Dáithí Sproule
Encyclopedia
Dáithí Sproule is a guitarist
and singer of traditional Irish music from Derry
, Northern Ireland
. His niece is the singer songwriter Claire Sproule
.
, where he attended university. It was in Dublin that he entered the music scene which was prominent in Ireland
at the time. As a teenager he had met the Uí Dhomhnaill family during trips to the Gaeltacht
area of Rann na Feirste in Co. Donegal, and while in Dublin they formed a band, Skara Brae
who would go on to have a great effect on Irish traditional music.
Dáithí is well known as a guitarist, especially throughout America where he now lives, and was one of the first guitarists to develop DADGAD guitar tuning for Irish music. In 1985 he joined Irish supergroup
Altan with whom he sings and plays guitar. He was deemed "a seminal figure in Irish music" by The Rough Guide to Irish Music.
Sproule is also a member of various other bands and has recorded further solo albums; he also teaches DADGAD
guitar and traditional songs at the Center for Irish Music in St. Paul, Minnesota
.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and singer of traditional Irish music from Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. His niece is the singer songwriter Claire Sproule
Claire Sproule
Claire Sproule is a singer-songwriter from County Donegal, Ireland.She was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, into a musical family; her uncle is Dáithí Sproule of Altan. After playing the clarinet for some time, she showed an interest in guitar, having been brought up listening to Tom Waits, Joni...
.
Biography
Born and raised in Derry, Northern Ireland, at the age of 18 he moved to Dublin in the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, where he attended university. It was in Dublin that he entered the music scene which was prominent in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
at the time. As a teenager he had met the Uí Dhomhnaill family during trips to the Gaeltacht
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
area of Rann na Feirste in Co. Donegal, and while in Dublin they formed a band, Skara Brae
Skara Brae (band)
Skara Brae were an Irish traditional music group from Kells, County Meath with origins in Ranafast , County Donegal. The group consisted of three siblings, Micheal O Domhnaill, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, and Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill, with Dáithí Sproule from Derry...
who would go on to have a great effect on Irish traditional music.
Dáithí is well known as a guitarist, especially throughout America where he now lives, and was one of the first guitarists to develop DADGAD guitar tuning for Irish music. In 1985 he joined Irish supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Altan with whom he sings and plays guitar. He was deemed "a seminal figure in Irish music" by The Rough Guide to Irish Music.
Sproule is also a member of various other bands and has recorded further solo albums; he also teaches DADGAD
DADGAD
DADGAD, D modal tuning or Celtic tuning is an alternative guitar tuning most associated with Celtic music, though it has also found use in rock and other genres. Instead of the standard EADGBE tuning, the six guitar strings are tuned, from low to high, DADGAD...
guitar and traditional songs at the Center for Irish Music in St. Paul, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Solo albums
- Lost River, Vol. 1 (August 15, 2011 - New Folk Records)
- The Crow in the Sun (2007)
- A Heart Made of Glass (1995)
Other bands
- The Pinery (with Laura MacKenzie - 2009 - New Folk Records)
- Seanchairde (with Tara Bingham and Dermy Diamond - 2008 - New Folk Records)
- Fingal (with Randal Bays and James Keane - 2008 - New Folk Records)
- Snug in the Blanket (with Jamie Gans and Paddy O’Brien - 2004)
- Overland (with Randal Bays - 2004)
- Trian II (with Liz Carroll and Billy McComiskey - 1995)
- A Thousand Farewells (with Martin and Christine Dowling - 1995)
- Trian (with Liz Carroll and Billy McComiskey - 1992)
- Stranger at the Gate (with Paddy O’Brien - 1988)
- The Iron Man (with Tommy Peoples - 1984)
- Carousel (with Seamus and Manus McGuire - 1984)
- Spring in the Air (with James Kelly and Paddy O’Brien - 1981)
- Is it Yourself? (with James Kelly and Paddy O’Brien - 1979)
- Skara Brae (Skara Brae - 1971)
Guest appearances
- 40 Acre Notch (New Folk Records) 2008 - the HiBs
- The Essential Chieftains (RCA) 2006 - The Chieftains
- Blue Waltz 2004 - Julee Glaub
- Evidence (New Folk Records) 2003 - Laura MacKenzie
- Over the Water (Heart Productions) 2002 – Ross Sutter
- Little Sparrow (Sugarhill) 2001 - Dolly Parton
- Lost in the Loop (Green Linnet) 2001 - Liz Carroll
- Shine (Swallowtail) 2001 - Katie McMahon
- Persevere 2000 - The Proclaimers
- Water from the Well (RCA) 2000 – The Chieftains
- Tis the Season (Compass) 1997 - Laura MacKenzie
- Irish Women Musicians of America (Shanachie) 1995 - Cherish the Ladies
- Heartsongs (Sony) 1994 - Dolly Parton
- Mamma, Will you Buy Me a Banana? (Heart Productions) 1991 – Ross Sutter
- Blue Mesa (Red House) 1989 – Peter Ostroushko
- Liz Carroll (Green Linnet) 1988 – with Liz Carroll
- Sean O’Driscoll (Shanachie/Meadowlark) 1987 - Sean O’Driscoll
- Capel Street (Capelhouse) 1986 – James Kelly
- The Streets of My Old Neighborhood (Rounder) 1983 - Peter Ostroushko
- Sluz Duz Music (Rounder) 1982 - Peter Ostroushko
Compilations
- Young Irish Musicians Weekend Live! 2008 - with James Kelly and Paddy O’Brien
- New Folk Records Sampler 2007 (New Folk Records) 2007
- Masters of the Irish Guitar (Shanachie) 2006
- The Independence Suite (Celtic Crossings) 2005 - with Randal Bays
- Simply Folk Sampler 3 (Wisconsin Public Radio) 2005
- Festival International des Arts Traditionnels de Québec (Folklore) 2004 - with Trian
- The Ice Palace – Irish Originals from Minnesota (IMDA) 2001
- The Last Bar - Irish Music from Minnesota (IMDA) 2000
- Alternate Tunings Guitar Collection (String Letter) 2000 - with Trian
- As They Pass Through (Kieran’s) 2000
- Best of Thistle and Shamrock, Vol. 1 (Hearts of Space) 1999 - with Altan
- Celtic Colours International Festival - the Second Wave (Stephen McDonald) 1999 - with Altan
- A Winter’s Tale (Universal) 1998 - with Altan
- Gaelic Roots (Kells) 1997 - with James Kelly, Paddy O’Brien and Gerry O’Connor
- Celtic Music from Mountain Stage (Blue Plate) 1997 - with Altan
- Hunger No More (Éire Arts) 1997