Len Graham (singer)
Encyclopedia
Len Graham is a singer from Northern Ireland
. He is one of Ireland's best-known traditional singers who has gained an international reputation for his inimitable singing style and also for the breadth of his knowledge of Irish Folk music
.
na hEireann traditional singing competition in 1971 his reputation began to spread, and at the same time his own passion for the songs of his native Ulster was growing. In 1992 he was awarded the Seán O'Boyle Cultural Traditions Award, in recognition of his work in Ireland as a song collector and singer. In 2002, he was honored as the inaugural recipient of the TG4
National Music Award for Traditional Singer of the Year. In 2008 he was awarded “Keeper of the Tradition” from the Tommy Makem Festival of Traditional Song and the US Irish Music Award in the “Sean-Nos Singing” category. His rich recording history spans over thirty years, with more than twenty albums to his credit.
Len’s book – Here I Am Amongst You on the songs, dance music and traditions of Joe Holmes is due for publication by Four Courts Press, Dublin 2010.
Len ’s songs are known around the world, as he's been the source of songs for such famous performers as Altan, De Dannan
, the Chieftains
, Cherish the Ladies, Andy Irvine
, Karen Casey and others.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He is one of Ireland's best-known traditional singers who has gained an international reputation for his inimitable singing style and also for the breadth of his knowledge of Irish Folk music
Folk music of Ireland
The folk music of Ireland is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres in Ireland.-History:...
.
Career and awards
Len has appeared at numerous Irish and international folk, literary and storytelling festivals, as well as on radio and television programmes. After he won the All Ireland Fleadh CheoilFleadh Cheoil
The Fleadh Cheoil is an Irish music competition run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann or more commonly known as "Comhaltas" ....
na hEireann traditional singing competition in 1971 his reputation began to spread, and at the same time his own passion for the songs of his native Ulster was growing. In 1992 he was awarded the Seán O'Boyle Cultural Traditions Award, in recognition of his work in Ireland as a song collector and singer. In 2002, he was honored as the inaugural recipient of the TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
National Music Award for Traditional Singer of the Year. In 2008 he was awarded “Keeper of the Tradition” from the Tommy Makem Festival of Traditional Song and the US Irish Music Award in the “Sean-Nos Singing” category. His rich recording history spans over thirty years, with more than twenty albums to his credit.
Len’s book – Here I Am Amongst You on the songs, dance music and traditions of Joe Holmes is due for publication by Four Courts Press, Dublin 2010.
Musical collaborations
Over the years, Len has collaborated and worked with numerous musicians, poets and storytellers. In the 1970s he collected songs from some of the great older singers of Ulster including Eddie Butcher and Joe Holmes. His association with the late John Campbell brought storytelling and song to a world audience. Their work together over twenty years made a significant contribution toward creating a deeper cross-community understanding of shared cultural traditions during many years of conflict in the north of Ireland.Len ’s songs are known around the world, as he's been the source of songs for such famous performers as Altan, De Dannan
De Dannan
De Dannan was an Irish folk music group. They were formed by Frankie Gavin , Alec Finn , Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh and Charlie Piggott as a result of sessions in Hughes's Pub in An Spidéal, County Galway, subsequently inviting Dolores Keane to join the band...
, the Chieftains
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
, Cherish the Ladies, Andy Irvine
Andy Irvine (musician)
Andrew Kennedy 'Andy' Irvine is a folk musician, singer, and songwriter, and a founding member of the popular band Planxty. He is an accomplished player of the mandolin, bouzouki, mandola, guitar-bouzouki, harmonica and hurdy-gurdy....
, Karen Casey and others.
Personal life
Len and his wife Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, who is also a traditional singer, both specialize in the songs of Ulster. Together they recorded an album of children's songs, called "When I was Young." They live in Mullaghbawn, Co. Armagh.Discography (incomplete)
- Chaste Muses, Bards and Sages (1971) with Joe Holmes
- After Dawning (1978) with Joe Holmes
- Wind and Water (1977)
- Do Me Justice (1983)
- Ye Lovers All (1986)
- Skylark (1987)
- All of It (1989)
- Light and Shade (1992)
- Raining Bicycles (1996)
- It's of My Rambles (1993)
- When I was YoungWhen I Was Young"When I Was Young" is a song performed in 1967 by The Animals with Eric Burdon on vocals. It was released on 8 April. It charted in Australia peaking #2 and stayed 4 weeks there. Later it was a hit charting #10 on the Canadian RPM chart, # 15 in the US and #7 in the Netherlands. The song was...
(1996) with Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin and Garry O Briain - For the Sake of Old Decency (1993)
- Ebb and Flow with John Campbell
- Two for the Road with John Campbell
- In Full Flight (2008)
- Over the Hills and Far Away (2010)