Joe Burke (accordionist) facts for kids

Joseph Burke (born April 11, 1939 – died February 20, 2021) was a famous Irish musician. He was known as an amazing button accordion player. Joe Burke played and recorded traditional Irish music for more than 50 years!

Joe Burke's Early Life and Music

Joe Burke was born in Kilnadeema, a small place in County Galway, Ireland. This was on April 11, 1939. He started playing traditional Irish music when he was only four years old! He bought his first accordion in the 1950s.

Joe was very talented. He won the All-Ireland Senior Accordion Championship in 1959. He won it again the very next year! In 1962, he teamed up with fiddler Aggie Whyte. Together, they won the All-Ireland duet championship.

Joe Burke's Music Career

In 1956, Joe Burke helped start a band called the Leitrim Ceili Band. They won All-Ireland Championships in 1959 and 1962. The band had many great musicians. They played flute, accordion, fiddle, drums, and piano. The band even toured in England! They also released a music album.

Joe first visited the U.S. in 1961. He lived in New York from 1962 to 1965. There, he played a lot with fiddler Andy McGann. With Andy and pianist Felix Dolan, he recorded an album. It was called A Tribute to Michael Coleman. Joe later recorded more music with this group.

Over the years, Joe played with many other talented musicians. These included fiddlers Sean McGuire and Kevin Burke. He also played with piper Michael Cooney and harper Máire Ní Chathasaigh. His wife, Anne Conroy Burke, also played guitar and accordion with him.

Touring and Radio Shows

Joe Burke released his first solo album, Galway's Own, in 1971. He toured a lot for the next 20 years. He traveled with groups sponsored by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. This is an organization that promotes Irish traditional music.

From 1988 to 1991, Joe lived in St. Louis, Missouri, in the U.S. He played music regularly at a pub called John D. McGurk's. He also hosted radio shows there. One show was called "Ireland in America." In 1989 and 1992, he represented Ireland at accordion festivals in Canada. He played alongside other famous accordion players from around the world.

Joe Burke returned to Kilnadeema in 1992. He kept teaching and performing music there. He passed away on February 20, 2021, at the age of 81.

Awards and Recognition

Joe Burke received many awards for his amazing music.

• In 1970, he was named RTÉ's Traditional Musician of the Year.
• In 1997, he won the AIB Traditional Musician of the Year award.
• He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish World newspaper in 1997.
• A special concert was held in Galway to celebrate his awards.
• In 2000, he received an award for Musical Mastery from Boston College.
• In 2003, he was given the Gradam an Chomhaltais award.

Joe Burke's Music Albums

Joe Burke recorded many albums during his career.

Solo Albums

• Galway's Own (1971)
• The Tailor's Choice (1983)

Albums with Other Musicians

• Happy To Meet Sorry To Part (1986) – with Michael Cooney and Terry Corcoran
• Two Champions (1971) – with Sean McGuire
• Traditional Music of Ireland (1973) – with Charlie Lennon
• The Bucks of Oranmore (1996) – with Charlie Lennon
• The Morning Mist (2002) – with Charlie Lennon
• A Tribute to Michael Coleman (1966) – with Andy McGann and Felix Dolan
• The Funny Reel. Traditional Music Of Ireland (1979) – with Andy McGann and Felix Dolan
• A Tribute to Andy McGann (2007) – with Brian Conway and Charlie Lennon