John Cummings (piper) facts for kids

Professor John Cummings (born 1828, lived until at least 1913) was a very talented Irish musician. He was known for playing the uilleann pipes, a special type of Irish bagpipes. People respected his amazing musical skills so much that they gave him the honorary title of "Professor."

Growing Up in Ireland

John Cummings was born in 1828. His father, Patrick Cummins, was also a piper. John grew up near a town called Athenry in Ireland. His family had been musicians and music teachers for many generations. This meant music was a big part of his life from a young age. Even though his family's name was originally "Cummins," John later changed the spelling to "Cummings."

Life and Work in England

Around 1850, John Cummings moved to England. He lived and worked there for many years, until 1892. First, he lived in Liverpool. There, he worked in building. He also became good friends with another piper and instrument maker named Michael Egan. Later, John moved to London. In London, he spent a lot of time working with horses, taking care of them and handling them.

Moving to America and Becoming Famous

In 1892, John Cummings left England and moved to San Francisco, a big city in the United States. He lived there with his daughter, Mrs. Hogan. For many years, John mostly played music privately for friends or small groups. He wasn't widely known to the public.

However, things changed around 1912. This was during a time called the Gaelic Revival. The Gaelic Revival was a movement that celebrated Irish culture, language, and music. Because of this new interest in Irish traditions, John Cummings's music became known to a much wider audience. Even though he was quite old by then, people said his piping skills were just as good as famous pipers like Patsy Touhey and Barney Delaney.