Biography
For over twenty years Ron Kavana remained at the forefront of evolving Celtic and British pop sounds. He worked alongside such pivotal figures as Alexis Korner, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce, the Pogues, Donovan, the Chieftains, Elvis Costello, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Doug Sahm, Richard Thompson, and the late Sandy Denny. Across an extensive roster of groups he fused British Isles traditions with blues, Tex-Mex, country, Cajun, and rock elements. The Village Voice labeled him a "hard-hitting, no-nonsense realist," while Music Week characterized his output as "charming, disarming with a very dry sardonic wit."
Born in the County Cork village of Fenmoy to an Irish father and an American mother, Kavana first gained experience in the R&B outfit the Wizards before co-founding the trad-rock ensemble Loudest Whisper. That short-lived unit issued a single Polydor album, The Children of Lyre, which a 1993 ensemble featuring Donovan, Liam Og O'Flynn, Philip Donnelly, and the RTE Chamber Orchestra later re-recorded. After departing Loudest Whisper, Kavana relocated to London and immersed himself in the capital’s leading folk, country, and R&B circles. As a member of the all-acoustic, harmony-driven Panama Red he performed regularly at Islington’s Hope & Anchor; he also replaced Albert Lee in the Thunderbirds, initiating a lengthy collaboration with Chris Farlowe. He next teamed with Irish guitarist Ed Deane in the duo Identity Kit, which expanded with four top British session musicians into Juice on the Loose, supplying backing for touring American singers.
In the late seventies Kavana stepped away from the Irish repertoire that had defined his early career to serve seven years as bandleader and producer for Ace Records, working with many of England’s most prominent artists. Early in the following decade he joined the Alexis Korner Band and stayed through its various lineups, including the Boogie Band that featured Ian Stewart, Charlie Watts, and Jack Bruce. He subsequently moved to Bees Make Honey, one of London’s most influential Irish pub-rock groups.
By the mid-eighties Kavana’s profile enabled him to launch a solo career. With Miriam Kavana on fiddle, Rod Demick on bass, Andy Martin on accordion, and Les Morgan on drums, he assembled the eclectic Alias Ron Kavana, which Folk Roots named Best Live Act in the World in 1989, 1990, and 1991. After the solo album Rollin’ & Coasting he undertook the first of three tours opening for the Pogues, though contractual issues ultimately blocked an invitation to join the band. With two Pogues members, Ron and Terry Woods, he assembled a twenty-nine-piece ensemble to record For the Children, benefiting LILT (London Irish Live Trust), the charity devoted to peace in Northern Ireland.
Kavana and Terry Woods maintained their partnership on the spontaneously styled Irish set Home Fire, released as Kavana’s second solo album. Joined by Miriam Kavana and Rod Demick, the pair formed the Bucks and issued Dancing to the Ceili Band in 1995. Kavana also appeared in or scored music for the soundtracks of Sid and Nancy and Ryan’s Daughter. Ron Kavana died on May 4, 2024, at the age of 73.
Born in the County Cork village of Fenmoy to an Irish father and an American mother, Kavana first gained experience in the R&B outfit the Wizards before co-founding the trad-rock ensemble Loudest Whisper. That short-lived unit issued a single Polydor album, The Children of Lyre, which a 1993 ensemble featuring Donovan, Liam Og O'Flynn, Philip Donnelly, and the RTE Chamber Orchestra later re-recorded. After departing Loudest Whisper, Kavana relocated to London and immersed himself in the capital’s leading folk, country, and R&B circles. As a member of the all-acoustic, harmony-driven Panama Red he performed regularly at Islington’s Hope & Anchor; he also replaced Albert Lee in the Thunderbirds, initiating a lengthy collaboration with Chris Farlowe. He next teamed with Irish guitarist Ed Deane in the duo Identity Kit, which expanded with four top British session musicians into Juice on the Loose, supplying backing for touring American singers.
In the late seventies Kavana stepped away from the Irish repertoire that had defined his early career to serve seven years as bandleader and producer for Ace Records, working with many of England’s most prominent artists. Early in the following decade he joined the Alexis Korner Band and stayed through its various lineups, including the Boogie Band that featured Ian Stewart, Charlie Watts, and Jack Bruce. He subsequently moved to Bees Make Honey, one of London’s most influential Irish pub-rock groups.
By the mid-eighties Kavana’s profile enabled him to launch a solo career. With Miriam Kavana on fiddle, Rod Demick on bass, Andy Martin on accordion, and Les Morgan on drums, he assembled the eclectic Alias Ron Kavana, which Folk Roots named Best Live Act in the World in 1989, 1990, and 1991. After the solo album Rollin’ & Coasting he undertook the first of three tours opening for the Pogues, though contractual issues ultimately blocked an invitation to join the band. With two Pogues members, Ron and Terry Woods, he assembled a twenty-nine-piece ensemble to record For the Children, benefiting LILT (London Irish Live Trust), the charity devoted to peace in Northern Ireland.
Kavana and Terry Woods maintained their partnership on the spontaneously styled Irish set Home Fire, released as Kavana’s second solo album. Joined by Miriam Kavana and Rod Demick, the pair formed the Bucks and issued Dancing to the Ceili Band in 1995. Kavana also appeared in or scored music for the soundtracks of Sid and Nancy and Ryan’s Daughter. Ron Kavana died on May 4, 2024, at the age of 73.
Albums
Live