Joe Burke

Joe Burke (1939-2021) from Kilnadeema near Loughrea was the most acclaimed Irish button accordionist of his time. He was a frequent visitor to New York and lived in the city from 1962 to 1965. During that time, he became a fast friend and musical companion of fiddler Andy McGann. In 1965, they got together in a recording studio with Bronx native Felix Dolan, the best piano accompanist in New York, to lay down the tracks for A Tribute to Michael Coleman, issued the next year on Burke’s own Shaskeen label. The album was a stunning display of virtuosity and telepathically close duet playing,  recorded in just a few hours.