Davy Spillane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Davy Spillane
Davy Spillane at the Yaouank Festival in 2016
Background information
Born	1959 (age 65–66) Dublin, Ireland
Genres	Celtic Folk Rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instruments	Uilleann pipes, low whistle
Years active	1970 – present
Labels	Burrenstone music
Associated acts	Moving Hearts, Andy Irvine

Davy Spillane (born in 1959) is a famous Irish musician and composer from Dublin. He is best known for playing traditional Irish instruments called the uilleann pipes and the low whistle. The uilleann pipes are a type of Irish bagpipe, and the low whistle is a larger version of the common tin whistle, which creates a lower, breathier sound.

A Musical Journey

Getting Started

Davy Spillane began playing the uilleann pipes when he was only 12 years old. His father loved all kinds of music and encouraged him to learn. For the next few years, Davy played music with many well-known Irish musicians.

By the time he was 16, he was already performing in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe. In 1978, he started to write his own music. He even acted in a 1981 movie called Traveller, where he played a gypsy.

The Band 'Moving Hearts'

In 1981, Spillane helped create the band Moving Hearts with other famous musicians like Christy Moore and Donal Lunny. The band was known for playing a mix of Irish folk music and rock music. They often wrote original songs that had a folk-rock sound.

The band's last album, The Storm (1985), was completely instrumental, meaning it had no singing. It featured several slow, beautiful pieces written by Spillane.

Going Solo and Working with Stars

After Moving Hearts, Spillane started his solo career. He worked with American musician Béla Fleck and English guitarist Albert Lee to record his first solo album, Atlantic Bridge. This album mixed his Irish sound with American bluegrass and blues music.

He continued to release solo albums like Shadow Hunter and Pipedreams. Spillane also worked with many famous artists. He played with rock guitarist Rory Gallagher and the singer Enya. You can hear his playing on Enya's famous 1988 album, Watermark.

Music for Movies and Shows

Spillane's unique sound made him popular for movie soundtracks. In 1992, he wrote music for the film Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.

One of his most famous projects was being a special guest musician in the original Riverdance show in 1994. His music helped make the show a worldwide success. He also worked on the music for the movie Rob Roy and with artists like Mike Oldfield, Bryan Adams, and Elvis Costello.

Spillane is also a skilled instrument maker. He learned how to make pipes from master craftsmen and now builds his own instruments. In 2000, he recorded an album of traditional Irish tunes called Forgotten Days. His work has earned him a Grammy Award.

Selected Discography

Here are some of Davy Spillane's most important albums.

With Moving Hearts

• Moving Hearts (1981)
• The Storm (1985)

Solo Albums

• Atlantic Bridge (1987)
• Shadow Hunter (1990)
• Pipedreams (1991)
• A Place Among The Stones (1994)
• The Sea of Dreams (1998)

Collaborations

• EastWind (1992) – with Andy Irvine
• Forgotten Days (2001) – with Kevin Glackin