Ed Reavy facts for kids

Ed Reavy (1897–1988) was an Irish-American musician. He wrote many traditional Irish dance tunes. Ed was born in Barnagrove, County Cavan, Ireland.

In 1912, he moved to Philadelphia in the United States. He lived in a neighborhood called Corktown. Many Irish-Americans lived there. Ed Reavy stayed in Philadelphia for most of his life. He only visited Ireland twice.

A Life in Music

Ed Reavy was a talented fiddler. A fiddler is someone who plays the fiddle, which is like a violin.

Early Recordings

In 1927, Ed recorded music for the Victor record label. He recorded two reels. Reels are fast Irish dances. He also recorded two hornpipes. Hornpipes are another type of lively dance tune.

His Compositions

Ed Reavy wrote a lot of music. More than 100 of his songs have been published. His sons believe he might have written over 500 tunes in total!

His most famous song is likely "The Hunter's House."

Influence on Irish Music

Ed Reavy's songs and his way of playing the fiddle became very popular. His music even traveled back to Ireland. It had a big impact on how modern Irish Traditional Music developed.

Recognition and Awards

Ed Reavy was also the president of the Irish Musicians' Association of America. This shows he was a leader in the Irish music community.

In 2000, after he had passed away, he received a special award. An Irish-American group named him "Composer of the Century." This was a great honor for his musical contributions.