John Doonan, more recordings

Also to be found on the old Ceol Alainn page are the only two full length LPs of piccolo playing that I know of.  The recordings can be found here.

Doonan is mentioned whenever the piccolo in traditional music is mentioned. He is the Godfather of modern day piccolo playing. He is a touchstone for anyone continuing to play the pic in Irish music and was a large figure in traditional music in the North of  England. His sons and other members of the family keep the name alive in traditional music with the Doonan family band.

From the Farne Archive:

   South Tyneside musician John Doonan, All-Ireland and World Piccolo Champion, is often described as the Godfather of Irish Music and, in celebrating fifty years of travelling and playing, it has was said that he has been on the road longer than the white lines. John died on Friday 8th March 2002 aged 80 years old. Along with his two sons, Mick (piccolo, flute, whistles, uilleann pipes and vocals) and Kevin (fiddle and vocals), the Doonan Family have travelled from their base in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear to play all over the world. Affectionately known in the north east as the 'Whistling Welder', he has had an unquestionable and significant influence on music and musicians in, and far beyond, the North of England. His grandfather also called John, played fiddle and accordion and his father George was a fiddler. John played by ear and never learned to read music. His flair saw him win an All-Ireland championship competition in Co. Roscommon playing the piccolo in 1968 and come second in the music section of the Welsh International Eisteddfod in the 1970s. He was also an original member of the High Level Ranters folk band in their early days! He is affectionately remembered by all who knew him and is noted as much for his company as for his music.