WFDU-FM’s TRADITIONS Playlist for November 9, 2014

For nearly four decades, Irish American musician, singer and songwriter Danny Quinn entertained audiences in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and England. He performed in pubs, coffeehouses, concert stages and festivals, singing a blend of Irish and American folk compositions. For over 20 years he toured nationally with Tommy Makem, and also shared stages and recorded with Tom Chapin, Peter Yarrow, the Makem and Spain Brothers, Eileen Ivers, David Mallet and many others.

Danny passed away on October 30th, 2014, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage a few weeks earlier. He was 55. While his voice is now silent, his spirit is being carried forward by fans, friends and family.

Born in Suffern, New York on January 23, 1959, Danny was raised in a home that celebrated music. As a young boy growing up during the folk revival, his older sister Kathleen would play guitar and sing to him and also played folk LPs from artists that Danny would later call his peers. Danny’s father would also sing around the house (Danny wrote about this in his song “Piano in the Morning”, featured in a clip below), and years later Danny would invite him into the studio to sing a song for one of Danny’s recordings. Danny told me that he was expecting his father to come in with an old chestnut like “Take Me Home Kathleen” or “Danny Boy,” but instead his dad brought out a lovely song called “Vale of Avoca” which became a highlight of the album.

While going to high school in Tuxedo, New York, Danny joined his first band. Shortly after, he began singing with his brother Tim as The Mighty Quinn, which is how I came to meet Danny. It was around 1980 and I just started hosting my radio show on WFDU-FM in Teaneck, New Jersey when I was introduced to the Mighty Quinn.

After appearing as guests on station, Danny and Tim approached the station management about hosting their own program of Irish music, an idea that was enthusiastically agreed upon. The show would be called “Music From the Glen” and I became their engineer. It was an eye-opening experience for me when I was introduced to their blend of Irish folk song.

Danny and Tim, soon to be joined by Tom Cashman, would perform songs live in the studio in addition to playing recordings of other popular Irish folk songs. Groups like the Clancy Brothers and the Irish Rovers influenced their music, but their own personalities and experiences shone through.

With Tom on board, The Mighty Quinn evolved into the group Stoutheart, helped by a beer distributor who was supporting their music. The group became popular in local pubs and Irish gatherings as audiences discovered their charm.

Watching them in a studio was always a treat. They truly loved the music they were creating and Danny had a knack for making audiences feel they were old friends, a special talent envied by any radio host.

I recall one day when we were taping a show and Danny suddenly developed a fit of the giggles. The laughter would not stop, and it soon became contagious. I lost count of how many takes and retakes we did until Danny could finish the song.

Danny was also writing songs, as was his brother Tim. Following his early exposure to folk music through his sisters recordings, Danny was now finding inspiration from artists like Tommy Makem, John Denver, and a bit later on from Stan Rogers. He would sing their songs, but he had a way of making them his own. Danny would often say that people can easily listen to the original records, but when they are watching a live performer they want something unique and personal.

By the mid-1980s, time moved on and life required geographic changes for each of the performers. Danny and Tim decided to become solo performers. Danny would also become friends with the legendary Tommy Makem, and for the next 20 years he would spend time performing and touring with Tommy on several tours. Danny would treasure time spent in Tommy’s company. Danny once said that “whenever Tommy Makem comes out with a new album, the quality of music rises in Irish pubs across the country.” Backing up his mentor gave Danny an opportunity to not only learn Makem’s new songs, but also gave Danny an insight to his mentor’s stagecraft and songwriting.

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Danny would also become a beloved fixture in the Rockland County / Northern New Jersey Irish music scene, holding court on Sundays at Davy’s Locker in Montvale, New Jersey and Wednesday nights at Morgan’s Public House in Tappan, New York. His calendar began filling up at other similar venues in the tri-state area and beyond.

In this area, “pubs” are more often called “bars” and people go to them to have a few drinks and enjoy the company of their friends. The folks that gather at pubs, if they choose to listen to music, would expect to hear the songs they were familiar with, Irish American standards. Music, live or from a jukebox, is often background noise – but not when Danny was on stage. Danny certainly incorporated the Irish favorites into his set, but he mixed them with American folk songs and songs from songwriters like David Mallett, Bill Staines and other artists who were not in the top 40 or part of the Irish-American music experience.

In addition, Danny was able to incorporate his own songs that were not only well received, but also frequently requested. He made a number of LPs and CDs throughout his career, and they sold well to his fans. His recordings are available through his website at www.dannyquinn.com or through CDBaby.

Danny was adept at drawing audiences into his performances. Besides taking requests, he would chat with them and make them part of the evenings festivities. Danny’s musical partner Tom Gardner recalls Danny finding a carpenter in the audience and introducing him to a roofer who happened to be in crowd, telling them that they should team up, doing this from the stage as part of his performance.

Tom Gardner referred to Danny as “the Cal Ripken of the Irish American music scene.” For more than 14 years, Danny was a Sunday fixture at Davey’s Locker, quite an accomplishment in the Irish pub circuit. Danny also established followings at similar venues up and down the east coast, and for a time Danny also ran a pub in Cape Cod. (For a deeper look at the Irish American music circuit, I highly recommend entertainer Seamus Kennedy’s brilliant book “Clean Cabbage in the Bucket and Other Tales From the Irish Music Trenches.”)

Possessing a gift for entertaining, Danny broadened his opportunities for sharing music. He worked on local cable shows, developing a program called “The Uncle Danny Show” which was geared toward children. In 1998 this morphed into a partnership with Tom Gardner and the pair became known as the Uncle Brothers. Tom, who first met Danny when he attended one of Danny’s appearances at Davy’s Locker, was helping Danny write songs for the Uncle Danny Show. Always generous, Danny asked Tom to become a partner as one of the Uncle Brothers, and the two would work together for the next 17 years performing at schools, libraries, parks and other gatherings of young people.

The original songs from the Uncle Brothers carry messages for their young audience. Anti-bullying, anti- drug and similar subjects can be found in this collection of songs. At one school function, the Uncle Brothers sang a song with an anti-smoking message, and afterwards one of the children approached Danny. Her mother had died from the effects of cigarettes and she was moved by Danny’s song. At first Danny was upset that his song had disturbed the child, but he quickly realized that the child was relating to the song in a positive fashion, a way of sharing the grief she felt at the loss of her mother because of cigarettes. The power of song was reaching new audiences.

Danny wrote many wonderful songs during his life, many were personal but always accessible to his audience. I was particularly moved by a song called “Friendly Soul,” which he wrote shortly after his sister Patricia passed away. I recall Danny singing the song on my show, swelled up with emotion, but reaching everyone who was listening with a feeling we could all relate to. (Following her passing, Danny and his first wife raised Patricia’s two daughters, giving them a loving home.)

In addition to the Mighty Quinn radio show on WFDU-FM, Danny returned to the station in the mid-80’s to host another Irish music program, sprinkled with the usual Danny Quinn humor and sensibilities. His workload eventually made the show difficult to do, but in later years he would return to the airwaves in Rockland County.

In his later years, Danny would also host tours of Ireland and England, shepherding tourists to sites and sounds of those countries by sharing unique experiences and wonderful music.

I once asked Danny if he would remember to invite me to emcee on the day he finally played Carnegie Hall. He laughed and told me that wasn’t his ultimate goal. He truly enjoyed reaching people in the venues where he was most comfortable, and he created a career that sustained him throughout his life. While he could have pursued potentially larger recognition on the concert stages of the folk music circuit, it would have required him to pass up steady work, and his established fan base.

Danny Quinn was a kind and gentle man and I will always remember him for his warm smile and friendly greeting. He moved to Connecticut to be with his life partner Marta and in recent years I only saw Danny on occasion. He would often call the radio station if he was traveling through New Jersey on a Sunday afternoon to say hello and ask how I was doing. I will greatly miss those moments.

Over the years, Danny performed at numerous weddings, birthday celebrations and funerals. He became part of many extended families through his music, and the outpouring of grief at his passing reflects just how deeply Danny touched so many lives.

Danny is survived by his life partner, Marta Koonz and her daughters, Megan Coan and Chelsea Stone, his two daughters, Valerie Trischitta and Lisa Trischitta Moranz and her husband Aaron, his brother Timothy R. Quinn and his wife Pamela, his sister Kathleen V. Kehoe and her husband Thomas, his brother Robert T. Quinn and his wife Hildegarde, and many loving nieces & nephews, great nieces & nephews, and cousins. Danny is pre-deceased by his sister Patricia E. Trischitta.

As per Danny’s wishes, there was no wake or funeral, but family and friends are planning a series of concerts in to celebrate Danny’s life. The concerts will be held in many of the venues where Danny had a loyal following.

I decided to honor Danny’s memory by dedicating this week’s three-hour radio program to his music, the music of the artists who inspired him, and songs to help us say goodbye to an old friend. Tom Gardner, who talked about the Uncle Brothers as well as shared his memories of Danny, joined me in the studio. I also played excerpts from a St. Patrick’s Day edition of Traditions in 1985, when Stoutheart were guests in the WFDU studios.

The outpouring of e-mails, Facebook messages and phone calls overwhelmed me during the program. The day after the broadcast, my station director informed me that the tribute show drew a record number of online listeners to the program. During the broadcast I received a phone call from an online listener in Florida, who called to tell me how much Danny meant to him. I also received numerous requests, and it hit me – Danny was all about making people happy and sharing the songs they loved. Now that Danny was gone, it was my duty to play those songs and carry on his tradition.

On his 1985 LP (yes, it was vinyl back then!) For Family and Friends, Danny dedicated the song “Rattlin’ Bog” to me. It was a song l loved from childhood, and after hearing Danny sing it once, I would always request it. I knew it was a difficult song to sing, but Danny never failed me! On the LP liner notes he wrote “This song can be found all over the world in different versions. No matter what… it’s a bitch to sing. – Carry on Ron.” That was the first time an artist ever acknowledged me on an album, and I’ve always cherished it. Just as I’ve cherished Danny.

I will carry on Danny, and your grace and spirit will continue to inspire me, and you will always be within my heart. Rest in peace old friend.

(Danny’s family has requested that donations in Danny’s name may be made to
Team Red, White and Blue (www.teamrwb.org),
an organization devoted to enriching the lives of America’s veterans
that Danny actively supported.)

* * *

 (Tune in to TRADITIONS every Sunday from 2pm to 5pm Eastern Time over WFDU-FM 89.1 in the NYC/Northern New Jersey area, or on the web at www.wfdu.fm or iHeartRadio.com. On-demand streams of shows, including this one, are archived for two weeks by clicking HERE. A Sing Out! Radio Partner.)

ARTIST “Tune / Song”
ALBUM  Label – Website
2PM
Theme: HARVEY REID “Dirty Dish Rag”
Solo Guitar Sketchbook Woodpecker Records – www.woodpecker.com
DANNY QUINN “Free As the Wind”
Time For Change Blackwater Records – www.dannyquinn.com

DANNY QUINN “Live the Good Life”
Live in Concert self – www.dannyquinn.com
DANNY QUINN “Old Friend”
Solo self – www.dannyquinn.com
DANNY QUINN “Tis A Fine Soft Day”
Tis a Fine Soft Day self – www.dannyquinn.com

THE MIGHTY QUINN “MTA”
Doin’ It Again  Blackwater Records – out of print LP
THE IRISH ROVERS “The Irish Rover”
The Best of the Irish Rovers MCA –
SEAMUS KENNEDY “The Forty Shades of Green”
Party Pieces Gransha Recods – www.seamuskennedy.com
TOMMY MAKEM “As I Roved Out”
From the Archives Shanachie – www.shanachie.com , www.tommymakem.com

STOUTHEART on WFDU-FM – St. Patrick’s Day 1985 “Wild Colonial Boy , Fiddler’s Green / Farewell to Novia Scotia” from WFDU-FM archives – www.wfdu.fm

DANNY QUINN “Run and Coconuts”
Time For Change Blackwater Records – www.dannyquinn.com
STOUTHEART  “Heather & the Unicorn”
Morningtown Ride Kingsway Productions – out of print LP

3PM
Guest: Tom Gardner from the Uncle Brothers
THE UNCLE BROTHERS “If I Had A Hammer”
2 Big Kids Blackwater Records – www.dannyquinn.com

UNCLE DANNY “Don’t Miss the Boat”
Don’t Miss the Boat Blackwater Records – www.dannyquinn.com
UNCLE BROTHERS “Man in the Moose”
Just Say Uncle self – www.unclebrothers.com

DANNY QUINN “Summer Roads”
Vacant Chair self – www.dannyquinn.com
TOMMY MAKEM “Four Green Fields”
The Tommy Makem Songbag Red Biddy Records – www.tommymakem.com

UNCLE BROTHERS “Pieces of a Puzzle”
Monkey’s Uncle Self – www.unclebrothers.com
UNCLE DANNY “We Shared This Day”
Don’t Miss the Boat self – www.dannyquinn.com

4PM
DANNY QUINN “Walk Your Own Road”
Vacant Chair self – www.dannyquinn.com

DANNY QUINN with TOM CHAPIN “The Water is Wide”
Time For Change Blackwater Records – www.dannyquinn.com
TOM CHAPIN “Lamentation”
The Turning of the Tide Sundance Music – www.tomchapin.com
DAVE ROWE “The Dreams, They Never Do”
All of the Dreams self – www.daverowemusic.com

DANNY QUINN “Rattlin’ Bog”
For Family and Friends Blackwater Records – www.dannyquinn.com
DANNY QUINN “The Town I Loved So Well”
Vacant Chair self – www.dannyquinn.com
DANNY QUINN “Take Me Home Country Roads”
Live in Concert self – www.dannyquinn.com
DANNY & TIM QUINN “Come By the Hills”
Tis a Fine Soft Day self – www.dannyquinn.com
DANNY QUINN “She’s Still in Paris”
Solo self – www.dannyquinn.com

THE DANNY QUINN BAND “The Game”
The Game self – www.dannyquinn.com
DANNY QUINN “Overnight Success”
Live in Concert self – www.dannyquinn.com

DANNY QUINN “Friendly Soul”
Solo self – www.dannyquinn.com
DANNY QUINN “The Parting Glass”
Vacant Chair self – www.dannyquinn.com
ROBIN SPIELBERG “Danny Boy”
Sea to Shining Sea: A Tapestry of American Music self – www.robinspielberg.com

DANNY QUINN “Old Friend”
Solo self – www.dannyquinn.com
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Ron Olesko
WFDU-FM
1000 River Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666

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