- Joe Holmes (Irish Singer)
Joe Holmes (b. 1906, d. 5th January, 1978 was a
fiddle r, lilter and singer fromAntrim ,Ireland .His brother Harry had brought him home a present of his first fiddle on his return from the Great War. Joe's first job was carrying the red warning flag in front of the steam roller, which took him travelling all around the country in a caravan. He took his fiddle on these trips. Some of the fiddle favourites included The Boys of Ballycastle, The Blackberry Blossom, Royal Charlie, Wellington’s Medal and Rodney’s Glory. Joe later left the roadwork and worked at flax-scutching, first for a small mill near
Killyrammer , and then into Milltown Mill, inBallymoney . He then took up a healthier job as a green-keeper for Ballymoney Bowling club. [http://www.causewaymusic.co.uk/cdff.html Antrim Fiddlers Causeway Dulcimer Festival ] ]Recordings
All of Joe's recordings were made with Len Graham with whom he began regularly attending music sessions around Ireland in the 1960s.
Their fist album was 'Chaste Muses, Bards and Sages', which includes solo singing by both as well as duets and lilting.'The record became an instant hit and Len’s assured singing coupled with Joe’s verve, and his huge store of songs, made them firm favourites in clubs, concerts and festivals. Sadly, Joe Holmes died just a fortnight after completing the recording of their follow-up LP, After Dawning, in 1978. [ [http://www.nimusic.com/showFeatureArticle.asp?ID=73 NIMIC - Northern Irish Music Industry Commission ] ]
*'Chaste Muses, Bards and Sages', 1971.
*'Living Thing' 1997, various artists
*'After Dawning', Len Graham and Joe Holmes, 1979, Topic: 12TS401BBC Radio Documentary
On the 6th of January, 1980 a radio documentary tribute to Joe Holmes compiled by David Hammond was broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster. Contributors on the programme were
Len Graham ,Geordie Hanna ,Frank Harte ,Jeannie McGrath ,Sarah Ann O'Neill andPaddy Tunney .The programme was called 'Joe Holmes: A Parting Glass', BBC Programme number: 140U540, Catalogue Number: 9517794, Duration 0:29:08
References
ee also
*
Traditional Irish Singers
*Len Graham (Irish singer)
*Frank Harte
*List of Irish musicians
*Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
*Sean nós
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