1955, American song-collector Diane Hamilton went to Ireland in search
of songs and tunes. One of her first stops was the Clancy family home, in County Tipperary,
where she met Liam Clancy. As she continued her journey to the north, Liam
joined her and they arrived in the town of Keady, County Armagh, where Liam met
Tommy Makem. The following year saw both Liam and Tommy emigrating to the
United States, to pursue careers in acting. Liams older brothers Tom and Pat had
both come over several years earlier. All were aspiring actors, Pat being the least
serious, while Tom, Liam and Tommy enjoyed a measure on success on the stage
and television. As the story goes, the four held impromptu sessions in a
Greenwich Village bar, which led to paying gigs.
It soon became clear that more money could be made singing Irish songs than by acting and off they went. First recording for Pats Tradition label, a famous 16-minute appearance on the Ed Sullivan show led to a recording contract with Columbia that a lasted almost a decade. Theres little doubt that in the 60s, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were the most popular Irishmen in America. Clad in their trademark Aran sweaters they attacked the stage with boisterous exuberance.
They introduced hundreds of songs, well known in Ireland, to a new and eager audience—their editing of most of these caused much displeasure to many purists in Ireland.Other Irish musicians, such as the Flanagan Brothers and McNulty Family preceded the boys and were very popular in their own right, but never reached the heights or audience as did the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. As the decade came to a close and their popularity began to wane, Tommy Makem set out to pursue a solo career. Bobby Clancy, the brother who'd stayed in Ireland to run the family insurance business, became Tommys first replacement.
Sean McGuiness adds that on the first 2 Columbia albums with Bobby, "Finbar and Eddie Furey were part of the group (although un-credited on the albums themselves—evidently they toured as a six piece group for a year and a half)". I dug out "Flowers In Valley" and found Finbar & Eddie mention in the notes, but not credited as musicians on the albums as Sean states. Bobby stayed for 3 albums, before he temporarily left the group.
It soon became clear that more money could be made singing Irish songs than by acting and off they went. First recording for Pats Tradition label, a famous 16-minute appearance on the Ed Sullivan show led to a recording contract with Columbia that a lasted almost a decade. Theres little doubt that in the 60s, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were the most popular Irishmen in America. Clad in their trademark Aran sweaters they attacked the stage with boisterous exuberance.
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Paddy Clancy |
Tom Clancy |
Liam Clancy |
Tommy Makem |
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Bobby Clancy |
They introduced hundreds of songs, well known in Ireland, to a new and eager audience—their editing of most of these caused much displeasure to many purists in Ireland.Other Irish musicians, such as the Flanagan Brothers and McNulty Family preceded the boys and were very popular in their own right, but never reached the heights or audience as did the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. As the decade came to a close and their popularity began to wane, Tommy Makem set out to pursue a solo career. Bobby Clancy, the brother who'd stayed in Ireland to run the family insurance business, became Tommys first replacement.
Sean McGuiness adds that on the first 2 Columbia albums with Bobby, "Finbar and Eddie Furey were part of the group (although un-credited on the albums themselves—evidently they toured as a six piece group for a year and a half)". I dug out "Flowers In Valley" and found Finbar & Eddie mention in the notes, but not credited as musicians on the albums as Sean states. Bobby stayed for 3 albums, before he temporarily left the group.