot here tells me he is the kind of person who feels enough kinship with "the rest of us" to come give back part of what he got growing up.
I can't imagine Jimmy Page coming back and just sitting around to jam with a bunch of basement guitar players....LOL
And there is really no substitute for getting to play with/be around someone in person. Recordings are nice and even performances but I really think that alot of the learning in this tradition is nonverbal so it's great to be around such fantastic players.....there are definitely things I've learned from Kevin that I wondered about on his recordings/performances but when I see and hear him do them right next to me I'm like "OH! That's how you do that...." (Hooray for that twerpy sound.....)
I"m very bummed I missed getting to play with Oisin last night...if only I'd known he was going to a session....he's on my bucket list.....LOL
Anyway I appreciate this thread....as a relative newcomer.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by thejigisup
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Heh, I sat down one day to make a bucket list and it turned out I'd already done everything I wanted to do (the list fills three pages!).
The only goals I could come up with for the future were things like "keep playing tunes at sessions" and "keep hiking in the woods."
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
One of the fiddlers previously mentioned was playing in one of our older venues. By older I mean I high ceiling, marginally insulated, room in one of this town's oldest structures. People were coming in & keeping their coats on, as the heating wasn't working properly.
The fiddler has a dry sense of humor & let us know how much he enjoyed the temperature. Well, it did help keep the beer cold. He played lots of tunes. Told lots of stories. Spoke with everyone he could afterwards. I know he has joined in on some local sessions. I just haven't been there, on those ocassions.
You know him.
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I would add Kevin Crawford of Lunhasa. Have talked to him several times at the Sebastpol Celtic Festival in California. He's as hilarious in person as he is onstage!
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by addie
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
But what if you really are a scam on the human race, and everyone knows, but still a good fiddler?
# Posted on November 30th 2010 by fedorastain
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I've had the good fortune to meet a few famous players and it's always a treat because they don't come to this neck of the woods much. John Doyle is worth a special mention. He was in town playing with Joan Baez and looked up our local session to come have some tunes on his off night. The session went until the pub tossed us out at 2am and John treated us to some great songs he'd written. It doesn't get much more down-to-earth than that!
# Posted on December 1st 2010 by ElaineT
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Just like to add Seamus Tansey (only mentioned once so far...) Laurence Nugent, Tony Fitzgibbon, Noel Hill, Mary Bergin
# Posted on December 1st 2010 by The Archivist
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I sometimes tell my high school students that I've been lucky enough to play with/meet/talk to/take lessons from _________, the world's foremost living player of the _______, and they think it's pretty cool. And then promptly forget about it
Then I tell them I shook Chris Paul's hand once and they remember years later. (He's a talented pro basketball player here in the states).
# Posted on December 2nd 2010 by wormdiet
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I've only met Caoimhin O Raghallaigh and Brendan Begley, but they were both super nice and quick to conversation.
# Posted on December 2nd 2010 by Resodan
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
I've had pleasant conversations with both Billy Conolly and Van Morrison, both allegedly grumps if you believe everything you hear. My son and his friends were sat near Connolly in a curry house in Aberdeen not too long ago, and he chatted freely with them.
I've also had friends lose it and bite someone's head off in a pub music situation .. we can't always be at our best
# Posted on December 2nd 2010 by Bren
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
So I was mindin’ my own business arranging Ravel for the pipes and sitar, and in comes Seamus Ennis. Begob Sean, says Shamo, I can die happy now I’ve heard you play. Then I see Donal. Donal, sez I, bid you ever think of them Carolan tues – the Planxties – Good name for a band, my man – sorry man – ‘scuse me – Christy, You’re a fine singer. You ever think of singin’ political stuff ? No ? Don’t. Ah – Peter Carberry – New baby girl ? Congratulations Peter sez I. Good stuff. Now Pete, my man, the missus is a good looking lady, so the chizzler will too. Get her a banjo, man, sez I – Good lookin’ chick playing a banjo – Can’t lose, Pete, can’t lose. Then I hear this kid playing the fiddle. Kid, I said, you could be big. Maybe real big. What’s you’re name ? Frankie ? Frankie, kid, you could make it, but you play too slowly…You gotta speed it up, kid. Ah Finbar – Finbar, man, there’s only two things wrong with your piping….. When I got out of hopsital, up comes Davy. Sure, kid, says I – left handed pipers can make it. There’s Joe. Joe, sez I – nice box playing, but too bouncy, man, too bouncy. Thank you boss sez Joe. The in comes Noel. Sure Noel I said – I wouldn’t worry about being from the Three Parishes. You could maybe make it kid. The guy sits up – Really ? He sez Three Parishes and all ? Then there was the time I met Alec - Alec, my man, sez I – Ever been to Greece ? Ah – Johnny – You should go there too. The I hear this other kid playing a fiddle. Kid, I said, you could be big. Maybe real big. What’s you’re name ? Martin ? Martin, kid, I said- You gotta brand. Brand. Hair, kid, grow hair. Worked for Alice Cooper. Then I see Flats. Flats, sez I – forget the flute. Molloy has that stitched. Flats, sez I, you gotta dance. Dance, man …Then there was time….
[‘n other pint there, Barman…]
Hey – where’s everyone gone ?
# Posted on December 3rd 2010 by Sean Lead Liath
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
"Here's two controversial people that were nice to me:
Frankie Gavin
Seamus Tansey"
Yes - I've met both of them and, although I won't say I 'know' them, they both behaved perfectly decently the times I met them.
I would like to add a few to the list:
Peter Horan (recently departed and sorely missed, RIP)
Gerry Harrington
John Carty
# Posted on December 4th 2010 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
"Oh per-lease!
'What's your favourite top ten name drops ?' threads re as stupid & childish as 'What's your top ten reels and favourite associated trousers ?' threads."
You might have a point, Yhaalhouse. Perhaps we should have a thread about all the famous trad musicians we haven't met and wouldn't want to anyway because everyone knows they're self obsessed arrogant *&*ẃç%!s and aren't really even all that good anyway.
# Posted on December 4th 2010 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
It's been done, more than once.
# Posted on December 4th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Down to earth, famous trad musicians
Well, perhaps we should do it again. It's been at least 10 days.
# Posted on December 4th 2010 by CreadurMawnOrganig