Ronnie Drew

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ronnie Drew


Img_capt = Ronnie Drew, c. 2004.
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Born = birth date|1934|9|16
Died = death date and age|2008|8|16|1934|9|16
Origin = Dún Laoghaire, Ireland
Genre = Irish folk
Occupation = Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Years_active = 1962–1974, 1979–1995 (The Dubliners)
1995–2006 (solo)
Label =
Associated_acts = The Dubliners
URL =

Ronnie Drew (16 September 1934 – 16 August 2008) [ [http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhqlmhidojkf/ Dubliners musician Ronnie Drew dies] ] was an Irish singer and folk musician. He was born in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin.

Career

In the 1950s, Drew emigrated to Spain to teach English and learn Spanish and flamenco guitar. When he returned to Ireland, he performed in the Gate Theatre with John Molloy and soon after, went into the music business full-time. In the meantime, he had a number of short-term jobs, including one in the telephone exchange in Dublin.

In 1962, he founded the Ronnie Drew Group with Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna and Ciaran Bourke. They soon changed their name to The Dubliners, with John Sheahan joining shortly afterwards to form the definitive line-up. They would soon become one of the best known Irish folk groups. They played at first in O'Donoghues' pub in Merrion Row, Dublin 2 where they were often accompanied by Mary Jordan on the spoons and vocalist Ann Mulqueen, a friend of Barney. Mary's mother Peggy Jordan introduced them to the Abbey Tavern in Howth, which became a regular Monday night venue for the emerging group. They also played across the road in the Royal Hotel. The group also played at all-night parties in Peggy's large house in Kenilworth Square in Rathgar and in John Molloy's flat in Ely Place, just around the corner from O'Donoghue's. Ronnie left the Dubliners in 1974, rejoined in 1979 and finally left for good in 1995, though he did reunite with the group in 2002 for a 40th anniversary celebration.

From 1995 onwards Drew pursued a solo career. He recorded with many artists, including Christy Moore, The Pogues, Antonio Breschi, the Dropkick Murphys, Eleanor Shanley and others.

He is also known for fronting a campaign to encourage the use of Dublin's light-rail infrastructure (the DART) and before that the "My Dublin" ads for radio stations 98FM and FM104. He also narrated the stories of Oscar Wilde in his distinctive voice in a series released on CD by the "News Of The World" newspaper.

On 22 August 2006, he was honoured in a ceremony where his hand prints were added to the "walk of fame" outside Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. [ [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2006/0823/drewr.html RTE News - Ronnie Drew joins the Walk of Fame] ]

Declining health & death

In September 2006, Drew was reported to be in ill-health after being admitted to St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, to undergo tests for suspected cancer. The "Evening Herald" reported that Drew's apparent illness was due to years of heavy drinking. However, according a fan site dedicated to The Dubliners, it was reported that he was undergoing treatment for throat cancer. (Drew had been a teetotaler for a number of years, with an occasional relapse.Fact|date=August 2008 However, he remained a regular smoker.)Fact|date=August 2008

Ronnie appeared on the "Late Late Show" on the 15 December 2006 along with Phil Coulter, where he discussed his recent health scares.

Despite his ailing health, Drew featured on an album entitled "Pearls" produced by Niall Austin with work Drew did with Jah Wobble. [ [http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/theres-life-in-the-old-dog-yet-says-ronnie-1062374.html There's life in the old dog yet, says Ronnie - News & Gossip, Entertainment - Independent.ie ] ]

His wife of over 40 years, Deirdre Drew (née McCartan) died on 7 June 2007 at St Vincent's Hospital. She died just a day before Ronnie was due to return to performing after his battle with cancer, at the "Legends of Irish Folk" concert with Johnny McEvoy, Ralph McTell and Finbar Furey. [ [http://www.independent.ie/national-news/wife-of-dubliners-star-ronnie-drew-dies-693282.html Wife of Dubliners star Ronnie Drew dies] , "Irish Independent", 8 June 2007.]

On 25 October 2007 Ronnie Drew appeared on "Ryan Confidential" on RTÉ 1 to give an interview about his role in The Dubliners, his life since leaving the band and being diagnosed with throat cancer. This was Ronnie's first ever televised appearance where he was shown bald and beardless. Later in 2007, Ronnie again appeared on the "Late Late Show", where he again spoke about the death of his wife and his ongoing treatment for cancer. [cite web| title = The Late Late Show (7 December 2007): Ronnie Drew| publisher = The Late Late Show| date = | url = http://www.rte.ie/tv/latelate/av_20071207.html?2316854,null,228| accessdate=2008-01-26]

Drew died in St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin on 16 August 2008, following his long illness and was buried three days later in Redford Cemetery in Greystones.

Tributes

The Ballad of Ronnie Drew

On 19 February 2008, a song was released called "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" performed by a number of famous Irish musicians. This included members of U2, Sinéad O'Connor, Christy Dignam of Aslan, Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead, Kila, Christy Moore, Andrea Corr, Moya Brennan, Shane McGowan, Bob Geldof, Damien Dempsey, Gavin Friday, Iona Green, Jerry Fish, Paul Brady, Paddy Casey, Mick Pyro, Mundy, Chris de Burgh, Ronan Keating, Jack L, Eleanor Shanley, Mary Black, Declan O'Rourke, Mary Coughlan, and Joe Elliott of Def Leppard as well as The Dubliners and The Chieftains.

The single was written to originally include Ronnie himself but was changed to be a tribute to him as his health was declining. Proceeds from sale of the single went to the The Irish Cancer Society at the request of Drew himself. [cite web| title = Hotpress (18 February 2008):Ballad of Ronnie Drew | publisher = Hotpress| date = | url = http://www.hotpress.com/4374091.html] The song was performed live on The Late Late Show on 22nd February with Ronnie Drew in attendance as an audience member, and entered the Irish Single Charts at #2.

eptember Song

Also in 2008, RTE broadcast a documentary on Ronnie Drew in May - as part of its "Arts Lives" series. Called "September Song", it featured Ronnie's recollections of growing up in his grandmother's house in Dun Laoghaire, the foundation of The Dubliners in O'Donoghue's pub on Merrion Row, the days touring the world, the loss of his wife and his own battle with cancer. Interviewed in "September Song" are his son Phelim, daughter Cliodhna, and friends and fans such as Bono, Billy Connolly and Damien Dempsey. [ [http://www.rte.ie/tv/artslives/2008prog4.html Arts Lives - September Song] ] "September Song" was produced by Oscar nominated producer Noel Pearson and directed by Sinead O'Brien. The name of the documentary comes from a recording of "September Song", the Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson song made popular through recordings by a number of artists, including Frank Sinatra, which features on Ronnie's 2006 solo album, "There's Life In The Old Dog Yet".

olo discography

*"Ronnie Drew" (1975)
*"Guaranteed" (1978)
*"Dirty Rotten Shame" (1995)
*"The Humour Is On Me Now" (1999)
*"A Couple More Years" (with Eleanor Shanley) (2000)
*"An Evening With Ronnie Drew" (2004)
*"The Magic of Christmas (2004) (Guest Appearance)
*"El Amor De Mi Vida" (with Eleanor Shanley) (2006)
*"A New World (EP)" (2006)
*"There's Life In The Old Dog Yet" (2006)
*"Pearls (album) (with Grand Canal)" (2007)

References