Irish fiddle player Michael Gorman Cd launch and Concert to celebrate his Glasgow connection

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Irish fiddle player Michael Gorman Cd launch and Concert to celebrate his Glasgow connection

Saturday 23^rd November, 7.30 – 9.30

Panopticon Music Hall, 113-117 Trongate, Glasgow

Admission £5 which can be reclaimed against a Cd purchase.

Remembered by David Attenborough in a recent interview as “the great fiddle player” , Michael Gorman was a very influential Irish musician who in partnership with singer and banjo player Margaret Barry became well known in London and America in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Margaret Barry who appears on the Cd was also cited in a recent Guardian article as being Bob Dylan’s favourite folk singer.

A fact not generally well known is that Michael Gorman was born and spent the first ten years of his life in and around Glasgow. Harry Lauder is said to have called to the house to see his father, and Gorman said that his favourite melodeon player was the famous Peter Wyper (recording pioneer of the early 20^th century) of Hamilton and that he knew him well.

Reg Hall, musician and music historian who knew and played with Michael Gorman will be giving a short talk followed by an evening of music and song to celebrate this hugely important musical figure and his often overlooked connection with Glasgow.

Glasgow Timeframe –

His mother and father met and married in Cowcaddens in 1891. Michael was born in Blackhill Farm, Cadder in 1895. The family lived in Cowies Square, Craigneuk in 1901. His mother died in Greenlees Toll, Cambuslang in 1905.

Upon returning to Ireland (Sligo) in 1905 Michael Gorman learnt to play the fiddle from Jamesy Gannon amongst the great recording stars of the 1920’s and 30’s: Michael Coleman, James Morrison and Paddy Killoran. Though a Sligo fiddle player Gorman’s first ten years in Scotland were likely to have been formative, and arguably led to something different in his musical makeup.

He later returned to Scotland in c.1912 – 1914 to work in Coats Threadmill Paisley, John Browns Shipyard and boiler makers Babcock and Wilcox.

He moved to London in the late 1930’s and in subsequent years he was to have a direct influence on later leading figures from many Irish counties – Willie Clancy, Bobby Casey (Clare), Martin Byrnes (Galway), Jimmy Power (Waterford), John Vesey and Martin Wynne (Sligo), then resident in London.

Lamond Gillespie 2019

¹ https://www.songlines.co.uk/explore/features/sir-david-attenborough-reveals-his-musical-inspirations

² https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jan/18/margaret-barry-wild-irish-woman-of-the-british-folk-scene-celtic-connections