Leahy
Encyclopedia
Leahy is the name of a Canadian
folk music
group. The eight band members, all from the Leahy family of eleven siblings, are from Lakefield, Ontario and have been actively touring Canada and internationally since the early 1980s when they were known as The Leahy Family. In 1985, they were the subject of a short film entitled Leahy: Music Most of All which received an Academy Award
in the category of "Best Foreign Student Film".
The line-up of the group varies depending upon the availability of its members who come and go due to marriage, raising children, and other commitments. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the band recorded a number of privately-released LPs and cassettes (most of which used the same title, The Leahy Family) which were sold at their concerts and they were frequent guests at the Big Valley Jamboree
concerts in Saskatchewan
and Alberta
.
In 1997 the band resumed recording with their "relaunch" album, Leahy
which also introduced the group's new branding. Leahy was an instrumental album, but the band also includes vocal performances in their live performances and subsequent albums have included both vocals and instrumentals.
Despite their already-established history, they were awarded two Juno awards in 1998
, for Best New Group
and Best Instrumental Artist
The following year, Leahy took a third Juno Award, for Best Country Group or Duo
. Also in 1998, Leahy were added as the opening act for Canadian country singer Shania Twain
's 1998 Come on Over Tour
and were featured in two television specials from the tour, Live
and The Specials
, performing with Twain on the song "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
".
The group's members are both instrumentalists and dancers, with several members skilled in fiddle-playing (most notably the group's best-known member, Donnell Leahy). The female members of the band often perform step-dancing-style routines, and it is generally the female members of the group who sing.
and Frank is married to champion step dancer Chanda Gibson.
In 2008, Donnell Leahy and wife, Natalie MacMaster were awarded Honorary Doctorates by Trent University.
These three sisters are not currently active in the band's touring schedule.
In addition, the group released several vinyl LPs and cassettes in the 1980s as The Leahy Family. These self-titled releases were privately pressed and usually sold at their concerts, although Christmas with the Leahy Family was carried by retailers such as A&B Sound
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
group. The eight band members, all from the Leahy family of eleven siblings, are from Lakefield, Ontario and have been actively touring Canada and internationally since the early 1980s when they were known as The Leahy Family. In 1985, they were the subject of a short film entitled Leahy: Music Most of All which received an Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
in the category of "Best Foreign Student Film".
The line-up of the group varies depending upon the availability of its members who come and go due to marriage, raising children, and other commitments. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the band recorded a number of privately-released LPs and cassettes (most of which used the same title, The Leahy Family) which were sold at their concerts and they were frequent guests at the Big Valley Jamboree
Big Valley Jamboree
The Big Valley Jamboree is a large country music festival located in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, a city located south east of Edmonton. Created in 1992, the Jamboree is held each year during the August long weekend, and features country singers from all over North America. It is one of the largest...
concerts in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
In 1997 the band resumed recording with their "relaunch" album, Leahy
Leahy (album)
Leahy is an album by Canadian folk music group Leahy. It was released by Virgin Records in 1997. The album peaked at number 1 on the RPM Country Albums chart.-Track listing:#"B Minor" – 3:55#"Cape Breton Medley" Leahy is an album by Canadian folk music group Leahy. It was released by Virgin...
which also introduced the group's new branding. Leahy was an instrumental album, but the band also includes vocal performances in their live performances and subsequent albums have included both vocals and instrumentals.
Despite their already-established history, they were awarded two Juno awards in 1998
Juno Awards of 1998
The Juno Awards of 1998 were presented in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The primary ceremonies at GM Place before an audience of 10 000 on 22 March 1998....
, for Best New Group
Juno Award for New Group of the Year
The Juno Award for the New Group of the Year has been awarded since 1974, as recognition each year for the best new group or band in Canada. The award was originally known as Most Promising Group of the Year, and from 1994–2002 it was known as Best New Group.-Most Promising Group of the Year...
and Best Instrumental Artist
Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year
The Juno Award for "Instrumental Album of the Year" has been awarded since 1976, as recognition each year for the best instrumental album in Canada. The award was originally called the "Instrumental Artist of the Year"....
The following year, Leahy took a third Juno Award, for Best Country Group or Duo
Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year
The Juno Award for "Country Recording of the Year" has been awarded since 1970, as recognition each year for the best country music artist in Canada...
. Also in 1998, Leahy were added as the opening act for Canadian country singer Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
's 1998 Come on Over Tour
Come on Over Tour
The Come On Over Tour is the first concert tour by Canadian recording artist, Shania Twain. Visiting North America, Australia and Europe, the tour supported Twain's third studio album Come On Over...
and were featured in two television specials from the tour, Live
Live (Shania Twain DVD)
Live is a DVD released by singer Shania Twain. It is a home video of a TV concert special, showing an entire concert from her Come on Over Tour. The show was filmed on September 12, 1998 in Dallas, Texas and aired live on DirecTV free of charge. The video for "Come on Over" was taken from this...
and The Specials
The Specials (Shania Twain DVD)
The Specials is a DVD released by Shania Twain on November 20, 2001 in North America. It consists of two network specials that aired during the Come on Over era. The first concert is called Winter Break and was filmed in Miami, and included footage of Twain in her hometown of Timmins, Ontario. It...
, performing with Twain on the song "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
"Don't Be Stupid " is a song by Canadian singer Shania Twain. It was the second country single from Shania Twain's 1997 album, Come on Over, but was the seventh to be released to international markets. The song was written by Mutt Lange and Shania Twain...
".
The group's members are both instrumentalists and dancers, with several members skilled in fiddle-playing (most notably the group's best-known member, Donnell Leahy). The female members of the band often perform step-dancing-style routines, and it is generally the female members of the group who sing.
Members
All members of the band are siblings. Each member has a main role they play in the band; although most play more than one instrument and all step dance. Interesting side-notes are that Donnell Leahy is married to Canadian fiddler Natalie MacMasterNatalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster, CM is an award-winning fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada who plays Cape Breton fiddle music....
and Frank is married to champion step dancer Chanda Gibson.
In 2008, Donnell Leahy and wife, Natalie MacMaster were awarded Honorary Doctorates by Trent University.
- Donnell Leahy — Fiddle
- Erin Leahy — Piano, Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Vocals, Bass
- Angus Leahy — Fiddle
- Maria Leahy — Guitar, Banjo, Vocals
- Siobheann Donohue (née Leahy) — Bass, Vocals, Fiddle
- Doug Leahy — Fiddle
- Denise Leahy — Vocals
- Frank Leahy — Drums
These three sisters are not currently active in the band's touring schedule.
- Agnes Enright (née Leahy) — Keyboards, Step dancer, Vocals
- Chrissie Leahy — Keyboards
- Julie Leahy — Vocals
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | CRIA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country | CAN | |||
| 1997 | Leahy Leahy (album) Leahy is an album by Canadian folk music group Leahy. It was released by Virgin Records in 1997. The album peaked at number 1 on the RPM Country Albums chart.-Track listing:#"B Minor" – 3:55#"Cape Breton Medley" Leahy is an album by Canadian folk music group Leahy. It was released by Virgin... |
1 | 36 | Platinum |
| 2001 | Lakefield | 59 | ||
| 2004 | In All Things | |||
| 2006 | Leahy Live | |||
| 2007 | Handmade |
In addition, the group released several vinyl LPs and cassettes in the 1980s as The Leahy Family. These self-titled releases were privately pressed and usually sold at their concerts, although Christmas with the Leahy Family was carried by retailers such as A&B Sound
A&B Sound
A&B Sound was a Canadian home electronics retailer based in Richmond, British Columbia. Its flagship store was located in Downtown Vancouver, and the chain expanded to other cities in B.C. and in western Canada, but the company began struggling in the 2000s decade and collapsed altogether in 2008.-...
.
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country | CAN AC | |||
| 1986 | "You've Got the Fiddle (I've Got the Bow)" | 52 | On the Move | |
| 1997 | "The Call to Dance" | 26 | 31 | Leahy |
| "B Minor" | ||||
| 2001 | "Down That Road" | Lakefield | ||
| "Mission" | ||||
| 2004 | "Chasing Rain" | In All Things | ||
| "Coyote Way" | ||||