Recollection by Paddy McCarthy
Although a solo artist for most of his career, Irish entertainer and folk musician James McCann was a member of The Dubliners from 1974 until ’79. Later he appeared with them in their 2002 reunion and their 50th anniversary tour in 2012.
I promoted This man for many years in Ireland and in the States and we became good friends long before he passed. Jim had one of the most unique folk voices that I’ve ever come across and he was loved where ever he performed, So sit back and have a nice read about this amazing man; Jim was a real good Dublin man.
McCann attended University College Dublin as a medical student, but became interested in folk music during a 1964 summer holiday in Birmingham. He began performing in area folk clubs, and, upon his return to Dublin, joined a group called the Ludlow Trio in 1965. In the following year, the Trio had a hit with their recording of Dominic Behan‘s “The Sea Around Us” which reached Number One in the Irish charts.
The group broke up the following year, and McCann went a solo, releasing an album, McCann, and making several appearances on several folk programs for Tele
fis Éireann. He also spent the next few years involved with theatrical productions (starting with Maureen Potter‘s Gaels of Laughter in 1968), and he toured throughout Ireland and Britain. He released a second album, McCanned, made a television special called Reflections of Jim McCann, and then hosted a series called The McCann Man. Through that series he met fellow folk artist, Luke Kelly of The Dubliners. During this appearance, Kelly did his only televised performance of the Phil Coulter song “Scorn Not His Simplicity” — a song he chose to perform sparingly out of respect to the subject matter (Coulter’s intellectually disabled son). McCann subsequently performed alongside Kelly in the original cast of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973, in the role of Peter.
In ’74, Kelly asked McCann to join The Dubliners temporarily, to replace Ciarán Bourke during a period of illness. He then became a permanent member soon afterwards, when Ronnie Drew left to pursue a solo career. McCann remained with the band until 1979’s end, during which he toured incessantly and recorded several albums with them.
He rejoined The Dubliners in 2002 for their 40th anniversary tour and later at Vicar Street in 2012 for their 50th. Meanwhile, McCann continued to perform, tour, and record on his own, appearing on television shows (particularly on RTÉ) and achieving success with albums such as From Clare to Here and singles such as “Grace.” He rejoined the Dubliners in 2002 for their 40th anniversary album, but during the subsequent tour was diagnosed with throat cancer.
Although his treatment was successful, it damaged his voice leaving him unable to sing. However, he still collaborated with the Dubliners by taking photographs for them, appearing as a compère in their concerts, and sometimes playing guitar. During the Dubliners’ last concert in December 2012, he performed with them as a guitarist.
McCann’s death was announced by his family on March 5th, 2015.
Rest in Peace, Jim, we miss you so sadly.