Kevin Keegan: The Music of Kevin Keegan

KEVIN KEEGAN: THE MUSIC OF KEVIN KEEGAN

Kevin Keegan: accordion

Kevin Keegan's name is uttered in the same breath and with the same respect as that of Joe Burke and Joe Cooley when it comes to Irish button accordion playing and particularly the Galway tradition. All the more so because Keegan never recorded commercially, and only a handful of privately made tapes have been circulating among cognoscenti. Now, thanks to Joe Burke and Charlie Lennon who produced it, and to Keegan's friends who contributed tapes, his music is available on CD for all to hear and enjoy. Keegan spent a long time in the US, Chicago and San Francisco mainly, and especially in California inspired a whole generation of new players to learn Irish music, some of whom can be heard playing along on some of the tracks here. As one might imagine, the quality of the recordings is rather lacking, but this is something that can easily be overlooked given the importance of the collection. Keegan passed away in San Francisco in 1978.

Rating: ****

Price: $24.99 Recommended