Leo O'Kelly
Encyclopedia
Leo O'Kelly is an Irish
singer-songwriter
, multi-instrumentalist
, and producer
. He is mainly known as a member of the Irish folk duet Tír na nÓg
.
After the band broke up, he produced albums on Polydor and EMI
labels for other Irish artists like Restless Night
in 1975 by Ray Dolan
who wrote "Hey Friend" on the first Tír na nÓg
LP. In 2000, Leo released his first solo album called Glare
, then Proto
in 2003 which consists in a collection of songs that he recorded between 1975 and 2001 whose one is a cover with Mark Gilligan of Nick Drake
's "Northern Sky
" and another is a vocal improvisation by his son, Aaron O'Kelly, at the age of 1. His third album, Will, was released in February 2011 and features the poems of John McKenna set to music.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
, and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He is mainly known as a member of the Irish folk duet Tír na nÓg
Tír na nÓg (band)
Tír na nÓg are an Irish folk band formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1969 by Leo O'Kelly and Sonny Condell. They are often considered as one of the first progressive folk bands with other artists like Nick Drake or group like Pentangle...
.
After the band broke up, he produced albums on Polydor and EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
labels for other Irish artists like Restless Night
Restless Night
-Personnel:*Ray Dolan – guitars, vocals*Paul Barrett – keyboards, bass guitar, trombone, vibraphone, recorder, bongos*Sonny Condell – guitars, backing vocals*Brian Dunning – flutes*Leo O'Kelly – guitars, fiddle, ukulele, backing vocals...
in 1975 by Ray Dolan
Ray Dolan
Ray Dolan was an Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist. He began his career in the early 1970 by playing folk clubs in Dublin with James Connolly as a duo, contributing to the success of the Universal Folk Centre at Parnell Square. In 1973, they were involved in the five-member band Heir...
who wrote "Hey Friend" on the first Tír na nÓg
Tír na nÓg (Tír na nÓg album)
Tír na nÓg is the first album by Irish band Tír na nÓg. It was released on May 1971 in the United Kingdom by Chrysalis Records and distributed by Island Records but was not published in the United States because Leo O'Kelly and Sonny Condell refused to record a cover of Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm"...
LP. In 2000, Leo released his first solo album called Glare
Glare (album)
-Release history:...
, then Proto
Proto (album)
Proto is the second album by Irish musician Leo O'Kelly. It was originally planned for November 2002 but was released on February 4, 2003 by Clarinda & 1st.. It contains a collection of previously unreleased tracks recorded from May 1975 to 2001....
in 2003 which consists in a collection of songs that he recorded between 1975 and 2001 whose one is a cover with Mark Gilligan of Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
's "Northern Sky
Northern Sky
Northern Sky is a song from Nick Drake's 1970 album Bryter Layter. The song, written in DADGDG tuning, features piano, organ and celesta, performed by former Velvet Underground member, John Cale....
" and another is a vocal improvisation by his son, Aaron O'Kelly, at the age of 1. His third album, Will, was released in February 2011 and features the poems of John McKenna set to music.
With Tír na nÓg
- Tír na nÓgTír na nÓg (Tír na nÓg album)Tír na nÓg is the first album by Irish band Tír na nÓg. It was released on May 1971 in the United Kingdom by Chrysalis Records and distributed by Island Records but was not published in the United States because Leo O'Kelly and Sonny Condell refused to record a cover of Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm"...
(1971) - A Tear and a SmileA Tear and a SmileA Tear and a Smile is the second album by Irish band Tír na nÓg. It was released in the United Kingdom on 7 April 1972 by Chrysalis Records and was the first Tír na nÓg album to be released in the United States, in October 1972. The tracklist is different between the US and the UK releases...
(1972) - Strong in the SunStrong in the Sun-Personnel:*Sonny Condell - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, pottery drums, jaw harp*Leo O'Kelly - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric lead guitar, dulcimer, violin*Matthew Fisher - keyboards, production*Geoff Emerick - engineering-Additional personnel:...
(1973) - In the Morning (1999)
- HibernianHibernian (album)-Personnel:Tír na nÓg*Sonny Condell – vocals, guitar, Moroccan pottery drums*Leo O'Kelly – vocals, guitar, violinProduction* Alan Hadwin – recording, sleeve notes & layout* Laura Hadwin – front and back cover artworks, sleeve design...
(2000) - Spotlight (2001)
- Live at SiriusLive at Sirius-Personnel:*Sonny Condell – vocal, guitar, jews harp, Moroccan pottery drums*Leo O'Kelly – vocal, guitar, violin, drum programmingProduction* Louise McCormick – recording, mixing at Manor Studio, Cobh* John Crone – recording* David O'Toole – cover design...
(2010)
Solo
- "Portsmouth" from 10 Years On by various artists (1977)
- "Love Go Round" from Snakes & Ladders by various artists (1996)
- GlareGlare (album)-Release history:...
(2001) - ProtoProto (album)Proto is the second album by Irish musician Leo O'Kelly. It was originally planned for November 2002 but was released on February 4, 2003 by Clarinda & 1st.. It contains a collection of previously unreleased tracks recorded from May 1975 to 2001....
(2003) - WillWill (album)Will is the third album by Irish musician Leo O'Kelly. It was released on March 18, 2011 by Life and Living Records and consists of a collaboration with Liverpool writer John McKeown, who wrote poems that constitute album's lyrics, then adapted in music by O'Kelly.-Track listing:-Personnel:* Leo...
(2011)
As producer
- Loudest WhisperLoudest Whisper-External links:*....
– The Children of LirThe Children of Lir (Loudest Whisper album)The Children of Lir is the debut album by Irish folk rock/progressive folk group Loudest Whisper. It is the studio adaption of the musical of the same name that was performed in Fermoy, Ireland in 1973...
(1974) - Ray DolanRay DolanRay Dolan was an Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist. He began his career in the early 1970 by playing folk clubs in Dublin with James Connolly as a duo, contributing to the success of the Universal Folk Centre at Parnell Square. In 1973, they were involved in the five-member band Heir...
– Restless NightRestless Night-Personnel:*Ray Dolan – guitars, vocals*Paul Barrett – keyboards, bass guitar, trombone, vibraphone, recorder, bongos*Sonny Condell – guitars, backing vocals*Brian Dunning – flutes*Leo O'Kelly – guitars, fiddle, ukulele, backing vocals...
(1975) - Gemma HassonGemma HassonGemma Hasson is a Northern Irish folk singer that recorded three studio albums from 1974 to 1978. Her first one, Introducing Ireland's Gemma Hasson was released in 1974 on Dolphin Records label and produced by Dónal Lunny. She then signed with EMI Records and launched two more album: Looking for...
– Looking for the MorningLooking for the Morning-Personnel:*Gemma Hasson – vocals, guitars*Leo O'Kelly – guitars, mandolin, fiddle, vocals*Paul Barrett – keyboards, bass guitar, vocals*Michael Fitzgerald – guitars on "Rathdrum Fair", vocals*Dónal Lunny – bouzouki, bodhrán, whistle...
(1975) - CrubeenCrubeenThe Best Of Irish Folk see it here Label: EMICatalogue Number: # PCD-2059 LP1977—EMI PCD-2059 LPBest of Irish FolkLabel: One UpCatalogue Number: # OU 2180...
– Eagles Whistle (1976) - The Sands Family – After the MorningAfter the Morning (The Sands Family album)-Personnel:The Sands Family*Tommy Sands – vocals, guitar, five-strings banjo*Anne Sands – vocals, bodhran*Ben Sands – vocals, guitar, mandolin, tin whistle, fiddles, sitar, viola...
(1976) - Aileach – Ard Rí (1977)
- Various Artists – 10 Years On (1977)
- Various Artists – The Best Of Irish Folk (1977)
- Azure Days – "Blew My Clouds Away"/"My Mexican" 7" single (1987)