Long Live the Ladies!

Cherish the Ladies Celebrates Its 20th Year on the Road

It was originally supposed to be a two week run - a series of 'Women in Irish Music' concerts in New York that renowned music historian Mick Moloney put together.

"Up until the 1970s, there were very few women in Irish music. I noticed more and more of them; usually they were the first generation daughters of Irish immigrants," said Moloney, who contacted artists who played different instruments and whom he believed would be available to play together and tour, including Joanie Madden, Eileen Ivers, and Siobhan Egan.

"It's one to start something and quite another to keep it going. The idea of making a living playing Irish music, touring, dealing with record companies - all that takes an awful lot of dedication. The sheer tenacity of Joanie Madden sustains it," added Moloney, who is as surprised as anyone that Cherish The Ladies would be such a success two decades later.

After 20 years of touring, a Grammy nomination, and recognition as the most popular and successful Irish-American traditional group ever, the gals have won the hearts of fans from New York to New Zealand, from Glasgow to Georgia. With Leading Lady Joanie Madden at its helm, the band offers a wide range of instrumental talents, captivating arrangements, and beautiful vocals. Moreover, they inject a sense of fun that few others approach.

They have played places one would expect - North America, Ireland, Europe, and Australia - and less likely spots, such as the Panama Canal, South America, and the Olympic Games. Cherish The Ladies was the first Irish group that President Bush invited to play at the White House, and during its distinguished career they have shared the stage with the likes of James Taylor, Joan Baez, The Chieftains, and numerous symphony orchestras.

Cherish The Ladies was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1999 for "The Celtic Album," a collaboration with the Boston Pops, and have been named "Best Musical Group of the Year" by the BBC and "International Group of the Year" at the Celtic Connections Festival in Scotland. In 2006, they were honored as "Irish Organization of the Year" by the New York City Council and the Department of Education in recognition of their ongoing contributions to Irish heritage and culture. They have appeared on ABC Good Morning America, Imus in the Morning, PBS, National Public Radio, the BBC and RTE.

New York-born Joanie Madden has led the group since its inception. She was introduced to traditional music by her father, Joe, an All-Ireland champion on the accordion. Five years after beginning whistle lessons from Jack Coen, Joanie became champion on both the whistle and the concert flute. She is the only American ever to win the Senior All-Ireland competition on the whistle.

By far, the group's most exciting gig was playing a party to celebrate Bob Dylan's 35th anniversary in the music business. The rock legend befriended the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in their early days and wanted to have Irish music be part of the celebration.

"I kept turning it down because we don't really play bars, and I didn't know what the party was for," Joanie explained. "I only agreed to do it because Tommy called me."

"We had no idea who was in the audience - Neil Young, Eric Clapton, and The Rolling Stones," Joanie recounted. "But the stage at Tommy Makem's Irish Pavilion was too small for all of us. I fell off the ledge and right onto Eric Clapton!"

Her many awards include being the youngest member inducted into the Irish-American Musicians Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Wild Geese Award. She has been named one of the "Top 100 Irish-Americans" and the 1997 Traditional Musician of the Year. Joanie has been a guest performer on more than a hundred albums and has recorded three solo CDs: "A Whistle on the Wind", "Song of the Irish Whistle" (with over 300,000 copies sold, it is the most successful whistle album ever), and "Song of the Irish Whistle 2."

Mary Coogan, a self-taught guitar, mandolin and banjo player, is an original member of the band. She was recently featured in Acoustic Guitar magazine, which named her one of the top guitarists in Celtic music. Mary recently completed her first solo CD, "Christmas." In addition to her musical talents, she holds a masters degree in education.

Kildare native Heidi Talbot began singing in her local church as a young girl. Formerly a singer in the Waterford-based band, The Whole Shabang, Heidi joined Cherish the Ladies in 2003 as lead vocalist.

Accordionist Mirella Murray grew up on the northwest coast of Connemara with a love for traditional music instilled by her father, John Joe. She teamed with fiddler Liz Kane at Fleadh Cheoil competitions, and the pair later won the All-Ireland duet in 1995, the same year that Mirella took the title on piano accordion. She is also an accomplished teacher; two of her pupils have won All-Ireland titles.

Belfast-born fiddler Roisin Dillon was raised in a musical family. Her father, Eamonn, taught her to play the whistle, and her brother is an accomplished Uilleann piper. Since age 15, she has focused primarily on the fiddle, and at 18 she toured America as part of a group supported by The International Fund for Ireland. Roisin now resides permanently in the U.S.

Cherish The Ladies alumni include fiery fiddler Eileen Ivers, a star of Riverdance and an accomplished solo artist; Cathie Ryan, a vocalist and PBS host; Winifred Horan, a founding member of Solas; Donna Long, considered one of the finest pianists playing Irish music; and singer Aoife Clancy, a member of Irish music's most famous family.

"I think it's safe to say they're the most popular Irish traditional band going. For 20 years and many changes in personnel, Cherish has continued because of Joanie Madden. She has a knack for picking the best musicians, tunes and dancers," said Kathleen Biggins, long-time host of WFUV's "A Thousand Welcomes" program and one of the country's most knowledgeable experts on traditional Irish music.

"They always deliver outstanding entertainment without compromising tradition. While the 'girl group' thing might have been an attraction at first, once you've heard or seen the band, you know they're serious musicians. Who cares whether they are women or men? It's just great music," Biggins added.

Overall, the group has released 12 albums. Their latest CD, "Woman of the House," on Rounder Records, is heralded as the group's best and hit Billboard Magazine's Top 10 on the World Music Charts - the Ladies' highest ever showing. Recorded in Scotland with guests including Sharon Shannon, the collection of jigs, reels, and heart-rending ballads showcases the band's incredible talents. Their previous effort, "On Christmas Night," was chosen as one of the top Christmas albums of the year by The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Cherish The Ladies' upcoming tour dates include the legendary Newport Folk Festival in Newport, RI, on August 4, Long's Park Amphitheater in Lancaster, PA, on Aug. 6, and the Music Haven Stage at Central Park in Schenectady, NY, on Aug. 7. In October, they will embark upon an extended tour of England, Scotland, and Ireland that includes a show at The Belfast Festival at Queens, Ireland's largest international arts festival. Touring, though key to its success, is the hardest part of being in the group.

"For instance, we are going to Grand Junction, Colorado. First we fly to Denver, and then drive for five hours. We're only on stage 2 hours. The next stop is Albuquerque, another eight hour drive," Joanie explained. "It stinks when you don't get to sleep in your own bed. The way I look at it, I get paid to travel. I'd play for free."

"When you meet the crowds, and they tell you that you made their day, that makes it worth it," she said, adding that initially her parents weren't happy about her going into the music business. "I've been fortunate to be able to make a living doing what I love."