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Joe Derrane

Joe Derrane, born March 16, 1930 to Irish immigrant parents was exposed to traditional Irish Music from a very early age and, in the process, developed a life long love affair with the Irish style button accordion. He studied under the watchful eye of his mentor, Jerry O’Brien, who had immigrated from Ireland in the 1920’s. At age 15, he was playing the then popular house parties with his teach, and by the time he was 17, he was a regular performer on the Sunday night live Irish Hour broadcasts, and had become a fixture in Boston’s now legendary Irish Ballroom scene. In 1947 he made his first 78 rpm recording for the Copley Label, which was so well received that he completed 7 more over the next few years. Those recordings, which stunned the Irish Music world, have long since become part of the lore of Irish Music, and forever established his place in the pantheon of the truly great Irish musicians.

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Watch Past Performances

Joe Derrane 9/30/04: Joe Derrane

Joe Derrane, 2004 NEA National Heritage Fellow, performs traditional Irish music on the button accordion.

Joe Derrane

Joe Derrane, 2004 NEA National Heritage Fellow, performs traditional Irish music on the button accordion.

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