James Joseph Sheridan facts for kids

James Joseph Sheridan (born September 26, 1951, in Borris-in-Ossory, County Laois, Ireland – died December 31, 2014, in New York City) was a talented Irish pianist, composer, and music historian. He dedicated his life to saving and recording traditional Irish music. He was also an arranger, meaning he adapted music for different instruments or voices.

Early Life and Musical Training

J.J. Sheridan loved music from a young age. He studied piano at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. His teachers there were John O’Sullivan and Valerie Walker. He also learned how to compose music from A.J. Potter. Later, he continued his studies at the London College of Music.

Sheridan's Compositions

Even when he was young, J.J. Sheridan was creating music. When he was only 18, he wrote a piece called "Saint Canice's Mass" in 1969. He also wrote many other pieces for choirs. Besides his own compositions, he created a huge number of piano arrangements. These were special versions of "ancient" Irish music.

A Passion for Irish Music

In 1980, J.J. Sheridan moved to the United States. He lived for many years in Atlanta. His biggest goal was to honor and protect Irish music. He did this through his concerts and recordings.

Preserving Irish Heritage

To help preserve Irish music, Sheridan started Trigon Recordings in 1988. This company was a way to keep Irish music alive. He especially focused on the works of famous Irish musicians. These included Turlough O'Carolan, Edward Bunting, Patrick Weston Joyce, and George Petrie.

In 2006, Sheridan released a highly praised collection of music. It was called Soul of the Irish Piano. This collection featured some of Ireland's most beautiful slow airs.

The Complete O'Carolan Works

One of his most important projects was released in 2007. It was an eight-disc set called The Complete Works Of Turlough O’Carolan. Turlough O'Carolan was a famous Irish harper from the 1700s. He was known as "the last of the bards." This collection was the first and only complete edition of all 214 pieces by O'Carolan. It was a huge achievement in preserving Irish musical history.

In 2011, J.J. Sheridan received a special award. It was called Irish America’s Stars of the South award. This award honors important Irish people living in the southern United States. J.J. Sheridan passed away in New York City on December 31, 2014.