Frankie Gavin “…All I want to do is make a difference, a big difference…” by Simon Haines e Dannan are McDonagh and Charlie Piggott. undisputedly one of Dolores Keane joined for their Dthe most famous Irish debut album to become the first of traditional groups of recent many lead singers. Between then years, who since their inception and 2003, the band underwent in the 70s have been extremely many line-up changes, but always influential the world over. From included Frankie Gavin on fiddle the outset, at their heart has and flute, Alec Finn on bouzouki, been the redoubtable Frankie an accordion player (Jackie Daly, Gavin, who has earned a Mairtin O’Connor and Aidan reputation for himself as a Coffey to name but three) and mighty fiddler, flautist and all an amazing singer (like Mary round musical genius. Black, Dolores Keane and Maura O’Connell among others). Known to many as “the prince of Irish fiddlers”, even amongst his During their time together, De Photo - Tom Collins contemporaries he is considered Dannan became stars of Irish De Dannan c.1974 - Alec Finn, Johnny McDonagh, Charlie Piggott, Dolores Keane and Frankie as one of the greats. Frankie music, not just in Ireland and can’t recall where “the prince” title Britain, but in the USA, and other countries where there were Irish originated from, but he does seem and in collaboration with famous the interplay between them and communities. The band played to like it. And rather than being names in the wider world of music, its resulting arrangements being for the American bicentennial “the king” he feels that, “there’s including Stefane Grappelli, The quite unique. Both are geniuses, celebrations in Washington DC in something more youthful about a Rolling Stones, Earl Scruggs, and at the helm of De Dannan, 1976 and has continued to play prince, and I have no intention of Yehudi Menuhin, Elvis Costello they were quite a force to be at the highest levels of American getting old in my head.” Nicholas and the legendary Irish-American reckoned with. But in the early society ever since, performing in Carolan, director of the Irish accordion wizard Joe Derrane. noughties, the band seemed to front of three American presidents. Traditional Music Archive, also In 2010, he officially became the fade somewhat and in 2003 the called Frankie a “musical force fastest fiddle player in the world band was wound up, with Frankie At the age of 17, Frankie won of nature”. There is no doubting with an entry in the Guinness and Alec going their separate the first prize in the All Ireland his musical pedigree and the high Book of Records. ways. esteem in which his music is held. Fiddle and the All Ireland Flute Competitions on the same day, For most people, the classic De What happened afterwards and, in parallel to his life in De As I write, Frankie Gavin and De Dannan sound was tightly based is a long story, about which Dannan, Frankie Gavin also had Dannan – the name of his current around the musical partnership many people have strong and success both as a solo performer, band – have recently returned of Frankie Gavin and Alec Finn, opposing feelings, but I believe from a week playing Irish music on a Caribbean cruise ship and a gig in Austin Texas, and are preparing for a Saturday gig in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in Russia, “…it is the music itself and its effect on immediately followed by a Sunday gig in Tralee, County Kerry. After all these years, Frankie and people that is clearly paramount…” his music are still very much in demand. Frankie was born into a musical family in Corrandulla, County Galway in 1956. He received some musical training but is mainly self-taught. How did his musical career begin? “Well, I suppose the career began with De Dannan, but I was actually playing bars when I was 13. I started as a piano player backing Eddie Maloney and Vincent Keegan from East Galway. Eddie was a real mentor for me and he had me stand on a chair beside him in our local hall in Corrandulla and play a whistle and flute duet! I was about seven, I’d say.” De Dannan was formed in Spiddal, Co. Galway, in 1973, the first line-up consisting of Frankie Gavin and De Dannan Frankie Gavin, Alec Finn, Johnny Photo - Allan Wilkinson Northern Sky All photos courtesy of Frankie Gavin The Living Tradition - Page 30 except where otherwise credited TheThe LivingLiving TraditionTradition -- PagePage 3131 that immediately following the Frankie’s solo career seems to break-up, Alec Finn copyrighted be on hold for the very good the band name which effectively reason that the band is currently prevented anyone, including getting gigs at home and abroad, Frankie, from using the “De and last September they played Dannan” name in the future and in the ancient Teatro Romano in led to a dispute. How had Frankie Verona, Italy. I wondered how reacted when he heard this news? Frankie regarded these high Ten years after the event, he still profile bookings in comparison has strong feelings: “It came with playing in small Irish venues. as a nasty shock to my system “I find playing in a parish hall more when a close friend mentioned humbling, but having said that, it and showed me a copy of the playing for presidents and other certificate on the website of the world figures is an amazing feeling Companies Registration Office and on many occasions, I’ve had in Dublin. Alec and I had come to pinch myself to be sure I was to the end of the road in the not in some sort of bizarre dream.” Netherlands when things got ‘rough’. He decided he did not Another significant feature of the want to be in the band anymore, post-2009 band is the emergence and he did not want anyone else Photo - Gordon Hotchkiss of a new lead singer: Michelle Frankie with Tim Edey Photo - Gordon Hotchkiss Frankie’s Ivy in it, or running it, either. He made Lally. Like Mary, Dolores and a written announcement that De Maura, Michelle has a unique and Dannan would never perform beautiful voice, and continues Frankie Gavin has gone through The line-up changed again seen sober-looking, middle-aged some kind of personal or musical again. The calls stopped and I the tradition in De Dannan of “…a mighty fiddler, flautist and the mill in recent years, first in early 2013 and Frankie English audiences go wild with metaphor? I’ll let you decide that was suddenly out of work.” having some of the finest singers in Ireland in their ranks. Frankie with the band and then with his is very optimistic about the delight – wound up, as it were, by for yourself. children, but he now seems very future. Frankie has a number the visceral impact of the music. The Gavin-Finn musical explains: “Michelle can choose all round musical genius…” upbeat. The band’s star seems of new projects in the pipeline, I ended our interview with relationship had been a special to be in the ascendant, combining solo recordings to catch up And on a personal front what what was perhaps the obvious one which had lasted for 30 years. modest gigs in small venues with, as well as performances else is important to Frankie? “My question to a man in his mid- When asked about this, Frankie’s made people cry for joy, and sure all over Ireland with high-profile and recordings to do with the children of course are top of the fifties who is brilliant at what response was more emotional: When I suggested to Frankie that that’s all that’s important. And I appearances in the USA, Europe, new line-up. The band now list. I have three of my own and he does but who has suffered “We were best friends for a start. the current band had successfully would like to think standards have Russia and elsewhere. The consists of Frankie Gavin and one stepson and they are all setbacks and disappointments. I The timing of your question is recaptured that essential sound, been kept to the highest.” venue and audience are always Michelle Lally, with Barry Brady fantastic. I love nature, birds and asked him, “If you had your time ironic as I just came across a he seemed pleased. “Please God important, but for Frankie it is (accordion), Colm O’Caoimh wildlife. I feed the song birds, over, would you do the same lovely letter from Alec when he you are correct! I am devoted I wondered why there had been the music itself and its effect on (guitar) and Paul O’Driscol mallards and swans who grace us again?” His answer was instant: was in Mexico, hand-written and to retain that special magic, and so many line-up changes over people that is clearly paramount. (double bass). When I asked him with their presence every day. I “Absobloominglutely!!” funny as hell as usual. It hurts me delivering a stellar show is priority the years. Was Frankie a difficult “Playing music means everything how he saw the future, Frankie love working outside, briar cutting greatly what has happened.” number one at all times.” person to work with? He doesn’t to me in the sense that when you used a phrase he used several and chopping ivy off trees is a think so. “Some ex-members who see the joy it brings to people times in this interview: “All I want serious pastime I have.