Packie Dolan

about

James "Packie" Dolan (1904-1932) was an Irish fiddle player and singer. He was born in Ballinamuck, County Longford, the eldest of nine children. His father - a smallholder - played fiddle, and he taught Packie. During the Depression the Dolans made the decision to send their eldest children to the U.S., and in 1919 the fifteen-year-old Packie and his thirteen-year-old sister emigrated to New York City, where they stayed with an aunt. Dolan became a plumber, playing music by night, and his popularity with New York audiences led to a number of recording sessions, starting in 1927. In 1928 he got a job as a chauffeur, and started his own band, Packie Dolan and the Melody Boys, which included the Donegal fiddler Hughie Gillespie. Their style and instrumental combination of fiddle, whistle, and bones/bodhran, was unique, and later formed the backbone of Sean O'Riada's Ceoltoiri Chualann, and in turn The Chieftains. The band was recorded by Victor. Dolan recorded a total of twenty-four sides. He was heavily influenced by the Sligo fiddle style, especially Coleman's, but also James Morrisson's. He also recorded some vaudeville style songs, though not in the stage-Irish form then popular. On "Mother Malone" he sings, dances, mentions himself in the lyric, and plays fiddle. The Wall Street crash in October 1929 meant the collapse of record sales, but Dolan was able to fall back on his career as a plumber. He became an American citizen in 1930. He and his wife were due to return

top songs

albums

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Wheels Of The World Volume 1: Early Irish-American Music

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The Wheels Of The World, Vol. 2

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j33008

The Forgotten Fiddle Player of the 1920s

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The Absolutely Essential Irish Collection

The Forgotten Fiddle Player Of The 1920's

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The Wheels Of The World Vol. 1: Early Irish-American Music

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Wheels Of The World - Early Irish-American Music, V2

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J33009

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The Best Of Ireland

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Farewell To Ireland

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Farewell To Ireland - Leaving Tipperary

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