* En anglais uniquement
John McSherry is a uilleann piper known in Ireland for his solo records, many collaborations, and as an original member of the Celtic folk band
Lúnasa.
Born in Belfast to a musical family engaged in traditional folk music,
McSherry picked up the pipes at an early age and won two All-Ireland championship titles on the instrument by the age of 14. In the '80s, he and family members formed the McSherrys, which became the Celtic folk-rock band Tamalin when
John and siblings Tina (vocals),
Paul (guitar/Dobro), and Joanne (fiddle) were joined by friend Kevin Dorris (bouzouki/bodhran). The band released the LP Rhythm & Rhyme in 1997.
Meanwhile,
Lúnasa had formed in 1996 and settled into the lineup of
John McSherry,
Kevin Crawford (flute/whistles),
Donogh Hennessy (guitar), former
Waterboy Trevor Hutchinson (bass),
Michael McGoldrick (flute/pipes), and
Sean Smyth (fiddle/whistles). They had a hit in their home country with their self-titled debut, also released in 1997. Not wanting to tour,
McSherry then left the group's official lineup but still leant pipes to 1999's
Otherworld. He and
McGoldrick went on to release the duet album
At First Light in 2002 before
McSherry teamed up with
Dónal O'Connor for 2006's
Tripswitch. In the meantime,
McSherry made a name as a session musician, appearing on albums by the likes of
Rod Stewart,
Nanci Griffith,
Clannad, and
the Corrs.
The year 2010 brought the solo album
Soma, as well as
Six Days in Down with
O'Connor and
Bob Brozman. The eponymous LP
The Olllam arrived in 2012 by a group he formed with Detroit natives Tyler Duncan (guitar, keys, pipes, whistles) and
Michael Shimmin (drums). A collaboration with
O'Connor and
Sean Óg Graham, Ulaid arrived in 2015, and in 2016
McSherry released
The Seven Suns, a concept album about Ireland's distant past. It included performances by guests such as
McGoldrick and
Niamh Dunne. ~ Marcy Donelson