JAMIE O'BRIEN'S
music history page
Jamie's first paying gig was when he was 13 years old and sang in a rock band (the name of which has vanished in the mists of time).
Since then he has played solo and in other bands, duos and trios. He's played rock, folk, country, jazz, classical and more; music from Ireland, England, America, France, Italy, Germany ... whatever sounded good to him.
His first instrument was piano (the less said about that, the better); he then moved on to guitar. Over the years, he has also dabbled with mandolin, banjo, hammered dulcimer and other things with strings, as well as harmonica and whistle.
Here are some of the musical landmarks of Jamie's career over the years:
ca 1970-72 and 1974-75: OGRON
early incarnation of Ogron, left to right: Pete Morson, Ann White, Steve Roud, Jayne Eggert, Al Turk & Jamie
an unaccompanied English folksong group based in London which grew out of a country rock band and, in its heyday, featured founders Steve Roud, Jayne Eggert and Jamie, along with John Shaw and Richard Faire and ended up with Jamie, John and Chris Eyres
* * *
ca 1972-76: THE NEW BLACKTHORN BAND (a.k.a. Slough & the West)
a London-based English country dance band mostly with fiddler Chris Eyres and Jamie on guitar and piano - the band ended when Chris joined Ginger Beer Shindig and Jamie devoted more and more time to the Adelaides and various pop and rock projects (see below)
* * *
ca 1975-78: THE ADELAIDE BAND
an English country dance band based in Andover, Hants, formed by Steve Roud on melodeon, Paul Marsh on melodeon, harmonica and percussion and Jamie on hammered dulcimer, harmonica and piano; various other musicians passed through (I believe the band continued after the original trio left, with three new members whose names slip my mind, playing fiddle, banjo and drums
* * *
1972-73: JENNY FORD & JAMIE O'BRIEN
Jamie, Graham Sheedy, Jenny
a vocal/guitar duo performing pop and country originals and covers - Jenny went on to play in a number of different setups, eventually hitting the charts in England with High Society
* * *
1975-78: THE DANDY & THE LION
a rock duo (originals and covers) in London featuring Ernest Hone (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Jamie (vocals, guitar, mandolin)
* * *
1976-78: THE LOWER BAND
Jamie & Peter Cooper
an originals and covers pub rock band in London revolving around Peter Cooper (vocals, guitar), Ernest Hone (vocals, mainly keyboards) and Jamie (vocals, mainly drums and bass), also featuring guitar, bass and percussion depending on who else was in the band
* * *
1980-88: THE RIGHT HAND BAND
Matti Meng, Uli Altdorfer & Jamie
originally a traditional Irish band in Freiburg, Germany, though later also including music of central Europe, with Harald Schmidt (1980) on guitar, Matti Meng (1980-84) fiddle, Uli Altdorfer (1980-88) mandolin, crumhorn, whistle and guitar, Jamie (1980-88) guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, harmonica, Andreas Barth (1987-88) accordion and some other fella (1987-88) who tried to play fiddle and whose name I've forgotten
* * *
1990-present: MEDICINAL PURPOSE
from left: Henry Koretzky, Ryck Kaiser, Jamie, Carol Whitfield & Vinnie Hunter
an old timey, celtic and swing band in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, playing music for contradances and concerts with Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koreztky (mandolin, hammered dulcimer), Carol Whitfield (clawhammer banjo, concertina) and Jamie (guitar) along with any one of a number of bass players including Bruce Campbell, BJ Driscoll and Vinnie Hunter. The band plays today as a quintet or as a trio (Ryck, Henry and Jamie) - Ryck also performs with his trio (usually with Jill Smith on piano and either Henry or Jamie on guitar); Henry and Jamie also play as Unbowed, a vocal instrumental duo, and as Shades of Green & Blue, along with singer/guitarist/songwriter KJ Rymensyder-Wagner
* * *
1997-present: LAUNE RANGERS
a Harrisburg-based Irish and celtic music band. Jamie (vocals, guitar, cittern) usually plays with a fiddler and a percussionist and possibly another musician
* * *
1998-present: SLINGO
an Irish band in central Pennsylvania which grew out of the Launies and now features John Winship (fiddle, concertina), Matt Willen (mandolin, bouzouki and vocals), John Dreibelbis (pipes, flute) and Jamie (vocals, guitar)
Nowadays...
Jamie (vocals, guitar) often plays solo with accompaniment provided by John Winship (fiddle, concertina), Henry Koretzky (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Bruce Young (fiddle, guitar, vocals) and/or Ryck Kaiser. When Chad Shambaugh (bodhran) and Jenny Brennan (vocals, guitar) of Nashville, TN, are available, don't be surprised to see them join Jamie on stage
Jamie also has a fine reputation as an accompanist and has played guitar for many musicians including:
John Brennan (fiddle, guitar)
Jenny Brennan (vocals, guitar)
Myron Bretholz (bodhran)
Aoife Clancy (vocals, guitar)
Jim Eagan (fiddle)
Cara Kelly Frankowicz (fiddle)
Donna Long (piano, fiddle, vocals)
Eliot Grasso (pipes)
Ken Kolodner (hammered dulcimer, fiddle)
Billy McComiskey (accordion)
Sean McComiskey (accordion)
John McGillian (accordion)
Kieran O'Hare (pipes, flute)
Rosie Shipley (fiddle)
Matt Shortridge (fiddle)
Beverly Smith (vocals, fiddle, guitar)
Mary Staunton (accordion)
Recordings featuring Jamie which are currently available include:
Uncorked - Medicinal Purpose
an album of contradance music (Jamie - guitar)
Launie Tunes - Laune Rangers
an album of (mainly) Irish songs and tunes (Jamie - producer, vocals, guitar, cittern)
Ryck Kaiser - Ryck Kaiser
Ryck's solo album of fiddle tunes (Jamie appears on various tracks playing guitar)
and now available:
My Wild Irish Boy - a solo album by Jamie
Jamie is featured singing and playing guitar, cittern, harmonica, helped by a number of friends including Kristine Allen (fiddle), Jenny Brennan (vocals), Bruce Campbell (bass), Aoife Clancy (vocals), John Hayden (drums), Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koretzky (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Chad Shambaugh (bodhran, percussion), Jill Smith (piano), John Winship (concertina) and Bruce Young (fiddle) and presenting songs and tunes from Ireland, England, Australia, France and Croatia (now available)
produced by Jamie with Henry Koretzky and Kathy Kelly
also soon to be released:
an album by Bruce Young
(featuring Jamie on guitar on various tracks)
Jamie's second solo album
with Jamie on vocals, guitar and harmonica along with many of his musical friends including:
Myron Bretholz (bodhran, percussion), Bruce Campbell (bass), Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koretzky (mandolin), Donna Long (piano, vocals), Nancy McCallion (vocals), Billy McComiskey (accordion), Paul McKeown (guitar, keyboards, percussion), Rosie Shipley (fiddle) and John Winship (concertina)
thirteen tracks produced by Paul McKeown with Jamie and to be released sometime this summer
(there's also a bonus 14th track - something just a little bit different!)
music history page
Jamie's first paying gig was when he was 13 years old and sang in a rock band (the name of which has vanished in the mists of time).
Since then he has played solo and in other bands, duos and trios. He's played rock, folk, country, jazz, classical and more; music from Ireland, England, America, France, Italy, Germany ... whatever sounded good to him.
His first instrument was piano (the less said about that, the better); he then moved on to guitar. Over the years, he has also dabbled with mandolin, banjo, hammered dulcimer and other things with strings, as well as harmonica and whistle.
Here are some of the musical landmarks of Jamie's career over the years:
ca 1970-72 and 1974-75: OGRON
early incarnation of Ogron, left to right: Pete Morson, Ann White, Steve Roud, Jayne Eggert, Al Turk & Jamie
an unaccompanied English folksong group based in London which grew out of a country rock band and, in its heyday, featured founders Steve Roud, Jayne Eggert and Jamie, along with John Shaw and Richard Faire and ended up with Jamie, John and Chris Eyres
* * *
ca 1972-76: THE NEW BLACKTHORN BAND (a.k.a. Slough & the West)
a London-based English country dance band mostly with fiddler Chris Eyres and Jamie on guitar and piano - the band ended when Chris joined Ginger Beer Shindig and Jamie devoted more and more time to the Adelaides and various pop and rock projects (see below)
* * *
ca 1975-78: THE ADELAIDE BAND
an English country dance band based in Andover, Hants, formed by Steve Roud on melodeon, Paul Marsh on melodeon, harmonica and percussion and Jamie on hammered dulcimer, harmonica and piano; various other musicians passed through (I believe the band continued after the original trio left, with three new members whose names slip my mind, playing fiddle, banjo and drums
* * *
1972-73: JENNY FORD & JAMIE O'BRIEN
Jamie, Graham Sheedy, Jenny
a vocal/guitar duo performing pop and country originals and covers - Jenny went on to play in a number of different setups, eventually hitting the charts in England with High Society
* * *
1975-78: THE DANDY & THE LION
a rock duo (originals and covers) in London featuring Ernest Hone (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Jamie (vocals, guitar, mandolin)
* * *
1976-78: THE LOWER BAND
Jamie & Peter Cooper
an originals and covers pub rock band in London revolving around Peter Cooper (vocals, guitar), Ernest Hone (vocals, mainly keyboards) and Jamie (vocals, mainly drums and bass), also featuring guitar, bass and percussion depending on who else was in the band
* * *
1980-88: THE RIGHT HAND BAND
Matti Meng, Uli Altdorfer & Jamie
originally a traditional Irish band in Freiburg, Germany, though later also including music of central Europe, with Harald Schmidt (1980) on guitar, Matti Meng (1980-84) fiddle, Uli Altdorfer (1980-88) mandolin, crumhorn, whistle and guitar, Jamie (1980-88) guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, harmonica, Andreas Barth (1987-88) accordion and some other fella (1987-88) who tried to play fiddle and whose name I've forgotten
* * *
1990-present: MEDICINAL PURPOSE
from left: Henry Koretzky, Ryck Kaiser, Jamie, Carol Whitfield & Vinnie Hunter
an old timey, celtic and swing band in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, playing music for contradances and concerts with Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koreztky (mandolin, hammered dulcimer), Carol Whitfield (clawhammer banjo, concertina) and Jamie (guitar) along with any one of a number of bass players including Bruce Campbell, BJ Driscoll and Vinnie Hunter. The band plays today as a quintet or as a trio (Ryck, Henry and Jamie) - Ryck also performs with his trio (usually with Jill Smith on piano and either Henry or Jamie on guitar); Henry and Jamie also play as Unbowed, a vocal instrumental duo, and as Shades of Green & Blue, along with singer/guitarist/songwriter KJ Rymensyder-Wagner
* * *
1997-present: LAUNE RANGERS
a Harrisburg-based Irish and celtic music band. Jamie (vocals, guitar, cittern) usually plays with a fiddler and a percussionist and possibly another musician
* * *
1998-present: SLINGO
an Irish band in central Pennsylvania which grew out of the Launies and now features John Winship (fiddle, concertina), Matt Willen (mandolin, bouzouki and vocals), John Dreibelbis (pipes, flute) and Jamie (vocals, guitar)
Nowadays...
Jamie (vocals, guitar) often plays solo with accompaniment provided by John Winship (fiddle, concertina), Henry Koretzky (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Bruce Young (fiddle, guitar, vocals) and/or Ryck Kaiser. When Chad Shambaugh (bodhran) and Jenny Brennan (vocals, guitar) of Nashville, TN, are available, don't be surprised to see them join Jamie on stage
Jamie also has a fine reputation as an accompanist and has played guitar for many musicians including:
John Brennan (fiddle, guitar)
Jenny Brennan (vocals, guitar)
Myron Bretholz (bodhran)
Aoife Clancy (vocals, guitar)
Jim Eagan (fiddle)
Cara Kelly Frankowicz (fiddle)
Donna Long (piano, fiddle, vocals)
Eliot Grasso (pipes)
Ken Kolodner (hammered dulcimer, fiddle)
Billy McComiskey (accordion)
Sean McComiskey (accordion)
John McGillian (accordion)
Kieran O'Hare (pipes, flute)
Rosie Shipley (fiddle)
Matt Shortridge (fiddle)
Beverly Smith (vocals, fiddle, guitar)
Mary Staunton (accordion)
Recordings featuring Jamie which are currently available include:
Uncorked - Medicinal Purpose
an album of contradance music (Jamie - guitar)
Launie Tunes - Laune Rangers
an album of (mainly) Irish songs and tunes (Jamie - producer, vocals, guitar, cittern)
Ryck Kaiser - Ryck Kaiser
Ryck's solo album of fiddle tunes (Jamie appears on various tracks playing guitar)
and now available:
My Wild Irish Boy - a solo album by Jamie
Jamie is featured singing and playing guitar, cittern, harmonica, helped by a number of friends including Kristine Allen (fiddle), Jenny Brennan (vocals), Bruce Campbell (bass), Aoife Clancy (vocals), John Hayden (drums), Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koretzky (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Chad Shambaugh (bodhran, percussion), Jill Smith (piano), John Winship (concertina) and Bruce Young (fiddle) and presenting songs and tunes from Ireland, England, Australia, France and Croatia (now available)
produced by Jamie with Henry Koretzky and Kathy Kelly
also soon to be released:
an album by Bruce Young
(featuring Jamie on guitar on various tracks)
Jamie's second solo album
with Jamie on vocals, guitar and harmonica along with many of his musical friends including:
Myron Bretholz (bodhran, percussion), Bruce Campbell (bass), Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koretzky (mandolin), Donna Long (piano, vocals), Nancy McCallion (vocals), Billy McComiskey (accordion), Paul McKeown (guitar, keyboards, percussion), Rosie Shipley (fiddle) and John Winship (concertina)
thirteen tracks produced by Paul McKeown with Jamie and to be released sometime this summer
(there's also a bonus 14th track - something just a little bit different!)
Jamie's first paying gig was when he was 13 years old and sang in a rock band (the name of which has vanished in the mists of time).
Since then he has played solo and in other bands, duos and trios. He's played rock, folk, country, jazz, classical and more; music from Ireland, England, America, France, Italy, Germany ... whatever sounded good to him.
His first instrument was piano (the less said about that, the better); he then moved on to guitar. Over the years, he has also dabbled with mandolin, banjo, hammered dulcimer and other things with strings, as well as harmonica and whistle.
Here are some of the musical landmarks of Jamie's career over the years:
ca 1970-72 and 1974-75: OGRON
early incarnation of Ogron, left to right: Pete Morson, Ann White, Steve Roud, Jayne Eggert, Al Turk & Jamie
an unaccompanied English folksong group based in London which grew out of a country rock band and, in its heyday, featured founders Steve Roud, Jayne Eggert and Jamie, along with John Shaw and Richard Faire and ended up with Jamie, John and Chris Eyres
* * *
ca 1972-76: THE NEW BLACKTHORN BAND (a.k.a. Slough & the West)
a London-based English country dance band mostly with fiddler Chris Eyres and Jamie on guitar and piano - the band ended when Chris joined Ginger Beer Shindig and Jamie devoted more and more time to the Adelaides and various pop and rock projects (see below)
* * *
ca 1975-78: THE ADELAIDE BAND
an English country dance band based in Andover, Hants, formed by Steve Roud on melodeon, Paul Marsh on melodeon, harmonica and percussion and Jamie on hammered dulcimer, harmonica and piano; various other musicians passed through (I believe the band continued after the original trio left, with three new members whose names slip my mind, playing fiddle, banjo and drums
* * *
1972-73: JENNY FORD & JAMIE O'BRIEN
Jamie, Graham Sheedy, Jenny
a vocal/guitar duo performing pop and country originals and covers - Jenny went on to play in a number of different setups, eventually hitting the charts in England with High Society
* * *
1975-78: THE DANDY & THE LION
a rock duo (originals and covers) in London featuring Ernest Hone (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Jamie (vocals, guitar, mandolin)
* * *
1976-78: THE LOWER BAND
Jamie & Peter Cooper
an originals and covers pub rock band in London revolving around Peter Cooper (vocals, guitar), Ernest Hone (vocals, mainly keyboards) and Jamie (vocals, mainly drums and bass), also featuring guitar, bass and percussion depending on who else was in the band
* * *
1980-88: THE RIGHT HAND BAND
Matti Meng, Uli Altdorfer & Jamie
originally a traditional Irish band in Freiburg, Germany, though later also including music of central Europe, with Harald Schmidt (1980) on guitar, Matti Meng (1980-84) fiddle, Uli Altdorfer (1980-88) mandolin, crumhorn, whistle and guitar, Jamie (1980-88) guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, harmonica, Andreas Barth (1987-88) accordion and some other fella (1987-88) who tried to play fiddle and whose name I've forgotten
* * *
1990-present: MEDICINAL PURPOSE
from left: Henry Koretzky, Ryck Kaiser, Jamie, Carol Whitfield & Vinnie Hunter
an old timey, celtic and swing band in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, playing music for contradances and concerts with Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koreztky (mandolin, hammered dulcimer), Carol Whitfield (clawhammer banjo, concertina) and Jamie (guitar) along with any one of a number of bass players including Bruce Campbell, BJ Driscoll and Vinnie Hunter. The band plays today as a quintet or as a trio (Ryck, Henry and Jamie) - Ryck also performs with his trio (usually with Jill Smith on piano and either Henry or Jamie on guitar); Henry and Jamie also play as Unbowed, a vocal instrumental duo, and as Shades of Green & Blue, along with singer/guitarist/songwriter KJ Rymensyder-Wagner
* * *
1997-present: LAUNE RANGERS
a Harrisburg-based Irish and celtic music band. Jamie (vocals, guitar, cittern) usually plays with a fiddler and a percussionist and possibly another musician
* * *
1998-present: SLINGO
an Irish band in central Pennsylvania which grew out of the Launies and now features John Winship (fiddle, concertina), Matt Willen (mandolin, bouzouki and vocals), John Dreibelbis (pipes, flute) and Jamie (vocals, guitar)
Nowadays...
Jamie (vocals, guitar) often plays solo with accompaniment provided by John Winship (fiddle, concertina), Henry Koretzky (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Bruce Young (fiddle, guitar, vocals) and/or Ryck Kaiser. When Chad Shambaugh (bodhran) and Jenny Brennan (vocals, guitar) of Nashville, TN, are available, don't be surprised to see them join Jamie on stage
Jamie also has a fine reputation as an accompanist and has played guitar for many musicians including:
John Brennan (fiddle, guitar)
Jenny Brennan (vocals, guitar)
Myron Bretholz (bodhran)
Aoife Clancy (vocals, guitar)
Jim Eagan (fiddle)
Cara Kelly Frankowicz (fiddle)
Donna Long (piano, fiddle, vocals)
Eliot Grasso (pipes)
Ken Kolodner (hammered dulcimer, fiddle)
Billy McComiskey (accordion)
Sean McComiskey (accordion)
John McGillian (accordion)
Kieran O'Hare (pipes, flute)
Rosie Shipley (fiddle)
Matt Shortridge (fiddle)
Beverly Smith (vocals, fiddle, guitar)
Mary Staunton (accordion)
Recordings featuring Jamie which are currently available include:
Uncorked - Medicinal Purpose
an album of contradance music (Jamie - guitar)
Launie Tunes - Laune Rangers
an album of (mainly) Irish songs and tunes (Jamie - producer, vocals, guitar, cittern)
Ryck Kaiser - Ryck Kaiser
Ryck's solo album of fiddle tunes (Jamie appears on various tracks playing guitar)
and now available:
My Wild Irish Boy - a solo album by Jamie
Jamie is featured singing and playing guitar, cittern, harmonica, helped by a number of friends including Kristine Allen (fiddle), Jenny Brennan (vocals), Bruce Campbell (bass), Aoife Clancy (vocals), John Hayden (drums), Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koretzky (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Chad Shambaugh (bodhran, percussion), Jill Smith (piano), John Winship (concertina) and Bruce Young (fiddle) and presenting songs and tunes from Ireland, England, Australia, France and Croatia (now available)
produced by Jamie with Henry Koretzky and Kathy Kelly
also soon to be released:
an album by Bruce Young
(featuring Jamie on guitar on various tracks)
Jamie's second solo album
with Jamie on vocals, guitar and harmonica along with many of his musical friends including:
Myron Bretholz (bodhran, percussion), Bruce Campbell (bass), Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koretzky (mandolin), Donna Long (piano, vocals), Nancy McCallion (vocals), Billy McComiskey (accordion), Paul McKeown (guitar, keyboards, percussion), Rosie Shipley (fiddle) and John Winship (concertina)
thirteen tracks produced by Paul McKeown with Jamie and to be released sometime this summer
(there's also a bonus 14th track - something just a little bit different!)
Since then he has played solo and in other bands, duos and trios. He's played rock, folk, country, jazz, classical and more; music from Ireland, England, America, France, Italy, Germany ... whatever sounded good to him.
His first instrument was piano (the less said about that, the better); he then moved on to guitar. Over the years, he has also dabbled with mandolin, banjo, hammered dulcimer and other things with strings, as well as harmonica and whistle.
Here are some of the musical landmarks of Jamie's career over the years:
ca 1970-72 and 1974-75: OGRON
early incarnation of Ogron, left to right: Pete Morson, Ann White, Steve Roud, Jayne Eggert, Al Turk & Jamie
an unaccompanied English folksong group based in London which grew out of a country rock band and, in its heyday, featured founders Steve Roud, Jayne Eggert and Jamie, along with John Shaw and Richard Faire and ended up with Jamie, John and Chris Eyres
a London-based English country dance band mostly with fiddler Chris Eyres and Jamie on guitar and piano - the band ended when Chris joined Ginger Beer Shindig and Jamie devoted more and more time to the Adelaides and various pop and rock projects (see below)
an English country dance band based in Andover, Hants, formed by Steve Roud on melodeon, Paul Marsh on melodeon, harmonica and percussion and Jamie on hammered dulcimer, harmonica and piano; various other musicians passed through (I believe the band continued after the original trio left, with three new members whose names slip my mind, playing fiddle, banjo and drums
Jamie, Graham Sheedy, Jenny
a vocal/guitar duo performing pop and country originals and covers - Jenny went on to play in a number of different setups, eventually hitting the charts in England with High Society
a rock duo (originals and covers) in London featuring Ernest Hone (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Jamie (vocals, guitar, mandolin)
Jamie & Peter Cooper
an originals and covers pub rock band in London revolving around Peter Cooper (vocals, guitar), Ernest Hone (vocals, mainly keyboards) and Jamie (vocals, mainly drums and bass), also featuring guitar, bass and percussion depending on who else was in the band
Matti Meng, Uli Altdorfer & Jamie
originally a traditional Irish band in Freiburg, Germany, though later also including music of central Europe, with Harald Schmidt (1980) on guitar, Matti Meng (1980-84) fiddle, Uli Altdorfer (1980-88) mandolin, crumhorn, whistle and guitar, Jamie (1980-88) guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, harmonica, Andreas Barth (1987-88) accordion and some other fella (1987-88) who tried to play fiddle and whose name I've forgotten
from left: Henry Koretzky, Ryck Kaiser, Jamie, Carol Whitfield & Vinnie Hunter
an old timey, celtic and swing band in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, playing music for contradances and concerts with Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koreztky (mandolin, hammered dulcimer), Carol Whitfield (clawhammer banjo, concertina) and Jamie (guitar) along with any one of a number of bass players including Bruce Campbell, BJ Driscoll and Vinnie Hunter. The band plays today as a quintet or as a trio (Ryck, Henry and Jamie) - Ryck also performs with his trio (usually with Jill Smith on piano and either Henry or Jamie on guitar); Henry and Jamie also play as Unbowed, a vocal instrumental duo, and as Shades of Green & Blue, along with singer/guitarist/songwriter KJ Rymensyder-Wagner
a Harrisburg-based Irish and celtic music band. Jamie (vocals, guitar, cittern) usually plays with a fiddler and a percussionist and possibly another musician
an Irish band in central Pennsylvania which grew out of the Launies and now features John Winship (fiddle, concertina), Matt Willen (mandolin, bouzouki and vocals), John Dreibelbis (pipes, flute) and Jamie (vocals, guitar)
Jamie also has a fine reputation as an accompanist and has played guitar for many musicians including:
Jenny Brennan (vocals, guitar)
Myron Bretholz (bodhran)
Aoife Clancy (vocals, guitar)
Jim Eagan (fiddle)
Cara Kelly Frankowicz (fiddle)
Donna Long (piano, fiddle, vocals)
Eliot Grasso (pipes)
Ken Kolodner (hammered dulcimer, fiddle)
Billy McComiskey (accordion)
Sean McComiskey (accordion)
John McGillian (accordion)
Kieran O'Hare (pipes, flute)
Rosie Shipley (fiddle)
Matt Shortridge (fiddle)
Beverly Smith (vocals, fiddle, guitar)
Mary Staunton (accordion)
Launie Tunes - Laune Rangers
Ryck Kaiser - Ryck Kaiser
and now available:
My Wild Irish Boy - a solo album by Jamie
also soon to be released:
an album by Bruce Young
Jamie's second solo album
* * *
ca 1972-76: THE NEW BLACKTHORN BAND (a.k.a. Slough & the West)
* * *
ca 1975-78: THE ADELAIDE BAND
* * *
1972-73: JENNY FORD & JAMIE O'BRIEN
* * *
1975-78: THE DANDY & THE LION
* * *
1976-78: THE LOWER BAND
* * *
1980-88: THE RIGHT HAND BAND
* * *
1990-present: MEDICINAL PURPOSE
* * *
1997-present: LAUNE RANGERS
* * *
1998-present: SLINGO
Nowadays...
Jamie (vocals, guitar) often plays solo with accompaniment provided by John Winship (fiddle, concertina), Henry Koretzky (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Bruce Young (fiddle, guitar, vocals) and/or Ryck Kaiser. When Chad Shambaugh (bodhran) and Jenny Brennan (vocals, guitar) of Nashville, TN, are available, don't be surprised to see them join Jamie on stage
John Brennan (fiddle, guitar)
Recordings featuring Jamie which are currently available include:
Uncorked - Medicinal Purpose
an album of contradance music (Jamie - guitar)
an album of (mainly) Irish songs and tunes (Jamie - producer, vocals, guitar, cittern)
Ryck's solo album of fiddle tunes (Jamie appears on various tracks playing guitar)
Jamie is featured singing and playing guitar, cittern, harmonica, helped by a number of friends including Kristine Allen (fiddle), Jenny Brennan (vocals), Bruce Campbell (bass), Aoife Clancy (vocals), John Hayden (drums), Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koretzky (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Chad Shambaugh (bodhran, percussion), Jill Smith (piano), John Winship (concertina) and Bruce Young (fiddle) and presenting songs and tunes from Ireland, England, Australia, France and Croatia (now available)
produced by Jamie with Henry Koretzky and Kathy Kelly
(featuring Jamie on guitar on various tracks)
with Jamie on vocals, guitar and harmonica along with many of his musical friends including:
Myron Bretholz (bodhran, percussion), Bruce Campbell (bass), Ryck Kaiser (fiddle), Henry Koretzky (mandolin), Donna Long (piano, vocals), Nancy McCallion (vocals), Billy McComiskey (accordion), Paul McKeown (guitar, keyboards, percussion), Rosie Shipley (fiddle) and John Winship (concertina)
thirteen tracks produced by Paul McKeown with Jamie and to be released sometime this summer
(there's also a bonus 14th track - something just a little bit different!)