James Kelly (fiddler)

{{Short description|Irish fiddler}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | honorific_prefix = | name = James Kelly | honorific_suffix = | image = File:James Kelly playing the Irish fiddle- Miami, Florida (8559759416).jpg | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = Kelly playing in Miami, 1989 | native_name = Séamus Ó Ceallaigh | native_name_lang = ga | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = January 10, 1957 | birth_place = Capel Street, Dublin, Ireland | origin = | death_date = | death_place = | genre = {{flatlist| * Folk * Traditional Irish * Irish fiddle }} | occupation = {{flatlist| * Musician * composer * collector * researcher * teacher }} | instrument = Fiddle | years_active = 1971–present | label = {{flatlist| * Claddagh Records * Gael Linn * Green Linnet Records * Rounder Records * Shanachie Records * Tara Music }} | associated_acts = {{flatlist| * Ceoltóirí Laigheann * Kinvara * Bowhand * Patrick Street * Planxty }} | website = {{url|jameskellymusic.com}} | module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes | parents = {{plainlist| * John Kelly * Frances Hilliard }}}} | module2 = | module3 = }}

'''James Kelly''' ({{langx|ga|Séamus Ó Ceallaigh}}; born 1957) is an Irish fiddler, composer, collector, researcher and teacher from Dublin.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |url=https://www.jameskellymusic.com/JK_Biography.html |title=James Kelly's Biography and Reviews |publisher=James Kelly Music |accessdate=28 February 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="dob">{{cite web|url=https://irishtunecomposers.weebly.com/james-kelly.html |title=James Kelly (b. 1957) |publisher=The Irish Tune Composers |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> He is the son of County Clare fiddler, John Kelly, and has played with various groups including Patrick Street and Planxty.<ref name="bio"/> Kelly has been described by ''The Journal of Music'' as "one of the greatest Irish traditional fiddlers alive today"<ref name="jom">{{cite web|url=https://journalofmusic.com/listing/18-12-12/james-kelly-fiddle-master-class-steeple-sessions |title=James Kelly - Fiddle Master Class at The Steeple Sessions |publisher=The Journal of Music |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> and by Cathy Benton, Professor of Music at Missouri Baptist University, as "one of the top 10 fiddlers in the world".<ref>{{cite news |author=Christine Cole |date=27 February 2004 |title=Famous Fiddler to fire up Eustis |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/os-xpm-2004-02-27-0402270105-story.html+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie |work=Orlando Sentinel |location=Orlando |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>

==Early life==

Kelly was born into a musical family in Capel Street, Dublin in 1957.<ref name="bio"/><ref name="dob"/> His father, John Kelly, was a fiddle and concertina player from Kilbaha, County Clare.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnkellycapelstreet.ie/project/early-life |title=Early life |publisher=johnkellycapelstreet.ie |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> His father was also a founding member, along with Seán Ó Riada, of Ceoltóirí Chualann.<ref name="bio"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnkellycapelstreet.ie/project/sean-o-riada-ceoltoiri-chualann |title=Seán Ó Riada & Ceoltóirí Chualann |publisher=johnkellycapelstreet.ie |accessdate=2 March 2021}}</ref> His mother, Frances Hilliard, was from Shillelagh, County Wicklow.<ref name="family">{{cite web|url=http://johnkellycapelstreet.ie/project/johns-family-in-dublin |title=John's family in Dublin |publisher=johnkellycapelstreet.ie |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> Together, they had 5 children: Michael, John Jnr, Anthony, Marianne and James, all musicians.<ref name="family"/> Michael, John, Marianne and James played the fiddle and Anthony was a piper.<ref name="family"/> When James was 3 years of age, his father began teaching him to play the fiddle.<ref name="bio"/> In 1960, his father purchased him a fiddle, made in Alsace-Lorraine in 1812.<ref name="historymiami">{{cite web |url=https://www.historymiami.org/folklifecenter/artist-in-residence/james-kelly |title=James Kelly |publisher=HistoryMiami |accessdate=28 February 2021 |archive-date=10 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210205226/http://www.historymiami.org/folklifecenter/artist-in-residence/james-kelly/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Career==

Kelly's performing and recording career began in 1971 at the age of 14, with several broadcasts for RTÉ.<ref name="bio"/> At the age of 16, he won first place in the Fiddler of the Year competition<ref name="bio"/> and recorded his first album, a fiddle duet with his brother John, titled ''John & James Kelly: Irish Traditional Fiddle Music''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtune.info/album/JJK |title=Album Details for Irish Traditional Fiddle Music by John and James Kelly with Michael Crehan and Michael Gavin |publisher=Irish Traditional Music Tune Index |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ru/John-James-Kelly-John-James-Kelly-The-Best-Of-Traditional-Irish-Music/release/6264323 |title=John & James Kelly – John & James Kelly - The Best Of Traditional Irish Music |year=1976 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> During that time, he joined the group Ceoltóirí Laigheann, that included his father John, Paddy O'Brien, Mary Bergin, and Paddy Glackin. He recorded two albums with this group. The first, ''The Crooked Road'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/%C3%89amon-De-Buitl%C3%A9ar-Agus-Ceolt%C3%B3ir%C3%AD-Laighean-The-Crooked-Road/release/5401321 |title=Éamon De Buitléar Agus Ceoltóirí Laighean – The Crooked Road |year=1973 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> was a live recording of a 1973 concert held in University College Dublin to support Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Gobnait, a Gaeltacht school in Dún Chaoin, County Kerry then threatened with closure.<ref name="cnuas">{{cite web|url=https://siopa.gael-linn.ie/en/cnuas-le-ceolt%C3%B3ir%C3%AD-laighean-double-cd |title=CNUAS le Ceoltóirí Laighean (Double CD) |publisher=Gael Linn |accessdate=10 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |date=5 June 2003 |title=Scoil Dún Chaoin celebrates landmark in its history |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/localnotes/scoil-dun-chaoin-celebrates-landmark-in-its-history-27369613.html |work=The Kerryman |location=Tralee |access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref> The second album, ''The Star Of Munster'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/%C3%89amon-De-Buitl%C3%A9ar-Agus-Ceolt%C3%B3ir%C3%AD-Laighean-The-Star-Of-Munster/release/5401510 |title=Éamon De Buitléar Agus Ceoltóirí Laighean – Star Of Munster |year=1975 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> was released in 1975 and has been described by Irish music critic Siobhán Long of ''The Irish Times'' as "widely influential".<ref name="cnuasnews">{{cite news |author=Siobhán Long |date=9 Jul 2010 |title=Éamon de Buitléar agus Ceoltóirí Laighean |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-reviews/%C3%A9amon-de-buitl%C3%A9ar-agus-ceolt%C3%B3ir%C3%AD-laighean-1.619742 |newspaper=The Irish Times |location=Dublin |access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref>

In 1978, Kelly emigrated to the US.<ref name="bio"/> He spent the next three years touring the US with Paddy O'Brien and Dáithí Sproule as part of a group known as Bowhand and recorded two albums with the Shanachie Records label, ''Is It Yourself'' in 1979<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtune.info/album/KOS/ |title=Album Details for Traditional Music of Ireland by James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien, Daithi Sproule |publisher=Irish Traditional Music Tune Index |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/James-Kelly-7-Paddy-OBrien-And-Daithi-Sproule-Is-It-Yourself/release/3835834 |title=James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien And Daithi Sproule – Is It Yourself |year=1979 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> and ''Spring In The Air'' in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtune.info/album/SA/ |title=Album Details for Spring in the Air by James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien, Daithi Sproule |publisher=Irish Traditional Music Tune Index |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/James-Kelly-7-Paddy-OBrien-And-Daithi-Sproule-Spring-In-The-Air/release/4754357 |title=James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien And Daithi Sproule – Spring In The Air |year=1982 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> In 1982, Kelly joined Irish folk group Planxty<ref name="O'Toole">{{cite book|last=O'Toole |first=Leagues |year=2006 |title=The Humours of Planxty |location=London |publisher=Hodder Headline |pages=301–304 |isbn=03-4083-796-9}}</ref> and recorded on their ''Words & Music'' album in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtune.info/album/Plx+7/ |title=Album Details for Words and Music by Planxty |publisher=Irish Traditional Music Tune Index |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Planxty-Words-Music/release/2065639 |title=Planxty – Words & Music |year=1983 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> That same year, Kelly featured on Dolores Keane and John Faulkner's album, ''Sail Óg Rua''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Dolores-Keane-John-Faulkner-Sail-%C3%93g-Rua/release/4936437 |title=Dolores Keane, John Faulkner – Sail Óg Rua |year=1983 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> Kelly was also part of a quartet with Keane and Faulkner (and accordionist Jackie Daly), known as Kinvara, although they never recorded under such name.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=24 August 1984 |title=Kinvara: Sum of Its Parts |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1984/08/24/kinvara-sum-of-its-parts/26532c17-84f2-4fd1-b138-d1abb8de410f/+&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref> In 1985, he recorded with Danny McGinley on his album ''In Our Time''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Danny-McGinley-In-Our-Time/release/3833311 |title=Danny McGinley – In Our Time |year=1985 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref>

In 1989, Kelly released his first solo album titled ''Capel Street'', recorded in Rostrevor, County Down and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Accompanying him on the album were various musicians including Chuck Heymann (bodhrán), Josephine Keegan (piano), Arty McGlynn (guitar), Noreen O'Donoghue (harp, synthesizer) and Dáithí Sproule (guitar).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtune.info/album/JK+1/ |title=Album Details for "Capel Street" by James Kelly |publisher=Irish Traditional Music Tune Index |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> Kelly was also a member of the group Patrick Street for a time and in 1990 recorded on their ''Irish Times'' album, featuring their well-known cover of "Music for a Found Harmonium".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtune.info/album/PS+3/ |title=Album Details for Irish Times by Patrick Street |publisher=Irish Traditional Music Tune Index |accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Patrick-Street-Irish-Times/release/2881686 |title=Patrick Street – Irish Times |year=1990 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref> That same year, Kelly performed with various artists at the Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival, from which a live album was recorded and released in 1991 titled ''My Love Is In America''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Boston-College-Irish-Fiddle-Festival-My-Love-Is-In-America-/release/6181631 |title=Various – The Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival - My Love Is In America |year=1991 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/boston-college-irish-fiddle-festival-my-love-is-in-america-mw0000086244?cmpredirect |title=Various Artists - Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival: My Love is in America |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref> In 1995, Kelly recorded ''The Ring Sessions'' album with Zan McLeod.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtune.info/album/JK+2/ |title=Album Details for The Ring Sessions by James Kelly and Zan McLeod |publisher=Irish Traditional Music Tune Index |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> In 1996, Kelly released his second solo album, simply titled ''James Kelly''. This album featured the accompaniment of Paddy Keenan (pipes), Zan McLeod (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin), Mark Stone (keyboards, bodhrán) and Daithí Connaughton (flute).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtune.info/album/JK+3/ |title=Album Details for Traditional Irish Music by James Kelly |publisher=Irish Traditional Music Tune Index |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/James-Kelly-Traditional-Irish-Music/release/16003989 |title=James Kelly – Traditional Irish Music |year=1996 |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref>

In 2001, Kelly was awarded the Florida Folk Heritage Award by the Florida Folklife Program in recognition of his "outstanding musicianship".<ref name="bio"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dos.fl.gov/cultural/programs/florida-folklife-program/folk-heritage-awards/list-of-past-recipients/james-kelly/ |title=James Kelly 2001 Florida Folk Heritage Award |publisher=Florida Department of State |access-date=28 February 2021}}</ref> Kelly released a third solo album in 2004, titled ''Melodic Journeys'', which he recorded in Miami, Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtune.info/album/JK+4/ |title=Album Details for Melodic Journeys by James Kelly |publisher=Irish Traditional Music Tune Index |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> That same year, Patrick Street's recording of "Music for a Found Harmonium" featured on the soundtrack of American comedy film, Napoleon Dynamite. In 2006, he was the recipient of the TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year Award at Gradam Ceoil TG4, Ireland's annual traditional music awards.<ref>{{cite news |author=Siobhán Long |date=24 August 2006 |title=A slap on the back for modest musicians |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/a-slap-on-the-back-for-modest-musicians-1.1042148 |newspaper=The Irish Times |location=Dublin |access-date=28 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tg4.ie/en/other-brands/gradam-ceoil/previous-winners/musician-of-the-year |title=Musician of the Year |publisher=TG4 |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> In addition to his performing career, Kelly has composed over 800 tunes.<ref name="bio"/> In 2009, he released his first book of compositions titled ''101 Traditional Irish Dance Tunes Composed by James Kelly, Volume 1''.<ref name="dob"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Kelly |first=James |author-link=James Kelly (fiddler) |date=2009 |title=101 Traditional Irish Dance Tunes Composed by James Kelly, Volume 1 |url=https://mckiernanlibrary.pastperfectonline.com/library/3B84FA2B-3800-4FBD-92DD-493811286012 |location= |publisher=Capelhouse |isbn=}}</ref> This collection contains 6 barn dances, 1 Highland Fling, 2 hornpipes, 31 double jigs, 7 slip jigs, 3 polkas, 42 reels, 5 slides, and 4 strathspeys.<ref name="dob"/> In 2010, the two albums Kelly recorded with Ceoltóirí Laigheann, ''The Crooked Road'' and ''The Star Of Munster'', were reissued as a digitally remastered double CD under the title ''Cnuas''.<ref name="cnuas"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/%C3%89amon-De-Buitl%C3%A9ar-Agus-Ceolt%C3%B3ir%C3%AD-Laighean-Cnuas/release/11521665 |title=Éamon De Buitléar Agus Ceoltóirí Laighean – Cnuas |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=10 March 2021}}</ref> Siobhán Long of ''The Irish Times'' described the albums as "two seminal recordings".<ref name="cnuasnews"/>

==Personal life==

Kelly moved to Miami from Dublin in 1984.<ref name="historymiami"/> Since settling there, he met American-born wife, Eve.<ref name="echo">{{cite web|url=https://www.irishecho.com/2011/02/ceol-the-melodic-journeys-of-james-kelly-2 |title=Ceol: The melodic journeys of James Kelly |date=16 February 2011 |publisher=The Irish Echo |accessdate=28 February 2021}}</ref> Together, they had a son, Timothy, and a daughter, Sarah, also a fiddler.<ref name="echo"/><ref name="family"/> Outside of music, Kelly has worked in a gift shop that he and his wife, Eve, owned until 1991.<ref name="echo"/> In his early life, James would come on holiday, to his Ancestral home or that of his Mother, in Balisland County Wicklow. It was always an interesting time, when the Kelly's came to our neighbourhood on holiday, it gave us a chance to meet up and play with different friends. It seemed, the summer passed very quickly in those days. Later, when I left my home and joined the Military, I paid many visits to the shop owned and ran by, James's father John, who was a very nice man, in my estimation. I guess that time has moved on and I have moved back to the house where I was actually born in, no hospital for me and it is probably a sign of the times we live in now, all traces, except memories of The Family of James have disappeared from here, with the selling of 3 dwellings, 2 Hilliard and 1 Keogh, those Families were related by a marriage and we have new people living in those houses. Time nor tide, waits for no man or woman. End of my ramblings.

==Discography==

{{div col}} ;Solo albums *''Capel Street'' (1989) *''James Kelly'' (1996) *''Melodic Journeys'' (2004)

;Collaborations *''John & James Kelly'' (with John Kelly) (1974) *''The Ring Sessions'' (with Zan McLeod) (1995)

;With Ceoltóirí Laighean *''The Crooked Road'' (1973) *''The Star of Munster'' (1975) *''Cnuas'' (2010)

;With Bowhand *''Is It Yourself'' (1979) *''Spring In The Air'' (1982) *''Traditional Music of Ireland'' (1995)

;With Planxty *''Words & Music'' (1983)

;With Patrick Street *''Irish Times'' (1990)

;Guest appearances *''Sail Óg Rua'' (by Dolores Keane & John Faulkner) (1983) *''In Our Time'' (by Danny McGinley) (1985) *''Up The Airy Mountain'' (by Sean O'Driscoll) (1988) *''Handprints'' (by Donna Long) (2005)

;Festival albums *''My Love Is In America'' (The Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival) (1991) *''Music In The Meadow'' (Washington Irish Folk Festival, Wolf Trap) (1995) *''Gaelic Roots'' (Gaelic Roots Series, Boston College) (1996) {{div col end}}

==Awards and nominations==

===Florida Folklife Program=== {{awards table}} |- |align="center" | 2001 || ''James Kelly'' || Florida Folk Heritage Award || {{won}} |- {{end}}

===Gradam Ceoil TG4=== {{awards table}} |- |align="center" | 2006 || ''James Kelly'' || Traditional Musician of the Year || {{won}} |- {{end}}

==References==

==External links== * {{official|jameskellymusic.com}} * {{Discogs artist|2432350}} * [https://www.itma.ie/search?q=James+Kelly Archive material of James Kelly] in the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) * {{YouTube| _uogC1lMYFE | James Kelly TG4 Ceoltóir na Bliana 2006 TG4 }} * {{YouTube| u1CrZvHq31Y | James Kelly at ITMA 2019: an interview and tunes }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, James}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Irish fiddlers Category:21st-century Irish fiddlers Category:Fiddlers from County Dublin Category:Irish male fiddlers Category:Irish folk-song collectors Category:20th-century Irish folk musicians Category:21st-century Irish folk musicians