Maurice Lennon

Maurice Lennon
Born1958 (age 67–68)
Limerick, Munster, Ireland
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
Instruments
Years active1980s–present
LabelTara
Member ofStockton's Wing
RelativesCharlie Lennon (uncle)

Maurice Lennon (born 1958) is an Irish fiddler and composer.

Biography

Born in Limerick in 1958, Lennon grew up in a musical family, the son of the fiddler Ben Lennon and nephew of the composer, fiddler and pianist Charlie Lennon.

He won the senior All-Ireland fiddle title, aged 18.

He began his professional career, and first came to prominence, in the 1980s as a founding member of Stockton's Wing, as a fiddle and viola player, and a composer of some of their popular tunes. These include "The Belltable Waltz" (with Kieran Hanrahan), "The Woody Island", "The Masters Daughter", "Eastwood", and "The Golden Stud". Other well-known compositions of his include "The Road to Garrison", "Stone of Destiny", "A Tribute to Larry Reynolds" and "If Ever You Were Mine".

His credentials as a composer were solidified with his 2001 suite Brian Boru the High King of Tara, released by Tara Records. The album was produced by Dónal Lunny and includes contributions from Máirtín O'Connor and Mick O'Brien.

In 2013, he released his first solo fiddle album, The Little Ones, which contains several of his compositions. He was musical director for the popular dance show Ragus and toured with singer-songwriter Finbar Furey for six years.

He has lived in Chicago for many years, and a benefit concert was held for him at Chicago's Irish American Heritage Center in 2012.

Honours

References

  1. ↑ "RIP Fiddle-player Ben Lennon". The Journal of Music. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Fiddler Magazine". www.fiddle.com. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Local musician awarded high honor in Irish music, coaches students to world title". www.nwherald.com. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  4. ↑ Smith, Ruth (16 August 2018). "Simply Folk Recommends: Stockton's Wing shine a light". RTÉ.
  5. ↑ The Golden Stud (reel) on The Session, retrieved 8 December 2020
  6. ↑ "MAURICE LENNON 'Brian Boru The High King of Tara' TARA3038". www.taramusic.ie. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Maurice Lennon's First Solo Fiddle Album". The Journal of Music. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "Chicago shows support fine Irish fiddler for Maurice Lennon". IrishCentral.com. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "Freedom of Co. Clare to be bestowed on Stockton's Wing". www.leitrimobserver.ie. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  10. ↑ https://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/home/1155039/leitrim-s-maurice-lennon-honoured-with-composer-award-by-tg4.html