Joe Derrane

Joe Derrane (March 16, 1930 – July 22, 2016) was an Irish-American button accordion player, known for re-popularizing the D/C# system diatonic button accordion.

Life Derrane was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Irish immigrant parents.

Since 1994 Joe Derrane has recorded two solo albums and four collaborations with prestigious players. He has appeared on radio and television many times, including The Pure Drop on Irish TV (RTÉ). He was the subject of a documentary by Frank Ferrel, As Played By Joe Derrane, and of another broadcast by Irish-language station TG4 as part of its Sé mo laoch series. He has toured Canada, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and appeared with The Chieftains at Boston Symphony Hall. In 1998 Derrane was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (North American Province) for his contribution to Irish traditional music. In 2006 he appeared at the National Folk Festival (USA).

Joe Derrane died on July 22, 2016, in Brockton, Massachusetts, at the age of 86.

Discography

Solo albums

Irish Accordion (1993, reissued 1995) (singles from the 1940s) Give Us Another (1995) Track listing at irishtune.info The Tie That Binds (1998) Track listing at irishtune.info Grove Lane (2010) Track listing at irishtune.info

Joe Derrane and Carl Hession. Return To Inis Mor (1996) Track listing at irishtune.info

Joe Derrane, Frankie Gavin and Brian McGrath. Ireland's Harvest (2002)

Joe Derrane and Jerry O'Brien. Irish Accordion Masters (1996) Track listing at irishtune.info

Joe Derrane, Séamus Connolly and John McGann. The Boston Edge (2004)

Joe Derrane and John McGann The Man behind The Box (2005)

Anthology – Tulla Ceili Band, Joe Derrane, Tom Doherty et al. Baby Let Me Squeeze Your Box (2007)

Anthology – Deanta, Capercaillie, Altan, Joe Derrane, Kornog, Eileen Ivers, Silly Wizard et al. Green Linnet Records: 25 Years of Celtic Music (2006)