Tommy Reck facts for kids

Tommy Reck (born November 8, 1921 – died 1991) was a famous Irish musician. He was known for playing a special instrument called the uilleann pipes. Tommy recorded a lot of traditional Irish music during his life.

He was born in an area of Dublin, Ireland, called The Liberties. Tommy started learning the uilleann pipes when he was just eleven years old. His teacher was "Old John" Potts, who lived near Tommy's home in Walkinstown. John Potts had learned from other great pipers, including some blind musicians who came to Dublin for music competitions. These competitions were part of a yearly music festival called the Feis Ceoil.

In the 1930s, Tommy played with a group called the Piper's Quartet. Other talented pipers in this group included Leo Rowsome, Willie Clancy, and Seán Seery. Tommy was also a member of the Pipers Club in Dublin before World War II. He even served as the club's secretary from 1944 to 1947.

Tommy's Music Recordings

Tommy Reck made many recordings of his music. These recordings help us remember his amazing talent. Here are some of his important works:

• The Scholar, The Salamanca, Tom Steele, Copley (1955) – This was an early record.
• Two records released in 1957 for Claddagh.
• It's The Dubliners by The Dubliners, Transatlantic Records (1969) – Tommy played on a song called Cook in the Kitchen.
• The Drones and The Chanters (Irish Pipering), Claddagh (1971) – This album featured three of his songs.
• The Stone in the Field, Inisfree (1977, USA).
• Humours of Holland CD (1989) – This CD has a fifteen-minute live recording from a concert he gave in the Netherlands.
• Taisce Luachmhar (Valuable Treasure) – The Piping Album, Irish Recording Company Limited (2021) – This album includes three songs recorded by Tommy in the late 1940s and 1950s.