As last year drew to an end, sad news arrived about the passing of two of the finest talents and most powerful presences in the traditional music world: Johnny Cunningham and Joe ‘Banjo’ Burke.
Scottish fiddler Johnny Cunningham died at home in New York City at 8pm on December 15 of a heart attack at the age of 46. A founding member of the groups Silly Wizard, Relativity, Nightnoise and the Celtic Fiddle Festival, he appeared on more than a dozen albums as well as producing recordings by Cherish The Ladies, Orealis and Brooks Williams, and will be remembered for his larger-than-life personality as well as his superb musicianship.
I remember going to see him play a solo gig at a folk club in Philadelphia many years ago. I think he played six tunes during the entire evening; nearly every time he lifted the fiddle to start a number, he’d put it down again as he remembered another joke or story he’d forgotten to tell. It was one of the most entertaining concerts I’ve ever attended, and far funnier than any comedy gig in my experience – by the end of the night, I had a pain in my side from laughing so hard.
A widely-read man, Johnny wrote the music and lyrics for a theatrical version of Peter Pan, ‘Peter And Wendy’, produced by New York City’s Mabou Mines Theater Company, which won two OBIE awards. He joined the rock group The Raindogs in the 1980s, releasing two albums on Atlantic/Atco, and toured with such artists as Bob Dylan, Don Henley, Hall & Oates, and the late Warren Zevon. He collaborated with best-selling author Thomas Moore on a CD and book set, The Soul Of Christmas, a spritual exploration of Celtic culture and the Christmas tradition.
Most recently, Johnny had worked with singer Susan McKeown on a seasonal album called A Winter Talisman. The two had just finished an American tour, and in February, Johnny was scheduled to go back on the road with the Celtic Fiddle Festival, consisting of himself, Irish fiddler Kevin Burke and Breton musician Christian Lemaître.
Johnny is survived by his mother, his sister, and his brother Phil. Remembrances may be sent to .
As for Joe Burke, I can’t come up with any more fitting words than these penned by Larry Kirwan of Black 47:
“To say that Joe ‘Banjo’ Burke was the ‘real deal’ would be an understatement. Not only was he a brilliant musician, singer and collector of songs, he was also a County Kilkenny hurling star (and though I’m from rival Wexford, I have to reluctantly concede that Kilkenny hurlers do tend to set the standard). Joe was also what might be called ‘unconventional’ for a top athlete. Let’s just say he would have been more of a Ruth than a DiMaggio. But he had a heart as big as a lion’s and was never found wanting in any endeavour.
“For me, he epitomised the back rooms of bars in the Bronx and the Catskills – a towering figure who dominated any situation and never had to ask for silence – the room just naturally hushed when he began to sing. And yet he was a gentle person, an old style emigrant who knew and loved so many different parts of this country. He was one of those Irish who went to Alaska and worked on the oil lines for years. His stories, always modest and understated, still ring in my ears. We’ll miss you, Joe. There’ll be certain songs that will always be yours.”
Regular readers of this column will remember all the fuss last year over the proposal in Section 21 of the Arts Bill 2002 to establish a standing committee with funding powers to oversee Arts Council spending on the traditional arts. As you may recall, a compromise was eventually reached permitting the establishment of temporary special committees that would make recommendations – but not decisions – as to what elements should be funded, and how.
On December 4, Minister John O’Donoghue announced the establishment of a Special Committee on the Traditional Arts, charged with reviewing the structures, supports and policy for traditional arts nationwide and making recommendations for the future development of the sector to the Arts Council by September 1, 2004. The five-person Committee was announced at a function at King House, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, and will be chaired by Jerome Hynes, deputy chair of the Arts Council, former general manager of the Druid Theatre Company and chief executive of Wexford Festival Opera. The other members are Philip King of Scullion and Hummingbird Productions fame; musician and broadcaster Micheál O hEidhin; Brú Ború artistic director Una Ó Murchú; and Katie Verling, director of the Glór Irish music centre in Ennis.
The committee’s recommendations are expected to shape policy on the traditional arts for the next three to five years. Among the particular areas about which its advice is being sought are “the applicability and relevance of the terms ‘amateur’, ‘professional’ and ‘voluntary’ in contemporary practice in traditional arts” and “proposals for an effective framework for assessing funding proposals.” Musicians, get your grant applications in now!
Once again, Music Network has announced a ‘Best of Irish’ traditional music tour for January. The first of two this season, the tour charts Dublin’s musical heritage, with fiddler Kevin Glackin joining uilleann piper Seán Potts, Paul McGrattan on flute, and singer Sean Tyrrell for a nationwide ten-venue tour from January 20 to 29. For full information on concerts and venues, visit .
Singer/songwriter Damien Dempsey is the subject of a new documentary, ‘It’s All Good’, covering three years of his life including the making of his current album Seize The Day as well as live footage and exclusive interviews with the likes of Sinéad O’Connor, Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan and many others. The documentary, which was commissioned by RTÉ, was made by Dara McLuskey and is due to be aired on Irish TV in February 2004.
Martin Shane has started up a folk and traditional music school in Carrickfergus, opening this month and offering “the usual classes”. For more information, visit .
Finally, congratulations to Rossa and Ronán Ó Snodaigh of Kíla on their acting debut in RTRs Bachelor’s Walk in December. The pair played two hairy, drink-swilling, monosyllabic session musicians. Not all that far out of character,
then?

Musicians and singers with news to share can e-mail Sarah on [email protected]