Seán Cannon
Encyclopedia
Séan Cannon is an Irish
musician. Since 1982 he has been lead vocal and guitarist for the Dubliners
.
, Ireland
. He travelled around Europe
at an early age, rambling in England
, Germany
, Switzerland
and Spain
. It was during these trips that Cannon learned to speak several languages. He moved to England (where he still lives), and became a renowned solo artist, playing in almost every folk club in Britain (Including the Star Club in Digbeth Birmingham).
His father, Jim Cannon, was born in Donegal, but moved to Galway City and married Kathleen Byrne, who came from Ballinue, Aughrim, Co Galway. Family still living in Ireland: cousin Martin Byrne, living in Banagher Co Offaly, Seamus Byrne Florencecourt Enniskillen Co Fermanagh, cousin Tom Forde living in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
. (The Gaels consisted of three Irishmen and a Scotsman.) They released an album. He also released several solo albums, two of which were released in the 1970s.
Cannon had known the Dubliners for years and, like Eamonn Campbell
, joined them on stage on numerous occasions. When Luke Kelly
became ill, he stepped in, and became a full time Dubliner in 1982. Cannon still manages to do some solo work in between the touring. He plays gigs with his son, James Cannon
. They call themselves The Cannons. Sean Cannon lives in Coventry
, United Kingdom
.
Sean Cannon is immortalised in the Christy Moore song "Lisdoonvarna". The line "Sean Cannon Doing Back Stage Cooking" is a direct reference to when Sean travelled to all the music festivals in the late 1970s with a converted caravan and sold curry.
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...
musician. Since 1982 he has been lead vocal and guitarist for the Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
.
Early life
Seán Cannon was born in GalwayGalway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, 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...
. He travelled around Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
at an early age, rambling in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It was during these trips that Cannon learned to speak several languages. He moved to England (where he still lives), and became a renowned solo artist, playing in almost every folk club in Britain (Including the Star Club in Digbeth Birmingham).
Family
Cannon married Pamela Blick and had two sons James and Robert Cannon. They later divorced.His father, Jim Cannon, was born in Donegal, but moved to Galway City and married Kathleen Byrne, who came from Ballinue, Aughrim, Co Galway. Family still living in Ireland: cousin Martin Byrne, living in Banagher Co Offaly, Seamus Byrne Florencecourt Enniskillen Co Fermanagh, cousin Tom Forde living in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
Career
By 1969, Cannon had joined an England-based folk group called The GaelsThe Gaels
The Gaels are a Celtic-folk band based in Bemidji, Minnesota. The band features Eric Carlson on bodhran, Karl Espe on fiddle, and Brian Miller on guitar and lead vocals.-External links:*...
. (The Gaels consisted of three Irishmen and a Scotsman.) They released an album. He also released several solo albums, two of which were released in the 1970s.
Cannon had known the Dubliners for years and, like Eamonn Campbell
Eamonn Campbell
Eamonn Campbell in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, has been a member of The Dubliners since 1987. He was also in the Dubliners when they recorded their 25th anniversary show on The Late Late Show hosted by Gay Byrne. He is known as a guitarist and has a very rough voice very similar to the former...
, joined them on stage on numerous occasions. When Luke Kelly
Luke Kelly
Luke Kelly was an Irish singer and folk musician from Dublin, Ireland, notable as a founding member of the band The Dubliners.-Early life:...
became ill, he stepped in, and became a full time Dubliner in 1982. Cannon still manages to do some solo work in between the touring. He plays gigs with his son, James Cannon
James Cannon
James Cannon may refer to:*James P. Cannon , American Communist and Trotskyist leader*James Cannon , Scottish-born mathematician who was one of the principal authors of Pennsylvania's 1776 Constitution...
. They call themselves The Cannons. Sean Cannon lives in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Sean Cannon is immortalised in the Christy Moore song "Lisdoonvarna". The line "Sean Cannon Doing Back Stage Cooking" is a direct reference to when Sean travelled to all the music festivals in the late 1970s with a converted caravan and sold curry.