Eileen Carroll (1929-2021)
And just like the tune Liz wrote for her mom which she named Mrs. Carroll’s Strathspey — Ma Carroll — which is what I always called Mrs. Carroll in my mind — was the embodiment of those…
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Nanci Griffith (July 6, 1953 - August 13, 2021)
It’s funny how things happen. Turned on the radio one Saturday night in the early 1980s to listen to The Midnight Special on WFMT in Chicago, one of my first baby steps away from round the clock diddly-diddly and sean-nos…
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Tuesday Thoughts:
What is Orville Redenbacher’s return policy on un-popped kernels?
Shouldn’t the “chic” in modern be spelt s-h-i-t-e?
Don’t tune in next Tuesday…
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Sister Mary and Joseph...
Sister Mary Elizabeth, a devoted follower of Mother Mary, passed away and made her way up to Heaven where she was met at the pearly gates by St. Peter.
He welcomed her in and asked if she had any questions…
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Joe Burke (1939-2021)
Talk of a surreal day on Saturday. I've been working on a 192 track audio project for nearly a year and am now about one-fifth the way through on the first draft of the liner notes. I ended my writing…
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Yogi Berra Explains Irish Traditional Music (Trad)
Yogi Berra Explains Irish Traditional Music (Trad):
Interviewer: Can you explain Trad?
Yogi: I can't, but I will. 90% of all Trad is half improvisation. The other half is the part people play while others are playing something they never…
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Joe Biden & Kamala Harris!!
My fellow Americans, the people of this nation have spoken.
They have delivered us a clear victory. A convincing victory. A victory for “We the People.”
We have won with the most votes ever cast for…
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Brendan Mulkere (1942-2020)
I was on my first solo trip to Ireland to compete in the 1977 Fleadh Cheoil in Ennis - after a successful Fleadh, I had a notion to head over to London for a long weekend before going…
Read moreThis about sums it up...
Acc0rdi0n Suite 2020 in Two Movements
This land...
This land is your land
This land is my land
This land is Brown land
This land is Black land
This land is White land
This land is Native land
This land was made for you and me...
Infinite Hope...
My individual video contribution to the 140 minute plus "Infinite Hope" originally live streamed on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020.
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Infinite Hope"…
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Kevin Henry (1929-2020)
Years back in the corner confessional of the 6511 Club I was with Kevin Henry, his wife Pauline, the late Brendan & Theresa Williams — and behind the counter bartending, bantering, and holding court, was the late Jack Finan…
Read moreThe Charleston Reel as played by Four Men and a Dog
While searching online for a way to trade in all them years of playing the accordion for the equivalent in time of playing the fiddle - I came across the following track by the brilliant Four Men and a Dog…
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Ten Albums
Pre-ramble: Musician Seán Montgomery and Irish Trad music radio presenter Maryann Keifer nominated me for a post-for-ten-days yokeybob album thingy.
I decided to expand it a wee bit as many of my friends don't know much about traditional Irish…
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BPT me arse...
I’ve been doing paid gigs since high school — the first sorta regular gig was with Liz Carroll at Ireland’s 32 here in Chicago on a Friday night — on the small stage right next to the pool table…
Read more#Quarantunes
I wish to thank Dr. Ryan Hackett for the #Quarantunes nomination - but more importantly, to thank Ryan and all you other healthcare heroes, first responders, and essential workers (our newest class of heroes) out yonder who are leading…
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Brian Dennehy...
Sorry to learn of the passing of Brian Dennehy. He was a brilliant actor and very lovely man who was as comfortable with a beer in hand as he was with a script.
Back in 1984 (not the…
Read moreJohn Prine - Rest in Paradise
Side B, Cut 7
I met John Prine in Dublin many years ago at a hotel where I was staying — it was at the in-house late night ‘disco’ where one went for a drink a few minutes after the…
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Ed Ward...
Just learned the sad news that Edward J. Ward passed away earlier this morning.
Two weeks ago Ed and Catherine Ward opened their home and hearts to Mick Moloney, Liz Carroll, and myself to be with Ed as…
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