JOHN McGRATH (1900-1955)
For many years I've been researching the life and music of my uncle, John McGrath, who, in 1928 left his native village of Ros Dumhach (Rossport) in Co. Mayo for New York, where he achieved acclaim as an outstanding fiddle player, teacher and composer of Irish music.
Shortly after arriving in New York he took an interest in the theory of music and started to teach Irish music full time. He was one of the few Irish musicians of the period who could write down what he played and was perhaps the only full time teacher of Irish music during the 1930's and 1940's. He taught violin, accordion (button and piano) and banjo. He taught in "The Leitrim House" at 59th St. 3rd Ave.; "The Star O' Munster" at 401 East 138th St. and Willis Ave. and "Corless' Hall" at 484 Willis Ave. near corner of 147th St. which he shared with the great dancing teacher Professor James T. McKenna from Co. Kerry.
John McGrath started his own band. "The Emerald Isle Orchestra" circa 1930 (There's a photograph of the band in the CD booklet) which included his brothers Mike and Jimmy, who was my father. This band was very popular in the major Irish ballrooms of New York but their main venue was Duffy's Ballroom at 2076 Third Ave. at 114th St. John McGrath never made commercial recordings and is therefore relatively unknown among today's generation of musicians. However his original compositions and settings of old tunes have influenced the repertory of Irish musicians right down to the present day. Among the many popular dance tunes attributed to John McGrath are "The Rossport Reel ("The Providence"), "The Musical Bridge" ("The Humours of Lissadel") and "The Old Dudeen" ("The Knotted Chord").
If you think you can help me with my research e. g. photographs of John McGrath and/or his contemporary musicians, biographical information, music manuscripts, private recordings etc. I'd be delighted to hear from you. Please contact me at Rossport, Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland, E-Mail me at vincentmcgrath@oceanfree.net or phone me at +353 97 88026
