Ronnie Drew

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Ronnie Drew
Ronnie Drew, c. 2004.
Ronnie Drew, c. 2004.
Background information
Born September 16, 1934 (1934-09-16) (age 73)
Origin Dublin, Ireland
Genre(s) Irish folk
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Years active 1962–1974, 1979–1995 (The Dubliners)
1995–2006 (solo)
Associated acts The Dubliners

Ronnie Drew (born 16 September 1934 in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin) is an Irish singer and folk musician.

Contents

[edit] Career

He founded the Ronnie Drew Group, later to be known as The Dubliners with Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna and Ciaran Bourke in 1962. He was a member of The Dubliners from 1962 to 1974 and from 1979 to 1995. From 1995 on he pursued a solo career. In the 1950s, he emigrated to Spain to teach English and learn Spanish and flamenco guitar. When he returned to Ireland, he performed in the Gate Theatre with John Molloy and soon after went into the music business full-time. In the meantime, he had a number of short-term jobs, including one in the telephone exchange in Dublin.

He is also known for fronting a campaign to encourage the use of Dublin's train infrastructure – Dublin Area Rapid Transit (the DART) and before that the "My Dublin" ads for radio station 98fm

On 22 August 2006, his hand prints were added to the walk of fame outside Dublin's Gaiety Theatre.

He has recorded with many great artists, including Christy Moore, The Pogues, Antonio Breschi, Eleanor Shanley amongst others. He also features on the 2007 Dropkick Murphys album, The Meanest of Times, on a song called (F)lannigans Ball alongside Spider Stacy of The Pogues.

He also made a guest appearance on the album "The Magic of Christmas" released by the choir of Saint Cronan's BNS, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

[edit] Declining health

Drew was reported to be in ill-health in September 2006 after being admitted to St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, to undergo tests for suspected cancer. Although he was released from the hospital, Drew is resting on doctors' advice. The Evening Herald suspected that Drew's apparent illness was due to years of heavy drinking. According to The Dubliners' fan page site however, it is sadly reported that as of November 2006 he has been undergoing treatment for throat cancer. Drew has been a teetotaler for a number of years, with an occasional relapse. However, he is still a regular smoker. Ronnie appeared on the Late Late Show on the 15 December 2006 along with Phil Coulter, where he discussed his recent health scares.

Despite his ailing health, Drew is currently preparing for the recording of a solo record, and he features on a new album entitled 'Pearls' produced by Niall Austin with work Drew did with Jah Wobble. [1] He is featured in the song (F)lanigan's Ball on the Dropkick Murphys album The Meanest of Times.

Also, in April 2007, six CDs containing the stories of Oscar Wilde narrated by Drew, were released with the News Of The World newspaper.

His wife of over 40 years, Deirdre Drew (née McCartan) died on 7 June 2007 at St Vincent's Hospital, just a day before Ronnie was due to make his comeback to performing after his battle with cancer, at the Legends of Irish Folk concert with Johnny McEvoy, Ralph McTell and Finbar Furey. [2]

On 25 October 2007 Ronnie Drew appeared on Ryan Confidential on RTÉ 1 to give an exclusive interview about his role in The Dubliners, and his life since leaving the band and being diagnosed with throat cancer. This was Ronnie's first ever televised appearance where he was shown bald and beardless.

On 7 December 2007, Ronnie again appeared on the Late Late Show, wearing a hat. He spoke about the death of his wife and his ongoing treatment for cancer.[3]

[edit] The Ballad of Ronnie Drew

On 19 February 2008, a song was released called "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" performed by a number of famous Irish musicians including the members of U2, Sinéad O'Connor, Christy Dignam of Aslan, Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead, Irish Trad band Kila, Christy Moore, Andrea Corr, Moya Brennan, Shane McGowan, Bob Geldof, Damien Dempsey, Gavin Friday, Iona Green, Jerry Fish, Paul Brady, Paddy Casey, Mick Pyro (of Republic of Loose), Mundy, Chris de Burgh, Ronan Keating, Jack L, Eleanor Shanley, Mary Black, Declan O'Rourke, Mary Coughlan, and Joe Elliott of Def Leppard as well as The Dubliners and The Chieftains. The single was written to originally include Ronnie himself but was changed to be a tribute to him as his health was declining. The single will be available for digital download from 22 February, and as a CD in shops from the 29 February. All proceeds from sale of the single are to go to The Irish Cancer Society at the request of Ronnie Drew himself.[4]

The song was performed live on The Late Late Show on 22nd February with Ronnie Drew in attendance as an audience member, and entered the Irish Single Charts at #2.

[edit] September Song

On 27th May 2008, RTE broadcast a documentary in its Arts Lives series on Ronnie Drew, called September Song, in which Ronnie recalls growing up in his grandmother's house in Dun Laoghaire, the foundation of The Dubliners in O'Donoghue's pub on Merrion Row, the days touring the world, the recent loss of his wife and his own battle with cancer. Interviewed in September Song are his son Phelim, daughter Cliodhna along with his friends and fans Bono, Billy Connolly and Damien Dempsey.[5] September Song is produced by Oscar nominated producer Noel Pearson and directed by Sinead O'Brien. The name of the documentary comes from a recording of September Song, the Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson song made popular through recordings by a number of artists, including Frank Sinatra, which features on Ronnie's 2006 solo album, There's Life In The Old Dog Yet.

[edit] Solo discography

[edit] References

  1. ^ There's life in the old dog yet, says Ronnie - News & Gossip, Entertainment - Independent.ie
  2. ^ Wife of Dubliners star Ronnie Drew dies, Irish Independent, 8 June 2007.
  3. ^ The Late Late Show (7 December 2007): Ronnie Drew. The Late Late Show. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  4. ^ Hotpress (18 February 2008):Ballad of Ronnie Drew. Hotpress.
  5. ^ Arts Lives - September Song