Joanie Madden facts for kids
Joanie Madden is an Irish-American musician. She plays the flute and whistle in traditional Irish music. Joanie is most famous for leading the all-female band Cherish the Ladies. She has also played and recorded music with many other artists. Joanie often performs by herself and teaches music classes too.
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Joanie Madden's Life Story
Joanie Madden was born in the Bronx, New York. Her parents had moved there from Ireland. Her dad, Joe, was a champion accordion player. He was a well-known Irish musician. In 1992, he was even added to a special Hall of Fame for Irish musicians.
When she was little, Joanie tried learning the fiddle and piano. But she didn't find them very exciting. Then she fell in love with the tin whistle. She even paid for her own lessons from her neighbor, Jack Coen. He was a famous musician too.
As a teenager, Joanie played music with her dad's band. She also played with her classmate, Eileen Ivers. In 1983, when she was 18, Joanie won the All-Ireland Championship for both the flute and tin whistle. This is a very big award in Irish music! In 1984, she went back to Ireland. She became the first American to win the Senior All-Ireland Championship for the tin whistle.
Soon after, a musician named Mick Moloney asked her to help with a concert series. It would feature women musicians. Joanie suggested the name "Cherish the Ladies." This concert series grew into the famous band of the same name. Joanie has led this band ever since it started.
She has played on over 200 music albums. Many musicians want her to play with them. While she mostly plays Irish music, she has also played on movie soundtracks. She has worked with many different artists. These include Sinéad O'Connor, Pete Seeger, and The Boston Pops. Joanie has released three solo albums. Her album Song of the Irish Whistle is the most successful whistle album ever. It has sold hundreds of thousands of copies! In 2007, Joanie was honored just like her father. She was added to the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Mid-Atlantic Region Hall of Fame.
Her Special Flute
Joanie Madden plays a special kind of flute. It's called a Boehm-system flute. People sometimes call it a "classical" or "silver" flute. This is unusual in traditional Irish music. Most flute players in this style use simple wooden flutes.
The classical flute is not the easiest choice for Irish music. It can be hard to do certain musical decorations, like slides. But Joanie has found ways to make it work. Other famous flute players have praised her. Matt Molloy from The Chieftains and James Galway both say Joanie is one of the best flute players in Irish music today.
Awards and Special Honors
Joanie Madden has received many important awards:
- In 2011, she received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. This award recognized her amazing music and her support for Irish-American culture.
- A street in her hometown, the Bronx, was named after her: "Joanie Madden and Cherish the Ladies."
- In 2012, she was named a Fellow of United States Artists.
- In 2021, she received a National Heritage Fellowship. This is the highest honor the United States government gives for folk and traditional arts.
Music Albums
Solo Albums
- Whistle on the Wind (1994)
- Song of the Irish Whistle (1996)
- Song of the Irish Whistle 2 (1999)
With Cherish the Ladies
- See the full list on the Cherish the Ladies page.
As a Guest Musician
Joanie has played on many other artists' albums, including:
- Sinéad O'Connor – Am I Not Your Girl? (1992); Sean-Nós_Nua (2002)
- Pete Seeger – Pete (1996)
- The Boston Pops – Celtic Album (1998)
