Following Bobby Clancy's departure, Geordie singer, Louis Killen joined the Clancys. Four albums followed,
before both Liam and Louis both left in 1974. According to Sean McGuinness, “I had
always thought it was in 1973, but I now have this audio tape of a 1974 TV special from
Boston and it includes Liam and Louis. Evidently the reason Liam left was that Tom
got an acting job and refused to go on a scheduled tour of Australia. Pat then said,
‘If Tom isn't going, I'm not going.’ Then, Liam and Louis quit.”
(My current guess…) Tom's acting job
was in the Sam Peckinpah film (sub-par Peckinpah, I might add…), the Killer Elite.
After a brief dormant period, the group reformed in in 1977 with Pat, Tom, Bobby and their nephew Robbie OConnell. This line-up remained until Toms untimely death in 1990. Liam and Tommy Makem both pursued solo careers until they reunited in 1975 and remained together for more than a decade as the very successful duo, Makem and Clancy.
In 1984, the original group reunited for a concert and subsequent world tour, after which Makem and Clancy continued until 1988, then went their separate ways. Liam returned to the group during the end of Toms illness and remained after his death.
In 1992, the group enjoyed a bit of a resurgence with an appearance (including Tommy Makem) at Bob Dylans 30th anniversary concert. Sean McGuinness adds, “Bob was actually in the business for 31 years at the time of the concert. The after concert party was held at Tommy Makem's Irish Pavilion in New York City with a jam session with George Harrison, Ron Wood et al where Irish songs (Roddy McCorley and the like) were sung until about 7am.”
In 1996, Liam and Robbie left and formed the trio Clancy, OConnell & Clancy, with Liams son Donal. Pat and Bobby added Bobbys son, Finbarr (and I believe, Eddie Dillon), and continued as the Clancy Brothers until Pats death in 1998. Clancy, OConnell & Clancy no longer play together full-time, but still make appearances. Bobby and Finbar performed as "The Clancys and Eddie Dillon" until Bobby's passing at age 75 in September 2002. Rumors abounded of different types of Clancy/Makem reunions, and at the 2000 Milwaukee Irish Festival the entire performing Clancy family took the stage. The legacy of music continues with Tommys sons, Rory, Connor and Shane, The Makem Brothers, Liam and Bobbys above-mentioned sons, and Bobbys daughter, Aofie. Sadly, Tommy Makem passed away on August 1, 2007 after a year long battle with lung cancer.
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem deserve our greatest admiration and respect. Their influence and impact on Irish music is still felt today, 50-years on. Ask anyone with even a slight knowledge or passing interest in Irish music and I'll wager the names they'll all come up with are "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem".
After a brief dormant period, the group reformed in in 1977 with Pat, Tom, Bobby and their nephew Robbie OConnell. This line-up remained until Toms untimely death in 1990. Liam and Tommy Makem both pursued solo careers until they reunited in 1975 and remained together for more than a decade as the very successful duo, Makem and Clancy.
In 1984, the original group reunited for a concert and subsequent world tour, after which Makem and Clancy continued until 1988, then went their separate ways. Liam returned to the group during the end of Toms illness and remained after his death.
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In 1992, the group enjoyed a bit of a resurgence with an appearance (including Tommy Makem) at Bob Dylans 30th anniversary concert. Sean McGuinness adds, “Bob was actually in the business for 31 years at the time of the concert. The after concert party was held at Tommy Makem's Irish Pavilion in New York City with a jam session with George Harrison, Ron Wood et al where Irish songs (Roddy McCorley and the like) were sung until about 7am.”
In 1996, Liam and Robbie left and formed the trio Clancy, OConnell & Clancy, with Liams son Donal. Pat and Bobby added Bobbys son, Finbarr (and I believe, Eddie Dillon), and continued as the Clancy Brothers until Pats death in 1998. Clancy, OConnell & Clancy no longer play together full-time, but still make appearances. Bobby and Finbar performed as "The Clancys and Eddie Dillon" until Bobby's passing at age 75 in September 2002. Rumors abounded of different types of Clancy/Makem reunions, and at the 2000 Milwaukee Irish Festival the entire performing Clancy family took the stage. The legacy of music continues with Tommys sons, Rory, Connor and Shane, The Makem Brothers, Liam and Bobbys above-mentioned sons, and Bobbys daughter, Aofie. Sadly, Tommy Makem passed away on August 1, 2007 after a year long battle with lung cancer.
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The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem deserve our greatest admiration and respect. Their influence and impact on Irish music is still felt today, 50-years on. Ask anyone with even a slight knowledge or passing interest in Irish music and I'll wager the names they'll all come up with are "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem".
