James Morrison (fiddler)

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James or Jim Morrison (3 May 1893 - 1947) was a traditional Irish musician known at the Professor who was a notable fiddle player in the "South Sligo style".

Morrison was born in 1893 near Riverstown, County Sligo at the townland of Drumfin. Morrison grew up in a community steeped in traditional Irish culture especially music and at the age of 17 he was employed by the Gaelic League to tutor the Connacht style of step dancing at the Gaelic League school in County Mayo.^[1][2]

In 1915, at the age of 21, emigrated to America and settled in New York. In 1918, Morrison won the fiddle competition at the New York Feis. Morrison become associated with other leading Irish musicians such as Michael Coleman, Paddy Killoran who were also from County Sligo.

Killoran, who was a former pupil of Morrison in Ballymote arrived in New York in 1920, then joined with Morrison and they formed an orchestra and played throughout the New York area, recording over 80 sides both as solo acts and with their orchestra. The highest profile orchestra which they organised was called The Pride of Erin Orchestra and they played on ships which sailed between Ireland and the United States in the 1930's.

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