Liam Clancy

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William 'Liam' Clancy (born on September 2, 1935) (Irish;Liam Mac Fhlannchadha) is an Irish folk singer. With his brothers Tom, and Patrick Clancy, as well as Tommy Makem, he was part of the popular group The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.

Liam is the youngest of the Clancy Brothers, and as a child was known as William or Willie. He displayed an artistic disposition at an early age, while growing up in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary. While still in his teens, Liam explored writing and painting, though he was particularly drawn to the theatre. In his early performing days, he began to call himself Liam rather than William or Willie. Before he was twenty years old, Liam had founded the local dramatic society and had produced, directed, set-directed, and starred in The Playboy of the Western World. Liam also performed at the renowned Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

In 1955, American song-collector Diane Hamilton arrived at the Clancy's home while on a song-collecting tour of Ireland. Liam joined her on the trip to Keady, Co. Armagh, where they met the singer Sarah Makem and her son, Tommy. Both Liam and Tommy emigrated to the United States the following year, pursuing careers in acting, both on stage and television.

Liam began singing with his brothers at fund-raising events for the Cherry Lane Theatre and the Guthrie benefits. The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, began recording on Paddy Clancy's "Tradition" label in the late 50s. A record-breaking 16 minute long performance on The Ed Sullivan Show launched the group into stardom. The quartet recorded numerous albums for Columbia Records and enjoyed great success during the '60s folk revival. He was a close friend of Bob Dylan when they both were going out with two sisters in New York. He performed live for President John F. Kennedy.

Liam Clancy played guitar, in addition to singing baritone, and recorded several solo albums. In 1975 he was booked to play a festival in Cleveland, Ohio, where Tommy Makem was also playing. The two played a set together and formed Makem and Clancy, performing in numerous concerts and recording several albums as a duo, until 1988.

In early 2004 he created what many critics consider his greatest musical contribution since the dissolution of the original Clancy Brothers. He received an important role in Martin Scorsese's Peabody Award-winning film No Direction Home which also raised critical awareness of his later work.

In 2006 Irish Television profiled Liam Clancy in a two hour documentary called "The Legend of Liam Clancy." In February 2007 the documentary won the award for best series at the Irish Film & Television Academy awards in Dublin. Crossing The Line Films are working on a full length biography of Liam for an October/November release. The footage includes interviews with Pete Seeger, Jean Ritchie, Bob Dylan, Oscar Brand, Odetta, Josh White Jr. and many others.

As of 2008, Liam Clancy is the last surviving member of the original Clancy Brothers; Tom Clancy died on November 7, 1990, Patrick Clancy died on November 11, 1998 and Tommy Makem died on August 1, 2007.

[edit] Discography

Solo Recordings

  • 1965 - Liam Clancy - Vanguard LP/CD

*re-released with bonus tracks as 'Irish Troubadour' on Vanguard CD

  • 1974 - Farewell to Tarwaithie - Plainsong LP

*on Shanachie CD as "The Dutchman"

  • Kerrygold Cheddar Cheese - special edition 45rpm - unknown year

Guest Recordings

  • 1955 - The Lark in the Morning - Tradition LP/Rykodisc CD
  • 1956 - The Countess Cathleen - Tradition LP
  • 1989 - Phil Coulter: Words and Music - Shanachie CD
  • 1992 - Phil Coulter: A Touch of Tranquility - Shanachie CD
  • 1994 - Joanie Madden: Whistle on the Wind - Green Linnet CD
  • 1999 - Cherish the Ladies: At Home - RCA CD
  • 2000 - The Boys Won't Leave the Girls Alone - Windham Hill CD

Clancy, Evans, and Doherty

  • 1996 - Shine on Brighter - Popular CD

Clancy, O'Connell, & Clancy

  • 1997 - Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy - Helvic CD
  • 1998 - The Wild and Wasteful Ocean - Helvic CD

[edit] Videos

  • 1984 - The Story of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem - Shanchie
  • 1984 - Reunion Concert: Belfast - Shanachie
  • circa 1985 - Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest (1965) - Central Sun / Shanachie (reissue)
  • 1997 - Farewell to Ireland - Pinnacle Vision
  • 2007 - Yes...Those Were the Days: Liam Clancy - Live at the Olympia, Dublin - unknown distributor

*originally released in 1992 as "In Close Up: Volumes 1 and 2"

  • 2007 - The Best of 'Hootenanny' - Shout!

[edit] YouTube video

And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (live) [[1]]

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