Liam (2 Sept 1935 -- 4 Dec 2009) was the last and youngest of the Clancy brothers, predeceased as well two years ago by his and their partner in folk-musical greatness, Tommy Makem. Liam was a frank-faced, silver-tongued charmer, a natural leader of the group, and friend and inspiration to artists like Bob Dylan who were just coming of age in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
You can watch and listen to a younger Liam performing with his brothers here. This morning I'll play instead a Canadian song Liam helped to popularize in his later solo career. I'm guessing this performance dates from the late 1980s or 1990s, when Liam was still singing, sometimes in partnership with Tommy Makem. I find the sound quality of the YouTube regrettably harsh (so watch your volume), a sad reminder of the subtle beauty of Stan Rogers' own voice, but the character and spirit of Liam Clancy are unmistakable.
Liam Clancy, The Mary Ellen Carter by Stan Rogers
H/t to Croghan at Bread and Roses
Many years ago Joe McFadden used to run a pub called The Celts Room on the second floor of what became the Mayflower, on Queen St. near Bank. Joe was a fine musician, and a good friend of everyone in Celtic music pretty much everywhere. When the Chieftains finished their fancy gig at the NAC, Paddy Maloney and Sean Keane would head over to the Celt's Room for a session, and whenever the Clancys were in the area they'd pop by - alone or as a group - and do a set.
Liam was one of the funniest performers I've ever seen. He'd punctuate his performance of the old pub classic "Finnegan's Wake" with a ten minute excerpt, from memory, from the Joyce novel. Wonderful storyteller, great singer, and a fine man to have at your session.
Many years ago Joe McFadden used to run a pub called The Celts Room on the second floor of what became the Mayflower, on Queen St. near Bank. Joe was a fine musician, and a good friend of everyone in Celtic music pretty much everywhere. When the Chieftains finished their fancy gig at the NAC, Paddy Maloney and Sean Keane would head over to the Celt's Room for a session, and whenever the Clancys were in the area they'd pop by - alone or as a group - and do a set.
Liam was one of the funniest performers I've ever seen. He'd punctuate his performance of the old pub classic "Finnegan's Wake" with a ten minute excerpt, from memory, from the Joyce novel. Wonderful storyteller, great singer, and a fine man to have at your session.
Whoops. I liked Liam, but not enough to post the same comment twice.
It burps every once in a while and does that.
could you elaborate on your comments of Joe McFAdden? I'm his nephew, living in Ottawa, and desperate to hear more.
Hi, Barry. By all means send me an email at balbulican@stageleft.info, and I'll be happy to chat.