Irish accordion in the United States starts with the familiar melodeon - the ten-key diatonic accordion pitched in the key of D. (Smithsonian Notes) There are probably no records of anyone playing Irish music on the accordion before John Kimmel(1866-1942). Kimmel was a German-American musician, born in Brooklyn, who played saxophone, piano and the melodian. Not only was Kimmel an accomplished player of Irish music, he was also accomplished playing the standard American music of the period.

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  • Irish accordion in the United States starts with the familiar melodeon - the ten-key diatonic accordion pitched in the key of D. (Smithsonian Notes) There are probably no records of anyone playing Irish music on the accordion before John Kimmel(1866-1942). Kimmel was a German-American musician, born in Brooklyn, who played saxophone, piano and the melodian. Not only was Kimmel an accomplished player of Irish music, he was also accomplished playing the standard American music of the period. He recorded extensively on cylinder and disk cutting his first cylinder in 1904(?). Although he played a single row accordion his performances have stood the test of time. In the 1920s a Galway born accordionist made a great impression on Irish music. This was Peter Conlon (c 1885-c 1954). He recorded extensively beginning about 1917 (according to Harry Bradshaw). During this period of time there seems to be no record of any accordion players in Ireland. It is unlikely that there were none, but there are no records indicating otherwise. Again, Conlon played a ten-key accordion pitched in D. After this period and also during it there were a spate of players. There were the Flanagan Brothers who featured the accordion, and Timmy Fitzpatrick, who was among the finest of the ten-key players. Slowly the instrument started to evolve. at first there were 13-key instrument with three chromatic notes on the inside row. This was followed by 15-key instruments, and finally by 19 & 20-key instruments. Without notable exception these instruments were pitched in the key of D. At the same time that Paddy O'Brien was creating a new tradition in Ireland Joe Derrane appeared on the scene in the US. A young boy of 17–18 years from Boston old cut a number of classic 78s that had far reaching influence (Rego Records Notes). At that time the scene was flooded with accordionists: Joe Cunningham, Timmy Cronin, Tommy Mee, Billy McElligot, Mickey Carton, Tommy Sullivan, Billy Caples, Eddie Heborn, Frank Fallon, W P Quinn, Terry Flynn, Paddy Crowley, Jack Crowley, Jack Murphy, Gene Kelly, Jack Pendergast, and many, many more. In the mid-fifties Paddy O'Brien & [[Joe Cooley99 appeared in the New York Irish music scene. Their style was unique. No one in the States played that way. O'Brien & Cooley imitated the violin and/or flute style of playing. It was a slow unaccented smooth performance. It was the introduction of legato playing to the accordion. After this time there was a slow but steady stream of fine accordionist from Ireland to the US. Without exception they played a reverse system - the main performance row was the inside one and the half-notes were on the outside row, e. g Bobby Gardiner, Joe Nellany, Joe Burke, Mike Melanophy, Martin Mulhaire, James Keane.
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  • May 2009
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  • May 2009
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  • May 2009
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  • Irish accordion in the United States starts with the familiar melodeon - the ten-key diatonic accordion pitched in the key of D. (Smithsonian Notes) There are probably no records of anyone playing Irish music on the accordion before John Kimmel(1866-1942). Kimmel was a German-American musician, born in Brooklyn, who played saxophone, piano and the melodian. Not only was Kimmel an accomplished player of Irish music, he was also accomplished playing the standard American music of the period.
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  • Irish accordion in the United States
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