Dáithí Sproule

Dáithí Sproule (born May 23, 1950) is an Irish guitarist and singer of traditional Irish music.

Biography

Daithí Sproule was born and raised in Derry, Northern Ireland. His niece is the singer songwriter Claire Sproule. At the age of 18 he moved to Dublin and attended university. It was in Dublin that he entered the music scene which was prominent in Ireland at the time. As a teenager he had met the Uí Dhomhnaill family during trips to the Gaeltacht area of Rann na Feirste in Co. Donegal, and while in Dublin they formed a band, Skara Brae who would go on to have a great affect on Irish traditional music.

Dáithí is well known as a guitarist, especially throughout America where he now lives, and was one of the first guitarists to develop DADGAD guitar tuning for Irish music. In 1985 he joined Irish supergroup Altan with whom he sings and plays guitar. He was deemed "a seminal figure in Irish music" by The Rough Guide to Irish Music.

Sproule is also a member of various other bands and has recorded further solo albums.

Discography

Solo albums

• The Crow in the Sun (2007)
• A Heart Made of Glass (1995)

with Altan

Other bands

• Fingal (Fingal - 2008)
• Snug in the Blanket (with Jamie Gans and Paddy O’Brien - 2004)
• Overland (with Randal Bays - 2004)
• Trian II (with Liz Carroll and Billy McComiskey - 1995)
• A Thousand Farewells (with Martin and Christine Dowling - 1995)
• Trian (with Liz Carroll and Billy McComiskey - 1992)
• Stranger at the Gate (with Paddy O’Brien - 1988)
• The Iron Man (with Tommy Peoples - 1984)
• Carousel (with Seamus and Manus McGuire - 1984)
• Spring in the Air (with James Kelly and Paddy O’Brien - 1981)
• Is it Yourself? (with James Kelly and Paddy O’Brien - 1979)
• Skara Brae (Skara Brae - 1971)

Guest appearances

• 40 Acre Notch (New Folk Records) 2008 - the HiBs
• The Essential Chieftains (RCA) 2006 - The Chieftains
• Blue Waltz 2004 - Julee Glaub
• Evidence (New Folk Records) 2003 - Laura MacKenzie
• Over the Water (Heart Productions) 2002 – Ross Sutter
• Little Sparrow (Sugarhill) 2001 - Dolly Parton
• Lost in the Loop (Green Linnet) 2001 - Liz Carroll
• Shine (Swallowtail) 2001 - Katie McMahon
• Persevere 2000 - The Proclaimers
• Water from the Well (RCA) 2000 – The Chieftains
• Tis the Season (Compass) 1997 - Laura MacKenzie
• Irish Women Musicians of America (Shanachie) 1995 - Cherish the Ladies
• Heartsongs (Sony) 1994 - Dolly Parton
• Mamma, Will you Buy Me a Banana? (Heart Productions) 1991 – Ross Sutter
• Blue Mesa (Red House) 1989 – Peter Ostroushko
• Liz Carroll (Green Linnet) 1988 – with Liz Carroll
• Sean O’Driscoll (Shanachie/Meadowlark) 1987 - Sean O’Driscoll
• Capel Street (Capelhouse) 1986 – James Kelly
• The Streets of My Old Neighborhood (Rounder) 1983 - Peter Ostroushko
• Sluz Duz Music (Rounder) 1982 - Peter Ostroushko

Compilations

• Young Irish Musicians Weekend Live! 2008 - with James Kelly and Paddy O’Brien
• New Folk Records Sampler 2007 (New Folk Records) 2007
• Masters of the Irish Guitar (Shanachie) 2006
• The Independence Suite (Celtic Crossings) 2005 - with Randal Bays
• Simply Folk Sampler 3 (Wisconsin Public Radio) 2005
• Festival International des Arts Traditionnels de Québec (Folklore) 2004 - with Trian
• The Ice Palace – Irish Originals from Minnesota (IMDA) 2001
• The Last Bar - Irish Music from Minnesota (IMDA) 2000
• Alternate Tunings Guitar Collection (String Letter) 2000 - with Trian
• As They Pass Through (Kieran’s) 2000
• Best of Thistle and Shamrock, Vol. 1 (Hearts of Space) 1999 - with Altan
• Celtic Colours International Festival - the Second Wave (Stephen McDonald) 1999 - with Altan
• A Winter’s Tale (Universal) 1998 - with Altan
• Gaelic Roots (Kells) 1997 - with James Kelly, Paddy O’Brien and Gerry O’Connor
• Celtic Music from Mountain Stage (Blue Plate) 1997 - with Altan
• Hunger No More (Éire Arts) 1997

References

• Altan
• biography at Altan site
• Skara Brae

External links

• Official Daithí Sproule website
• Official Altan website
• Official Fingal website