Sponsors
Books (Text)
eSheet (pdf file)
eTracks sound files
Sponsors
Free Services
Books (Text)
Statistics
Sponsors
分享02-Oct-2020
by Rob Howard
|
  Picture above right: Paddy Neary's LP cover.Paddy Neary, from Ardee in County Louth (same town that produced Dermot O’Brien) began playing the piano at the age of four, and moved on to the accordion aged 11. One of his earliest and greatest inspirations was Toralf Tollefson, of whom Paddy commented “In an age when there were no sophisticated accordions, Tollefson could produce superb music, which I have yet to hear bettered”. He studied music at University College, Dublin, and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and also spent a three year period touring America and Germany with a showband. In Ireland he won competitions on both piano and accordion, and in 1977 won the All Ireland Championship. The adjudicator was Alex McArthur, then a well-known Scottish bandleader, who arranged for Paddy to undertake a ten dates tour of Box & Fiddle Clubs. Paddy was amazed at the response: “I couldn’t believe the appreciation for what I did and made up my mind that I wanted to move to Scotland where there were so many marvelous people who wanted to hear my music”. In 1977 he relocated to the town of Auchterader in the Scottish Borders where he instantly became much in demand as guest at Box & Fiddle Clubs, concerts, and also demonstrating for Clinkscales. The following year he was the chief guest at the evening concert at the All Scotland Championships held in Perth. In Scotland he soon switched to playing electronic accordions, and became one of the foremost exponents of its technology. He could use the electronic voices to paint musical pictures much as an artist could with oils on canvas, and his performances entranced audiences. In the late 1970s and 1980s Paddy made several albums using electronic accordions, and reviewers considered his recordings to be ahead of their time. In the 1990s Paddy suffered a stroke that ended his performing career, and he returned to Ardee in Ireland. He passed away peacefully on September 23rd at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. Paddy is survived by wife June, sons David and Philip, and grand-daughters Sophia and Louise. RIP. Picture below: Paddy Neary's Accordion Magic album cover |
 |