The Clancy Brothers
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The Clancy Brothers were an Irish folk music singing group, most popular in the 1960s, who are often credited with popularizing Irish traditional music in the United States. The brothers were Pat, Tom, and Liam. Though born in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland, they did not begin playing together until they emigrated to the United States where, in 1955, they met Tommy Makem in New York City. For years the quartet performed as The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.
The four were primarily vocalists, though Makem was an accomplished banjo and tin whistle player, and Liam played guitar. Pat would sometimes play harmonica. Nevertheless they often were accompanied by other musicians, notably Pete Seeger on several occasions. They began playing at small clubs in Greenwich Village, but as their popularity grew so did their venues. By 1962 they played Carnegie Hall.
Their popularity is the result of several factors. There was already an American folk revival beginning in the United States, and men such as Ewan MacColl popularizing old songs on the other side of the Atlantic. But it was the Clancy's boisterous performances that set them apart, taking placid classics such as "Brennan on the Moor" and giving them a boost of energy and spirit (not that they took this approach with all their songs; they would still sing the true mournful ballads with due reverence).
In 1961 they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, playing a double set after the last minute cancellation of another act. They were a resounding success. Two years later they performed for President John F. Kennedy at the White House.
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem recorded more than 50 albums together, starting with The Rising of the Moon (also known as Irish Songs of Rebellion) in 1956. In 1975 the band split up. Liam and Tommy Makem reformed as the duo Makem and Clancy and released several albums, while the remaining brothers were joined by their other brother, Bobby, and their nephew, the accomplished musician Robbie O'Connell. However, the original line-up did reform for special concerts, notably in 1984. The original three brothers have also recorded with other artists, notably Lou Killen.
After Tom died in 1990 he was replaced by Bobby, and the Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell continued to tour the world. In 1998 Pat died. From 1996 through 1999, Liam and O'Connell toured as Clancy, O'Connell, & Clancy, with Donal Clancy of the next generation of the Clancys.
The group's trademark was their cream Irish wool Aran sweaters, originally knitted by their mother, which they wore on nearly all their album covers, but not necessarily their live performances.
[edit] Partial discography
[edit] With Tommy Makem
- The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem - (self titled - Tradition Records TLP 1042)
- The Rising of the Moon (or Irish Songs of Rebellion)
- Come Fill Your Glass with Us (or Irish Songs of Drinking and Blackguarding)
- The Lark In The Morning - Various Artists including debut of Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem - 1954
- A Spontaneous Performance Recording
- Hearty and Hellish! A Live Nightclub Performance
- The Boys Won't Leave the Girls Alone
- Sing of the Sea
- In Person at Carnegie Hall
- The First Hurrah!
- Recorded LIVE in Ireland
- Isn't It Grand, Boys
- Freedom's Sons
- The Bold Fenian Men
- Home, Boys, Home
- In Concert
- Reunion
- Ain't It Grand Boys - A Collection Of Unissued Gems
- At Home With The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem And Their Families
- Irish Folk Airs
- Irish Drinking Songs - Columbia/Sony compilation CD 1993
- Irish Drinking Songs - Tradition LP
- The Rising Of The Moon
- Luck Of The Irish - Columbia/Sony compilation. Contains 1 new song (Wars Of Germany) and 3 new performences of previously released songs: (Home Boys Home, The Old Orange Flute and They're Moving Fatther's Grave To Build A Sewer)
[edit] With Lou Killen
- Show Me the Way
- The Best of the Vanguard Years(The entire Greatest Hits album with 4 live Clancy Bros/O'Connell cuts)
- The Clancy Brothers' Greatest Hits
- Live On St. Patrick's Day
- Save The Land
[edit] The Clancy Brothers (Liam, Tom, Pat, Bobby)
- Welcome To Our House
- Flowers In The Valley
- Christmas
[edit] Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem
- The Makem and Clancy Collection
- Two for the Early Dew
- Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy
- We've Come A Long Way
- Live At The National Concert Hall
- The Makem & Clancy Concert
[edit] Bob Dylan
- The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (Pat, Liam & Bobby Clancy sing "When The Ship Comes In" with Tommy Makem and Robbie O'Connell)
[edit] The Clancy Brothers (Tom, Pat, Bobby) and Robbie O'Connell
- Mini CD (3 inch disc)
- The Clancy Brothers Live! with Robbie O'Connell
- Tunes 'n' Tales Of Ireland
[edit] The Clancy Brothers (Liam, Pat,Bobby) and Robbie O'Connell
- Older But No Wiser
[edit] Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy
- Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy
- The Wild And Wasteful Ocean
[edit] Tommy Makem
- Ancient Pulsing - Poetry With Music
- The Bard Of Armagh
- An Evening With Tommy Makem
- Ever The Winds
- Farewell To Nova Scotia
- In The Dark Green Wood - Columbia Records
- In The Dark Green Woods - Polydor Records
- Live At The Irish Pavillion
- Lonesome Waters
- Love Is Lord Of All
- Recorded Live - A Roomful Of Song
- Rolling Home
- Songbag
- Songs Of Tommy Makem
- The Song Tradition
- Tommy Makem Sings Tommy Makem
- Tommy Makem And Friends In Concert
[edit] Liam Clancy
- The Mountain Of The Women : Memoirs Of An Irish Troubadour - audiobook
- The Dutchman
- Irish Troubadour
- Liam Clancy's Favourites
[edit] Bobby Clancy
- Good Times When.....When Bobby Clancy Sings
- Irish Folk Festival Live 1974 (Bobby appears on 4 songs)
- Make Me A Cup
- The Quiet Land
[edit] Robbie O'Connell
- Close To The Bone
- Humorous Songs - Live
- Love Of The Land
- Recollections
[edit] Clancy, Evans & Doherty
- Shine On Brighter (featuring Liam Clancy)
[edit] Peg and Bobby Clancy
- Songs From Ireland
[edit] Video Footage
- The Story Of The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
- The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem Reunion Concert At The Ulster Hall Belfast
- Liam Clancy - In Close Up Vol. 1
- Liam Clancy - In Close Up Vol. 2
- The Clancy Brothers & Robbie O'Connell - Farewell To Ireland
