The Chieftains facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Chieftains
The Chieftains performing in 2008
Background information
Origin	Dublin, Ireland
Genres	Traditional Irish Irish folk Celtic
Years active	1962–present
Labels	Claddagh, Island, RCA
Associated acts	Ceoltóirí Chualann Carlos Núñez Béla Fleck
Members	Paddy Moloney Kevin Conneff Matt Molloy
Past members	Seán Potts Michael Tubridy David Fallon Martin Fay Peadar Mercier Seán Keane Derek Bell Ronnie McShane

The Chieftains are a famous traditional Irish music group. They formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1962. The original members were Paddy Moloney, Sean Potts, and Michael Tubridy.

Their music is mostly instrumental, meaning it doesn't have many singers. It often features the uilleann pipes, a special type of Irish bagpipes. The Chieftains are known for helping to make traditional Irish music popular around the world. They have won six Grammy Awards. In 2002, they received a Lifetime Achievement Award from BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. The Irish government even called them 'Ireland's Musical Ambassadors' in 1989.

What's in a Name?

The band's name comes from a book. It was called Death of a Chieftain by Irish writer John Montague. Early on, Garech Browne helped them. They signed with his music company, Claddagh Records. The band wanted to become famous outside Ireland. They succeeded, and soon their album notes were printed in three languages.

The Chieftains' Musical Journey

How the Band Started

Paddy Moloney was part of a group called Ceoltóirí Chualann. This group focused on instrumental music. Paddy wanted to create a new band. The first practices happened at Moloney's house. David Fallon and Martin Fay joined the original three members. The group was not fully professional until the 1970s. By then, they were very successful in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Becoming Famous Worldwide

In 1973, The Chieftains became popular in the United States. Their earlier albums were released there by Island Records. They gained even more fame by working on a movie soundtrack. This was for Stanley Kubrick's 1975 film Barry Lyndon. The soundtrack won an Academy Award. This helped them become well-known in the US.

A Long and Successful Career

The group kept releasing popular albums in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1988, they worked with Van Morrison. This led to the highly praised album Irish Heartbeat. They later worked with many other famous musicians. These included Luciano Pavarotti, the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Sinéad O'Connor, and Roger Daltrey.

Celebrating 50 Years of Music

In 2012, The Chieftains celebrated their 50th anniversary. They released a special album and went on tour. The album, Voice of Ages, was produced by T-Bone Burnett. It featured collaborations with many artists. These included Bon Iver and The Decemberists. The album even had NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman playing the flute. She played it while aboard the International Space Station! The Chieftains performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 17, 2012.

The Farewell Tour

In February 2019, The Chieftains began their "Irish Goodbye Tour." This was a big farewell tour. It included shows in Europe in 2019 and Canada in 2020. They also had two tours in the US in 2019 and 2020. Some tour dates were postponed in March 2020. This was due to the coronavirus situation.

Musical Collaborations

Paddy Moloney with Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan is a fan of The Chieftains' music.

The Chieftains are famous for working with many different musicians. They have played with artists from various music styles. These include country music, Galician traditional music, and rock and roll. Because of their wide range of collaborations, the Irish Government gave them a special title. In 1989, they were named 'Ireland's Musical Ambassadors'.

They have performed with many artists, including:

In May 1986, they played at Self Aid. This was a concert in Dublin to help with unemployment in Ireland. In 1994, they appeared in a show by Roger Daltrey. It was called A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who.

They also performed with Canadian astronaut Cmdr. Chris Hadfield. This was in Houston, TX, on February 15, 2013. Cmdr. Hadfield sang and played guitar on "Moondance." He did this from aboard the International Space Station.

Awards and Achievements

The Chieftains have won six Grammy Awards. They have also been nominated eighteen times. They won an Emmy and a Genie. They contributed music to the 1975 film Barry Lyndon. Their version of Women of Ireland was highly praised. The film's music won an Oscar. In 2002, BBC Radio 2 gave them a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Two of their songs were minor hits in the UK Singles Chart. "Have I Told You Lately" with Van Morrison reached No. 71 in 1995. "I Know My Love" featuring The Corrs reached No. 37 in 1999.

Music expert Dr. Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin said The Chieftains helped Irish traditional music. They made it as respected as other music styles. By working with pop and rock artists, they reached more people. They became musical ambassadors for Ireland. The Irish Government officially recognized this in 1989.

Special Performances

The Chieftains have played at many important events.

• In 1979, they played for Pope John Paul II. Over one million people watched in Phoenix Park, Dublin. This was during the Pope's visit to Ireland.
• In 1983, the Chinese Government invited them to perform. They played with the Chinese Broadcasting Art Group. This concert was on the Great Wall of China. They were the first Western music group to do this.
• They were also the first group to perform in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Senator Edward Kennedy and former Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neill, invited them.
• In 2011, they performed in Dublin. President Mary McAleese and Queen Elizabeth II of Britain attended. This was during the Queen's first official trip to the Republic of Ireland.

Band Members

Discography

See also

In Spanish: The Chieftains para niños