Biography

"Surround hate and force it to surrender" -- message written on Pete Seeger's banjo

"This machine kills fascists" -- message written on Woody Guthrie's guitar

I was born on St. Patrick's Day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I can clearly recollect my earliest birthday parties that featured harps and shamrocks on the cakes, going with my parents to watch the big parades downtown, and of course the Irish music that always filled the air. One year, I remember being much impressed by a float that had a ceili band seated on a flat bed truck, a jerry-rigged speaker system strapped on board. The crowd applauded loudly for them as they passed by, and I believe it was then that I first became interested in Irish traditional music.

In 1977 I bought the classic vinyl LP of Jackie Daly and Seamus Creagh, which for several days I played almost continuously. It prompted me to go out and buy my first melodeon off the shelf, a Hohner Black Dot Double Ray. I took one thirty-minute lesson from Terry Winch, the accomplished box player and writer who now lives in the Washington, DC area, but other than that I am completely self-taught. Had Terry been less encouraging, I might have taken up needlepoint as a hobby. As it was I soon bought a one-row melodeon, which I learned to play in the old push and draw manner. Even today I only use one row at a time on the D/G button accordion that I also play.

I moved to Germany in the early 80's, and off and on I lived there for a total of fifteen years. During that time I was fortunate to hook up with several Irish musicians there who helped me progress in my playing, most notably the Cork fiddle player Imelda Morrison. I often traveled to Ireland for the fleadheanna and sessions, spending much time in both Clare and Galway. I have come to believe there is more great music played in the towns and villages of those two counties than most anywhere else in the whole of Ireland.

I hope that you enjoy the music on this CD, especially the incredibly lovely singing of my friend, Laura Mulcahy.