John McGreevy
John McGreevy was born of Irish parents in Chicago in 1919 and did not set foot
on Irish soil until 1959. Yet his reputation as one of the world's most accomplished
Irish Fiddle Players had already preceded him. The occasion of John's first visit was
the tour of sixteen Chicago-born Irish musicians, singers,
and dancers organized by
Frank Thornton as a means of demonstrating the strength of theses
traditions
among the Irish of Chicago. The tour gave twenty-three concerts in
twenty-seven days
and, according to Frank Thornton, "Johnny McGreevy played like a house
a-fire. Why,
some nights they'd get him started playing and they couldn't stop him
for hours."
That enthusiasm and intensity has always characterized the fiddling of
John McGreevy,
and today, when Irish musicians visit Chicago, John is the one local
musician most frequently
and eagerly sought for a session.
(From the original 1970's liner
notes)
The recording "Traditional Irish Music In America : Chicago"
is available through Rounder Records Records
Jim Kennedy's Favorite
John McGreevy: Fiddle / Eleanor: Neary Piano
Around The World For Sport
John McGreevy: Fiddle / Eleanor: Neary Piano
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