 |
Flute player Mike Rafferty is one of the greatest living Irish traditional musicians in North America. An ageless marvel now well into his eighth decade, Mike is a proud native of Ballinakill in east County Galway, one of the most famously musical regions of Ireland. He grew up in a musical family headed by his uilleann piper father Tom "Barrel" Rafferty, and also picked up tunes and technique from many other famed local musicians. Though he left Ireland nearly 60 years ago, Mike has never lost his strong east Galway accent, either in his speaking voice or his flute playing. He has had an enormous influence on many younger Irish-American musicians, including the outstanding New Jersey fiddler Willie Kelly, with whom he has performed on many occasions. Mike and Willie will be joined by piano legend Felix Dolan, who has been accompanying the greats of Irish music for half a century. |
