Joe Cooley facts for kids

Joe Cooley (born in 1924, died December 20, 1973) was a famous Irish musician. He was known for playing traditional accordion music. Many people consider him one of the best and most important Irish accordion players ever.

Joe Cooley's Musical Journey

Joe Cooley was born in Peterswell, a town in County Galway, Ireland, in 1924. Both of his parents played the melodeon, which is a type of accordion. Joe started playing the accordion when he was just 10 years old.

As a teenager, Joe played music in the Midlands area of Ireland. In 1945, he moved to Dublin. There, he joined a group called the Galway Rovers Band. In Dublin, he met other musicians like Sonny Brogan and Johnny Doran. These musicians helped shape Joe's unique musical style.

Playing with the Tulla Céilí Band

Joe was one of the first members of the famous Tulla Céilí Band. Back then, they were called the St Patrick's Amateur Band. They won a competition at Féile Luimní in 1946. Joe played with the Tulla Céilí Band on their first radio show for Radio Éireann in 1948.

Later that year, he left the band to work in London. He rejoined the Tulla Céilí Band when he came back to Ireland in late 1950. Joe also often played music with a fiddler from Galway named Joe Leary.

Moving to America

In 1954, Joe Cooley moved to the United States. His brother, Seamus Cooley, who played banjo with the Tulla Céilí Band, also went to the US. Seamus even made a recording with the band. He stayed in the US after a tour in 1958.

While in New York, Joe played in groups like the Joe Cooley Ceili Band. He then moved from New York to Chicago and finally to San Francisco. In San Francisco, Joe started a band called the Gráinneog Céilidh band. This band included accordion player Kevin Keegan, fiddlers Sue Draheim and Will Spires, and Eric Thompson.

Today, a branch of the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (an Irish music organization) in San Francisco is named after Joe Cooley and Kevin Keegan. This shows how important they were to Irish music in America. While in America, Joe married Nancy McMahon.

His Famous Accordion and Legacy

Joe Cooley was known for his amazing accordion skills. Once, in Miltown Malbay, Ireland, he received a beautiful Paolo Soprani C#/D accordion. He called this special instrument "The Box." This accordion went with him on his tour of America in the 1970s.

Joe returned to Ireland in the spring of 1973 because he became very ill. He continued to play music in pubs in County Clare and County Galway with his friend Des Mulkere. He played almost until he passed away in December 1973. His only official music recordings were not released in Ireland until 1975.

It is believed that Joe's famous accordion, "The Box," is now with another great Irish accordion player, Tony MacMahon. One of Joe Cooley's lasting contributions is a reel (a type of fast dance tune) named "Joe Cooley's." This tune was originally called "The Tulla Reel." However, it became so linked with Joe that it is now a standard tune in traditional Irish music. You can find many of Joe's tunes archived on a website created by his American friends: Joe Cooley Tapes website.