Tommy Makem is dead

[Sarah]

This makes me sad.

[kenkwan]

Me too. I think I'll go put on the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem at Carnegie Hall.

[Sarah]

I should put on my tape. 

The Clancy Brothers are responsible for my affection for Irish music, in all its sentimental, bloodthirsty, drunken glory.  Once upon a time, I went with my parents (I was eight) to see the Clancy Brothers at a hockey rink in Canton, N.Y.  I already loved them because of the very record of which I have a very well-worn tape.  Tommy Makem slipped on the way to the makeshift stage and cracked his head on the ice.  There were worries that he would have to be rushed to the hospital, but instead he hauled himself up, and the concert was wonderful.  It is an important childhood memory.

Stupid death. 

[LostInReno]

I sang at Carnegie Hall in 2004.

[buffcoat]

I sang at the Carnegie Deli in 1996.  They then threw me out.

I have no idea who Tommy Makem was, and just to remain in ignorance and to join in the curmudgeonly tone that this board has taken today, I will refuse to think of any means whereby I might get to know who he was.  Nyah.

[TL]

I KNOW!!  In his honor, I sound-checked my vocals today with a round of "Fairwell to Nova Scotia."
I seriously got weepy.  Loved that guy...
LOVE that guy!
Thanks for bringing this to the board's attention, Sarah.

For when I'm far away, on the briny ocean, tossed
Will you ever heave a sigh and weep for me?

[Tim K in DC]

Ah, how sad. Tommy Makem and The Clancy Bros., as well as Makem and (Liam) Clancy, were on heavy rotation in my parents' house when I was growing up. They, along with the Dubliners, were the hook to my appreciation of traditional Irish music. Drink up the cider...

[kenkwan]

My parents had the children's song medley from the Carnegie Hall concert that they taped off some NPR weekend show. We would listen to that tape on every car trip. My sister's and I still know it by heart. I love those mean, violent Irish children's songs, like...

"Up the long ladder and down the short rope, to hell with King Billy and God Bless the Pope. If that doesn't do, well tear em in two, and send em to Hell, with their Red, White and Blue."