On December 15, 2025, Joe Ely died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, considered as one of the main creators of the progressive country scene in the 1970s and 1980s. He was founding member of the band The Flatlanders, performed and recorded with Bruce Springsteen, Uncle Tupelo, Los Super Seven, The Chieftains, James McMurtry, The Clash, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and Guy Clark. As leader, Ely released 22 albums.
Tag Archives: The Chieftains
Russell Malone
On August 23, 2024, Russell Malone died aged 60. He was musician (guitar), recorded and performed with Jimmy Smith, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, Benny Green, Ron Carter, Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, Kenny Barron, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Jack McDuff, Mulgrew Miller, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Hank Jones, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sonny Rollins, Houston Person, David Sanborn, Mose Allison, Kenny Barron, Gary Bartz, Stefano Di Battista, David Benoit, Don Braden, Gary Burton, Regina Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, The Chieftains, Jimmy Cobb, Natalie Cole, Will Downing, Jon Faddis, Macy Gray, Dave Grusin, Vincent Herring, Shirley Horn, Freddie Hubbard, Etta Jones, B. B. King, Gladys Knight, Jeff Lorber, Christian McBride, Bill Mobley, New York Voices, Johnny O’Neal, Kenny Rankin, Tony Reedus, Stephen Scott, Janis Siegel, Terell Stafford, Joss Stone, Billy Taylor, Steve Turre and Gerald Wilson. As leader, Malone released 15 albums.
Nanci Caroline Griffith
On August 13, 2021, Nanci Caroline Griffith died aged 68. She was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, toured and recorded with The Crickets, John Prine, Iris DeMent, Suzy Bogguss, Judy Collins, Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, John Prine, Don McLean, Jimmy Buffett, Dolores Keane, Willie Nelson, Adam Duritz, The Chieftains, John Stewart, Darius Rucker and Buddy Holly’s band. In 1994, Griffith won “Grammy Award” for “Best Contemporary Folk Album”, in 1995, she was awarded the “Kate Wolf Memorial Award” by the “World Folk Music Association”, and in 2008, the “Americana Music Association” awarded her its “Americana Trailblazer Award”. Griffith released 18th studio and 2 live albums.
The Chieftains: The Long Black Veil
On January 24, 1995, “RCA Victor” label released “The Long Black Veil”, the 31st Chieftains album. It was recorded 1994 – 1995, at “Lake House Studio” in England, “Windmill Lane” and “Westland Studios” in Dublin, “Clinton Recording Studios” in New York City, “Utility Muffin Research Kitchen” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Paddy Moloney, Chris Kimsey and Ry Cooder. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Ireland by “IRMA”.
Personnel:
- Kevin Conneff– vocals, bodhrán
- Martin Fay– fiddle
- Seán Keane– fiddle
- Matt Molloy– flute
- Paddy Moloney– uilleann pipes, tin whistle
- Derek Bell– harp, tiompán, keyboards
- Colin James- guitar, mandolin
- Dominic Miller, Paul Brady, Arty McGlynn, Foggy Little – guitar
- Kieran Hanrahan – banjo
- Terry Tulley – Scottish pipes
- Carlos Nunez – Galician pipes
- Brendan Begley, James Keane, Martin O’Connor – accordion
- Steve Cooney– didgeridoo
- Wally Minko – piano
- James Blennerhassett, Ned Mann – acoustic bass
- Joe Csibi, Darryl Jones, Nicky Scott – bass
- Noel Eccles, Tommy Igoe, Liam Bradley – drums
- Jean Butler – foot percussion
- Anuna Choir, Brian Masterson – backing vocals
- The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Sting, Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler, Sinead O’Connor, Phil Coulter, Marianne Faithfull, Tom Jones – contributors
Track listing:
- Mo Ghile Mear (Our Hero)
- The Long Black Veil
- The Foggy Dew
- Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?
- Changing Your Demeanour
- The Lily of the West
- Coast of Malabar
- Dunmore Lassies
- Love Is Teasin’
- He Moved through the Fair
- Ferny Hill
- Tennessee Waltz/Tennessee Mazurka
- The Rocky Road to Dublin
Van Morrison: Hymns To The Silence
On September 24, 1991, “Polydor” label released “Hymns to the Silence” the twenty-first Van Morrison studio album. His first studio double album was recorded in 1990 at “Wool Hall Studios” in Beckington, and at “Townhouse and Westside Studios”, in London, and was produced by Van Morrison.
Personnel:
- Van Morrison – vocal, guitar, harmonica, alto saxophone
- The Chieftains
- Terry Disley- piano
- Neil Drinkwater – accordion, piano, synthesizer
- Georgie Fame- piano, Hammond organ, backing vocals
- Eddie Friel – piano, Hammond organ, synthesizer
- Derek Bell- synthesizer
- Steve Pearce – bass
- Nicky Scott – bass
- Dave Early- drums, percussion
- Paul Robinson – drums
- Candy Dulfer- alto saxophone
- Steve Gregory- flute, baritone saxophone
- Haji Ahkba – flugelhorn
- Kate St John- cor Anglais
- Carol Kenyon- backing vocals
- Katie Kissoon- backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Van Morrison, except where noted.
- Professional Jealousy
- I’m Not Feeling It Anymore
- Ordinary Life
- Some Peace of Mind
- So Complicated
- I Can’t Stop Loving You
- Why Must I Always Explain?
- Village Idiot
- See Me Through, Pt. 2 – traditional
- Take Me Back
- By His Grace
- All Saints Day
- Hymns to the Silence
- On Hyndford Street
- Be Thou My Vision – traditional
- Carrying a Torch
- Green Mansions
- Pagan Streams
- Quality Street
- It Must Be You
- I Need Your Kind of Loving
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