Ryan's Fancy
Ryan's Fancy | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Genres | Folk |
Years active | 1971–1983 |
Labels | Audat |
Past members | Fergus O'Byrne Dermot O'Reilly Denis Ryan James Keane |
Website | ryansfancy |
Ryan’s Fancy was an Irish folk music group active from 1971–1983. The band consisted of multi-instrumentalists Denis Ryan, Fergus O'Byrne, and Dermot O'Reilly, all of whom were Irish immigrants to Canada.
History
1967–1970: Early years
Between the years of 1967–1969, O'Byrne, O'Reilly and Ryan emigrated to
O'Byrne, O'Reilly and Ryan first played together as members of the Sons of Erin. The original Sons of Erin lineup featured O'Byrne and O'Reilly along with Gary Kavanagh, Mick Crowley, Ben Brooks and bandleader Ralph O'Brien. This lineup first toured
O'Byrne, O'Reilly and Kavanaugh split from the Sons of Erin and continued touring as O'Reilly's Men. The band was short-lived and O'Reilly soon moved to Montreal. Following O'Reilly's departure, Kavanaugh and O'Byrne joined Don Sullivan and Vik Heaney to form Sullivan's Gypsies. Heaney soon left the group, while O'Reilly rejoined along with Ryan.[5] The band toured in Newfoundland again, as well as playing shows in Manhattan in 1970.[6]
1971: Formation of Ryan's Fancy
Following the disbanding of Sullivan's Gyspsies, O'Byrne, O'Reilly and Ryan formed their own band, Ryan's Fancy. The name was taken from a jig composed by Ryan during their time with Sullivan's Gypsies.
Ryan's Fancy played their first show at the Nag's Head pub in Toronto. For the next several months they played gigs in both Toronto and Halifax. In March 1971, the band made their first trip to Newfoundland, playing a show at the Hotel Newfoundland.[7]
1972–1983: Move to Newfoundland and critical success
The trio relocated to
1983–present: Disbanding and aftermath
When Ryan's Fancy disbanded, Ryan moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia[citation needed], while O'Byrne and O'Reilly remained in St. John's.
O'Byrne returned to Newfoundland's Memorial University. In 1988, he became a director of the St. John's Folk Arts Council and between 1990–1991, he chaired the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival.[9]
O'Reilly started a production company called Piperstock Productions in 1993, producing 25 albums. He remained active in music post-Ryan's Fancy, frequently performing live with O'Byrne at gigs in St. John's over the years. His last performance took place the night before he died.[10] He died of a heart attack on 17 February 2007, at age 64.[10]
In 2004, Ryan's Fancy were awarded the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award of the East Coast Music Association.[8]
Members
- Denis Ryan - vocals, fiddle, tin whistle (1971–1983)
- Fergus O'Byrne - vocals, banjo, concertina, bodhran (1971–1983)
- Dermot O'Reilly - vocals, guitar, mandolin (1971–1983; died 2007)
- James Keane - accordion (1980–1983)
Discography
- Ryan's Fancy Sung by Sullivan's Gypsies (1970)
- Curraghs, Minstrels, Rocks and Whiskey (1971)
- An Irish Night At The Black Knight Lounge (1971)
- Dark Island (1971)
- Looking Back (1972)
- Newfoundland Drinking Songs (1973)
- Times To Remember (1973)
- Ryan's Fancy Live (1975)
- Brand New Songs (1977)
- A Time With Ryan's Fancy (1979)
- Sea People (1980)
- Dance Around This One (1981)
- 15 Drink-a-Long Songs (Cassette Reissue of "An Irish Night at the Black Knight Lounge) (1982))
- Irish Love Songs (1982)
- Ryan's Fancy Live (Compact Disc Reissue of "An Irish Night at the Black Knight Lounge" and "15 Drink-a-Long Songs") (1995)
- Songs From The Shows (2001)
- What a Time! A Forty Year Celebration (2011)
References
- ^ Osborne, Evelyn (January 2013). The Most (Imagined) Irish Place in the World? The Interaction between Irish and Newfoundland Musicians, Electronic Mass Media, and the Construction of Musical Senses of Place (PDF). Memorial University of Newfoundland. p. 246. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Osborne, Evelyn (January 2013). The Most (Imagined) Irish Place in the World? The Interaction between Irish and Newfoundland Musicians, Electronic Mass Media, and the Construction of Musical Senses of Place (PDF). Memorial University of Newfoundland. p. 247. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Osborne, Evelyn (January 2013). The Most (Imagined) Irish Place in the World? The Interaction between Irish and Newfoundland Musicians, Electronic Mass Media, and the Construction of Musical Senses of Place (PDF). Memorial University of Newfoundland. p. 248. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Osborne, Evelyn (January 2013). The Most (Imagined) Irish Place in the World? The Interaction between Irish and Newfoundland Musicians, Electronic Mass Media, and the Construction of Musical Senses of Place (PDF). Memorial University of Newfoundland. p. 249. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Osborne, Evelyn (January 2013). The Most (Imagined) Irish Place in the World? The Interaction between Irish and Newfoundland Musicians, Electronic Mass Media, and the Construction of Musical Senses of Place (PDF). Memorial University of Newfoundland. p. 250. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Osborne, Evelyn (January 2013). The Most (Imagined) Irish Place in the World? The Interaction between Irish and Newfoundland Musicians, Electronic Mass Media, and the Construction of Musical Senses of Place (PDF). Memorial University of Newfoundland. p. 251. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Osborne, Evelyn (January 2013). The Most (Imagined) Irish Place in the World? The Interaction between Irish and Newfoundland Musicians, Electronic Mass Media, and the Construction of Musical Senses of Place (PDF). Memorial University of Newfoundland. p. 252. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Whelan, Janna. "Ryan's Fancy". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Pitt (1 January 1981). Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador (vol. 4). p. 144.
- ^ a b "Ryan's Ryan's Fancy singer dies in St. John's Singer Dies in St. John's". CBC. Retrieved 27 June 2020.