Representative Albums: "Liam Clancy," "Those Were the Days: The Essential Liam Clancy," "Irish Troubadour"
Biography
The youngest and the last surviving of the Clancy Brothers, Liam Clancy played a major role in the success of the Irish folk singing group that he shared with his brothers. "I never heard a singer as good as (Liam)," said Bob Dylan during a late-'90s interview. "He was just the best ballad singer I ever heard in my life. Still is, probably. I can't think of anyone who is a better ballad singer." Clancy was drawn to creative endeavors at a young age. Painting and writing poetry and short stories since childhood, he produced, directed, designed scenery, and acted in several local theatrical productions as a teen. Although his mother was considered an important source for Irish folk songs, it wasn't until an American folk song collector visited the Clancy home in 1955 that he began to sing. "The first thing I ever sang," he later recalled, "was the recording that Diane Hamilton made -- "The Lark in the Morning." Clancy's involvement with Hamilton had a profound effect on his future. Accompanying her to Keady, County Armagh, he met folksinger Sarah Makem and her son, Tommy Makem; Tommy became his life-long friend and musical collaborator. Tommy, Clancy emigrated to the United States in 1956 hoping to find jobs as stage and television actors. They soon found that they earned more money by singing Irish folk songs at Greenwich Village nightspot, the Fifth Peg (later called Gerde's Folk City), with Clancy's older brother, Paddy, who had settled in New York a couple of months before their arrival. Releasing their debut album, Irish Songs of Rebellion, on Paddy Clancy's label Tradition in 1956, the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem ushered in a new era of Irish folk music. With the encouragement and support of heiress Diane Guggenheim, they joined with beat poets, artists, and other folksingers to transform New York's Greenwich Village into a bastion of creativity. Performing regularly in top New York nightclubs, by the early '60s, Clancy and the group were launched to international stardom after appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1961. Scheduled to perform two songs, they were forced to extend their appearance when the show's headliner canceled. The following year, they performed for a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall. Clancy continued to sing with his brothers until embarking on a solo career in 1973. Having settled in Calgary, Alberta, he hosted his own television show, for which he received a Canadian Emmy. Although he was no longer a member of the Clancy Brothers, Clancy continued to collaborate with Makem, recording a series of impressive duo albums during the '80s. Reuniting with his brothers in 1984, Clancy rejoined the Clancy Brothers for concerts in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway, and New York's Lincoln Center. Although he also played with his brothers, and nephew Robbie O'Connell, in 1990, a serious rift between Liam and Paddy Clancy prevented them for playing together for six years. Working his problems out with his brother in 1996, Clancy re-joined the Clancy Brothers, which then included his brothers, Paddy, Bobby, and O'Connell, to record an album, Older But No Wiser and embark on a farewell tour. He continued to tour with his son, Donal, and O'Connell, as Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy from 1996 until 1999. Clancy currently resides in Ring, a small, county Waterford village on Ireland's southeastern coast, where he supervises his own recording studio. In 2002, Clancy's memoirs, The Mountain of the Women, were published by Doubleday. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide
Liam is the youngest of the Clancy Brothers, and as a child was known as William or Willie. He displayed an artistic disposition at an early age, while growing up in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary. While still in his teens, Liam explored writing and painting, though he was particularly drawn to the theatre. In his early performing days, he began to call himself Liam rather than William or Willie. Before he was twenty years old, Liam had founded the local dramatic society now called "Brewery Lane Theatre and Arts Centre",and had produced, directed, set-directed, and starred in The Playboy of the Western World. Liam also performed at the renowned Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.
In 1955, American song-collector Diane Hamilton arrived at the Clancy's home while on a song-collecting tour of Ireland. Liam joined her on the trip to Keady, Co. Armagh, where they met the singer Sarah Makem and her son, Tommy.[citation needed] Both Liam and Tommy emigrated to the United States the following year, pursuing careers in acting, both on stage and television.[citation needed]
Clancy began singing with his brothers at fund-raising events for the Cherry Lane Theatre and the Guthrie benefits. The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, began recording on Paddy Clancy's "Tradition" label in the late 50s. A record-breaking 16 minute long performance on The Ed Sullivan Show launched the group into stardom. The quartet recorded numerous albums for Columbia Records and enjoyed great success during the '60s folk revival. He was a close friend of Bob Dylan when they both were going out with two sisters in New York. He performed live for President John F. Kennedy.
Liam Clancy played guitar in addition to singing and recorded several solo albums. In 1975 he was booked to play a festival in Cleveland, Ohio, where Tommy Makem was also playing. The two played a set together and formed Makem and Clancy, performing in numerous concerts and recording several albums as a duo, until 1988.
In early 2004 he created what many critics consider his greatest musical contribution since the dissolution of the original Clancy Brothers. He received an important role in Martin Scorsese's Peabody Award-winning film No Direction Home which also raised critical awareness of his later work.[citation needed]
In 2006 Irish Television profiled Liam Clancy in a two hour documentary called "The Legend of Liam Clancy." In February 2007 the documentary won the award for best series at the Irish Film & Television Academy awards in Dublin. Crossing The Line Films are working on a full length biography of Liam for an October/November release. The footage includes interviews with Pete Seeger, Jean Ritchie, Bob Dylan, Oscar Brand, Odetta, Josh White Jr. and many others.
As of 2008, Liam Clancy is the last surviving member of the original Clancy Brothers; Tom Clancy died on November 7, 1990, Patrick Clancy died on November 11, 1998 and Tommy Makem died on August 1, 2007.
In 2001, Clancy published an autobiographical novel, entitled "The Mountain of the Women."
