Ronnie Drew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ronnie Drew
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Ronnie Drew in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Ronald Drew |
| Born | 16 September 1934 Glasthule, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 17 March 2008 (aged 73) Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Irish folk |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1956–2008 |
| Labels | Sony, Columbia |
| Associated acts | The Dubliners, The Pogues |
Joseph Ronald Drew (born September 16, 1934 – died August 16, 2008) was a famous Irish singer, folk musician, and actor. He spent over 50 years making music, especially with the band The Dubliners.
Ronnie Drew was known for his unique voice. He sang lead on popular songs like "Seven Drunken Nights" and "The Irish Rover". Both songs were very successful, reaching the top 10 in the UK music charts. They were even performed on the TV show TOTP.
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Ronnie Drew's Early Life
Ronnie Drew was born in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, in 1934. Even though he was strongly linked to Dublin, he would sometimes joke that he wasn't a "true Dubliner" because he grew up in Dún Laoghaire.
He went to school at CBS Eblana. As a boy, he used to skip school sometimes to cycle to Leopardstown Racecourse. Despite not loving school, his friends thought he was very smart. Ronnie also sang as a boy soprano before his voice changed.
Ronnie Drew's Music Career
In the 1950s, Ronnie Drew moved to Spain. There, he taught English and learned Spanish and flamenco guitar. He became interested in folk music when he was 19 years old.
When he came back to Ireland, he performed at the Gate Theatre. Soon after, he decided to focus on music full-time. Before that, he had several short jobs, including working at the telephone exchange in Dublin.
Forming The Dubliners
In 1962, Ronnie Drew started a group called the Ronnie Drew Group. He formed it with Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, and Ciarán Bourke. They soon changed their name to The Dubliners. Later, John Sheahan joined, completing the classic lineup of the band.
The Dubliners quickly became one of the most famous Irish folk groups. They first played at O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin. They also performed regularly at the Abbey Tavern in Howth.
Leaving and Rejoining The Dubliners
Ronnie Drew left The Dubliners in 1974. However, he came back to the group in 1979. He then left for good in 1995. Even after leaving, he reunited with the band in 2002 for their 40th anniversary celebration. He also appeared on TV with the group between 2002 and 2005.
Solo Work and Collaborations
From 1995 onwards, Ronnie Drew focused on his solo career. He recorded music with many other artists. These included Christy Moore, The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys, and Eleanor Shanley.
He also performed "one-man shows" where he told stories and sang songs. These shows featured tales about famous Irish writers and artists like Brendan Behan and Oscar Wilde.
Ronnie Drew also lent his voice to other projects. He narrated a series of Irish Myths and Legends on CD. He also narrated stories by Oscar Wilde for another CD series.
In August 2006, Ronnie Drew was honored in Dublin. His hand prints were added to the "Walk of Fame" outside the Gaiety Theatre.
Later Years and Passing
In September 2006, news reported that Ronnie Drew was facing health challenges. He had been admitted to St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin for tests.
Despite his health issues, he appeared on Ireland's The Late Late Show in December 2006. He discussed his recent health scares with Phil Coulter. He also worked on an album called Pearls with Jah Wobble.
Ronnie's wife of over 40 years, Deirdre Drew, passed away in June 2007. This happened just before he was set to perform live again.
In October 2007, Ronnie Drew appeared on Ryan Confidential on RTÉ 1. He gave an interview about his time with The Dubliners and his life since leaving the band. He also spoke about his ongoing health treatment.
Ronnie Drew passed away in St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, on August 16, 2008, after a long illness. He was buried three days later in Redford Cemetery in Greystones.
Tributes to Ronnie Drew
The Ballad of Ronnie Drew
On February 19, 2008, a special song called "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" was released. Many famous Irish musicians and musicians living in Ireland performed it. This included members of The Dubliners, U2, Sinéad O'Connor, Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan, Bob Geldof, and Ronan Keating.
The song was originally written to include Ronnie Drew himself. However, it became a tribute to him as his health declined. All the money from the song's sales went to the Irish Cancer Society, which was Ronnie's wish. The song was also performed live on The Late Late Show with Ronnie in the audience. It reached No. 2 on the Irish Singles Charts.
September Song Documentary
In May 2008, RTÉ broadcast a documentary about Ronnie Drew. It was part of their Arts Lives series and was called September Song. The documentary showed Ronnie's memories of growing up and how The Dubliners started. It also covered his worldwide tours, the loss of his wife, and his own health journey.
His son Phelim Drew, his daughter Cliodhna, and friends like Bono and Billy Connolly were interviewed in the documentary. The name September Song comes from a song Ronnie recorded for his 2006 solo album, There's Life in the Old Dog Yet.
Other Tributes
Many other artists have honored Ronnie Drew.
- Andy Irvine mentioned him in his song "O'Donoghue's".
- The celtic punk band The Tossers dedicated their album On a Fine Spring Evening to his memory.
- Flogging Molly's lead singer, David King, called Ronnie Drew "A REAL folk singer."
- Gaelic Storm mentioned Ronnie Drew in their song "I Was Raised on Black and Tans".
- Dropkick Murphys, another Celtic punk band, dedicated their song "(F)lannigan's Ball" to Ronnie at a festival in 2008. Ronnie Drew was a guest vocalist on the studio recording of this song.
- The Australian-Irish band The Rumjacks mention Ronnie Drew in their song "An Irish Pub Song".
The Last Session: A Fond Farewell
In the months before he passed away, Ronnie Drew recorded several songs in a traditional jazz style. Many music stars, including Mary Coughlan and Damien Dempsey, joined him for duets on the album. This album, called The Last Session: A Fond Farewell, was released in November 2008.
Ronnie Drew's Legacy
Irish President Mary McAleese said that Ronnie Drew brought great joy to people in Ireland and around the world. She also said he helped to make Ireland's unique musical heritage strong again. The Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Brian Cowen also called him "iconic," meaning he was a very important and admired figure.
Solo Music Albums
- Ronnie Drew (1975)
- Guaranteed (1978)
- Dirty Rotten Shame (1995)
- The Humour Is on Me Now (1999)
- A Couple More Years (with Eleanor Shanley) (2000)
- An Evening With Ronnie Drew (2004)
- The Magic of Christmas (2004) (Guest Appearance)
- El Amor De Mi Vida (with Eleanor Shanley) (2006)
- A New World (2006)
- There's Life in the Old Dog Yet (2006)
- Pearls (with Grand Canal) (2007)
- The Best of Ronnie Drew (2007)
- The Last Session: A Fond Farewell (2008)
Singles (Popular Songs)
- "Weila Weila" (1975)
- "Spanish Lady" (1994) (Featuring Dustin, The Saw Doctors)
- "Easy and Slow" (2008)
See also
In Spanish: Ronnie Drew para niños
