Biography Wikipedia
from Wikipedia:
Robbie O'Connell is an Irish singer and songwriter.
Life
Robbie was born in Waterford and grew up in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, where his parents had a small hotel. He spent a year touring folk clubs in England before enrolling at University College Dublin where he studied Literature and Philosophy. Being a newphew of the Clancy Brothers, he began touring with them in 1977, taking the place of Liam Clancy who was working with Tommy Makem (Makem & Clancy). He sang, played guitar and, occasionally, mandolin. In 1979 he moved to Franklin, Massachusetts.
Beginning in 1977 the Clancy Brothers & Robbie O'Connell toured three months a year in March, August and November, all in the United States. Robbie, who had been a songwriter since his early teens, composed several songs the group sang regularly, such as "Bobby's Britches," "Ferrybank Piper," and "You're Not Irish." He also brought in songs from others such as "Dear Boss," "Sister Josephine," "There Were Roses," "John O'Dreams," and possibly his signature song "Killkelly." Reviews cited Robbie as a fresh addition to the group and with his original compositions, the future of the group.
With the release, in 1982, of his first solo album, Close to the Bone, Robbie emerged as an artist of major stature. He began touring with Mick Moloney and Jimmy Keane, and also with Eileen Ivers and Seamus Egan in the Green Fields of America.
Robbie continued to play part-time with the Clancy brothers for nineteen years. In 1992 he performed at Carnegie Hall with them and also performed on the telecast of a live tribute to Bob Dylan at Madison Square Garden.
In 1996 Liam Clancy and Robbie departed the Clancy Brothers and formed their own duo, called simply Liam Clancy and Robbie O'Connell. Before splitting, the Clancy brothers and Robbie O'Connell gave a Farewell Tour of both Ireland and America in February and March 1996. The Irish tour in February was filmed near the Clancys' hometown, televised and later released to video and DVD as The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell: Farewell to Ireland.
Liam Clancy and Robbie O'Connell toured for a while as a duo, but very soon added Liam's son Donal Clancy to the mix, forming the trio Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy. The trio released two albums, a self-titled debut album in 1997 and an album of sea songs in 1998, The Wild and Wasteful Ocean. O'Connell regards the self-titled Clancy, O'Connell and Clancy album as one of his favorite works. In 1999, with Liam in Ireland, Robbie in Massachusetts and Donal in New York, the trio decided to call it quits as a full time group. They occasionally regrouped for concerts, but as Liam's health declined, these were infrequent.
In 2000, the Milwaukee Irish Fest had its 20th anniversary and, in celebration, they had the entire performing Clancy family sing together on one stage. This once-in-a-lifetime lineup included Robbie O'Connell, Donal, Liam, Bobby, Finbarr, and Aoife Clancy. In 2006 he began an ongoing collaboration with his cousins Aoife and Donal Clancy. The Clancy Legacy, their first CD together was released in 2010.
In addition to his solo career, O'Connell also performs with Mick Moloney, The Greenfields of America, The Clancy Legacy, and occasionally with Dan Milner and Ed Miller. He is currently working on a new solo CD of his own compositions.
In 1995, O'Connell began hosting "Heart of Ireland" cultural tours wherein he would escort small groups of people to Ireland, concentrating on the musical and cultural traditions of particular areas. In 2003, WGBH radio host Brian O'Donovan asked O'Connell if he would use his expertise to put together and participate in a 'GBH Learning Tour. Both tours continue to run annually.
Partial discography
Solo:
Close To The BoneHumorous Songs - LiveLove Of The LandNever Learned to DanceRecollectionsWith Others:
Clancy Legacy • Clancy LegacyAll on a Christmas Morning • Aengus • RCA 1998Wild & Wasteful Ocean • Clancy, O'Connell & ClancyClancy, O'Connell & Clancy • HLV 2001The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O’Connell Live • Clancy Brothers & Robbie O'Connell • Vanguard VSD9445Tunes n Tales of Ireland • Clancy Brothers & Robbie O’Connell • Folk Era FE2061Older But No Wiser • The Clancy Brothers & Robbie O’Connell • Vanguard 79488-2There Were Roses • Moloney, O'Connell & Keane • Green Linnet CSIF 1057Kilkelly • Moloney, O'Connell & Keane • Green Linnet CSIF1072The Green Fields of America Live in Concert • Green Linnet CSIF 1096The Greenfields of America • The Greenfields of America • Compass 2009Irish Songs from Old New England • CompilationThe Rights of Man • Compilation • Green Linnet CSIF 1111Sing Out America • Compilation • Folk Era FE2063The Celts Rise Again • Compilation • Green Linnet 10429Bringing It All Back Home • Compilation • BBC CD 844Video Footage
The Clancy Brothers & Robbie O'Connell - Farewell To IrelandWritings
Clean Cabbage in the Bucket (And Other Tales From The Irish Music Trenches), co-written with Seamus Kennedy, Dennis O'Rourke, Harry O'Donoghue and Frank Emerson.
