Maura O'Connell (born 16 September 1958) is an Irish singer. She is known for her contemporary interpretations of Irish folk songs, strongly influenced by American
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
.
Background
O'Connell was born in
Ennis, the main town in
County Clare
County Clare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster in the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern part of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Clare County Council ...
, in the west of Ireland. Born into a musical family, O'Connell was the third of four sisters. Her mother's family owned Costello's fish shop in Ennis where O'Connell worked until music became her full-time career. She grew up listening to her mother's
light opera, opera, and
parlour song records.
Her father's interest leaned towards the rebel ballads. Despite the presence of classical music in the house, O'Connell got very involved in the local folk club scene and together with
Mike Hanrahan, who later fronted trad/rock outfit
Stockton's Wing, they performed a country music set, as a duo called 'Tumbleweed'.
O'Connell attended St Joseph's Secondary School in
Spanish Point from 1971 to 1974, where she took part in the school choir. She was also part of the "Cúl Aodha Choir", led by Peadar Ó Riada, that sang at the funeral of
Willie Clancy in 1973.
Musical career
Solo career
O'Connell began her professional musical journey during a six-week tour of the US in 1980, as vocalist for the traditionally-based Celtic group
De Dannan. The following year, she was featured on the band's landmark album, ''The Star Spangled Molly'', (where she has the lead vocals on four tracks) which became something of a national phenomenon in her homeland.
However, not long after joining the group she became very interested in the experimental roots music of
America's
New Grass Revival when the bands' paths crossed, and moved to the US in 1986, settling in
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
. There she met
newgrass
Bluegrass music is a Music genre, genre of American roots music that developed in the 1940s in the Appalachian region of the United States. The genre derives its name from the band Bill Monroe, Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. Bluegrass has r ...
pioneers
Bela Fleck and
Jerry Douglas, with whom she'd work on most of her records.
She recorded her first solo album in 1983, however, it didn't make any impact in Ireland or in the United States. O'Connell received a
Grammy nomination for her 1989 album, ''Helpless Heart'' (originally released in Ireland in 1987 as ''Western Highway''), which was her first record released under
Warner Bros. Records. ''
A Real Life Story'' (1991), and ''
Blue Is the Colour of Hope'' (1992), registered a move toward a pop synthesis. O'Connell's versions of "Living in These Troubled Times" and
Cheryl Wheeler's "Summerfly" became standout tracks on the 1993 album
A Woman's Heart, on four all-female overseas tours and on the 1994 follow-up album in her homeland. ''A Woman's Heart Vol. 2'' features her heartfelt renditions of
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Caroline Griffith (July 6, 1953 – August 13, 2021) was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She often appeared on the PBS music program ''Austin City Limits'', starting in 1985 during season 10. In 1990, Griffith appeared on th ...
's "Trouble in the Fields" and Gerry O'Beirne's "Western Highway." After numerous album heavily inspired by American newgrass music, O'Connell returned to her Irish roots with the 1997 release, ''Wandering Home''.
As the new millennium approached, O'Connell signed with the Sugar Hill label in late 2000 and began working on her seventh album. Instead of working with her longtime producer Jerry Douglas, O'Connell had
Ray Kennedy (who worked with
Steve Earle,
Lucinda Williams
Lucinda Gayl Williams (born January 26, 1953) is an American singer-songwriter and a solo guitarist. She recorded her first two albums, ''Ramblin' on My Mind (Lucinda Williams album), Ramblin' on My Mind'' (1979) and ''Happy Woman Blues'' (198 ...
) produce ''Walls and Windows'', which was released in 2001, and featured an eclectic collection of songs, including work by
Kim Richey,
Van Morrison
Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK ...
,
John Prine,
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English Rock music, rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s l ...
and
Patty Griffin. Her 2004 album, ''Don't I Know'', contained musical textures added by everything from
fiddle
A fiddle is a Bow (music), bowed String instrument, string musical instrument, most often a violin or a bass. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including European classical music, classical music. Althou ...
s, to
clavinets, to
lap steel and B-3 organ.
In 2009, Maura released her first a cappella album, ''Naked With Friends''. Guest vocalists on the album included
Mary Black,
Paul Brady,
Moya Brennan,
Jerry Douglas,
Alison Krauss,
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh,
Tim O'Brien,
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...
, Sarah Dugas,
Kate Rusby and
Darrell Scott. The album was nominated for a
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...
.
In 2013 O'Connell announced the end of her solo career.
Other work
In addition to her solo work, O'Connell has collaborated with a number of Celtic, folk, pop and country artists, including
Van Morrison
Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK ...
,
Brian Kennedy,
Moya Brennan,
Mary Black,
John Prine,
Jerry Douglas,
Tim O'Brien,
John Gorka,
Bela Fleck,
Robert Earl Keen,
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...
and
Shawn Colvin. She has also sung background vocals for a number of artists, including
Van Morrison
Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK ...
's 1988 project with
the Chieftains, ''
Irish Heartbeat'' and
Stockton's Wing on Take A Chance.
Acting
Aside from the music world,
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November17, 1942) is an American filmmaker. One of the major figures of the New Hollywood era, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Martin Scorsese, many accolades, including an Academ ...
cast O'Connell, scruffed up for the role, as an Irish migrant street singer in his 19th-century epic ''
Gangs of New York'', released in 2002.
Discography
Solo albums
* 1983: ''Maura O'Connell'' (Ogham)
* 1987: ''Western Highway'' (Raglan) reissued in 1989 as ''Helpless Heart''
* 1988: ''Just in Time'' (
Polydor)
* 1989: ''Always'' (Polydor)
* 1991: ''
A Real Life Story'' (
Warner Bros.)
* 1992: ''
Blue Is the Colour of Hope'' (Warner Bros.)
* 1995: ''Stories'' (
Hannibal
Hannibal (; ; 247 – between 183 and 181 BC) was a Punic people, Carthaginian general and statesman who commanded the forces of Ancient Carthage, Carthage in their battle against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War.
Hannibal's fat ...
)
* 1997: ''Wandering Home'' (Hannibal)
* 2001: ''Walls & Windows'' (
Sugar Hill)
* 2004: ''Don't I Know'' (Sugar Hill)
* 2009: ''Naked With Friends'' (Sugar Hill)
Compilations
* 2006: ''The View From Here: The Very Best Of'' (Third Floor Music)
As primary artist/contributor
* 1992: various artists – Til Their Eyes Shine... The Lullaby Album'' (
Columbia) – track 3, "Dún Do Shúile"
* 1997: various artists – ''Gaelforce: Live Concert of the Greatest Irish Artists'' (Celtic) – track 1-06, "Maggie"
* 1997: various artists – ''Warmer for the Spark – The Songs of
Jimmy MacCarthy: Volume One'' (Tara) – track 4, "Mystic Lipstick"; track 13, "Love Divine"
* 1998: various artists – ''The FolkScene Collection – From the Heart of Studio A'' (
Red House) – track 9, "Hit The Ground Running"
* 2002: various artists – ''
Gangs of New York: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture'' (
Interscope
Interscope Records is an American record label based in Santa Monica, California, owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture ...
) – track 14, "Unconstant Lover"
* 2006: various artists – ''A Case for Case: A Tribute to the Songs of
Peter Case'' (
Hungry For Music) – track 1-02, "Blue Distance"
Also appears on
* 1980:
Stockton's Wing – ''
Take a Chance'' (
Tara)
* 1981:
De Danann All Stars – ''The Star Spangled Molly'' (Ogham)
* 1983: De Danann – ''Song for Ireland'' (Tara) – vocals on track 9, "The Chicken Reel"
* 1985: De Danann – ''Anthem'' (Tara) – vocals on track 2, "
Let It Be"
* 1986:
Johnny "C" – ''Soul'd Out!'' (Sugar Hill)
* 1987:
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Caroline Griffith (July 6, 1953 – August 13, 2021) was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She often appeared on the PBS music program ''Austin City Limits'', starting in 1985 during season 10. In 1990, Griffith appeared on th ...
– ''
The Last of the True Believers'' (
Philo
Philo of Alexandria (; ; ; ), also called , was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, in the Roman province of Egypt.
The only event in Philo's life that can be decisively dated is his representation of the Alexandrian J ...
) – vocals on track 5, "Banks of the Pontchartrain"
* 1988:
Peter Rowan and the
Nashville Bluegrass Band – ''New Moon Rising'' (Sugar Hill) – vocals on track 10, "Meadow Green"
* 1988:
Van Morrison
Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK ...
and
The Chieftains – ''
Irish Heartbeat'' (
Mercury) – vocals on track 10, "Marie's Wedding"
* 1990:
Rosanne Cash – ''
Interiors'' (
) – vocals on track 2, "Dance With the Tiger''
* 1992:
Jerry Douglas – ''
Slide Rule'' (Sugar Hill)
* 1993:
Kukuruza – ''Crossing borders'' (Sugar Hill) – vocals on track 3, "Gornitsa"
* 1993:
Robert Earl Keen – ''
A Bigger Piece of Sky'' (Sugar Hill)
* 2001:
Tim O'Brien – ''Two Journeys'' (Howdy Skies) – vocals on track 7, "The Holy Well"
* 2001:
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...
– ''
Little Sparrow'' (Sugar Hill) – vocals on track 11, "Down from Dover"
* 2005: Ciaran Tourish – ''Down The Line'' (
Compass
A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with No ...
) – vocals on track 9, "Slán Le Máigh"
* 2014:
Malcolm Holcombe – ''The RCA Sessions'' (Proper)
* 2015:
Tom Russell – ''
The Rose of Roscrae'' (Frontera)
References
External links
Official websiteOfficial fan forumBlog post about Maura*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oconnell, Maura
1958 births
Living people
Irish folk singers
Irish women singers
People from Ennis
Musicians from County Clare
De Dannan members