Biography
Michael Gaffney ranks among the foremost pioneers of traditional Irish music. His tenor banjo recordings marked the initial documented instances of jigs and reels performed on that instrument. The four-string banjo, free of the high drone string tied to Appalachian traditions and the five-string model, gained such firm footing in Irish music that many now regard its presence as longstanding across Ireland's countryside and pubs. Yet Gaffney, who had relocated to the gritty streets of New York City during the 1920s, first applied an instrument then uncommon even within Ireland itself.
His earliest notable collaborator was flutist John McKenna. Their work began at Irish dances and weddings before extending into numerous recording sessions. The commercial recording sector for Irish music originated from New York productions in the 1920s; by the 1930s its reach had expanded to include the Irish isles along with broader European markets, generating strong sales potential. Early Irish musicians shared with Appalachian players a reputation for exceptional technical skill. In addition to banjo, Gaffney performed on piano, fiddle, flute, and accordion. He further introduced the mandolin-banjo to Irish music, an instrument also known as the banjolin or mando-Joe. Contemporary musicians seeking to replicate Gaffney's style should note that these early tenor banjoists raised the first string to B or C.
His earliest notable collaborator was flutist John McKenna. Their work began at Irish dances and weddings before extending into numerous recording sessions. The commercial recording sector for Irish music originated from New York productions in the 1920s; by the 1930s its reach had expanded to include the Irish isles along with broader European markets, generating strong sales potential. Early Irish musicians shared with Appalachian players a reputation for exceptional technical skill. In addition to banjo, Gaffney performed on piano, fiddle, flute, and accordion. He further introduced the mandolin-banjo to Irish music, an instrument also known as the banjolin or mando-Joe. Contemporary musicians seeking to replicate Gaffney's style should note that these early tenor banjoists raised the first string to B or C.
Albums