The Hennessys Explained

The Hennessys
Landscape:yes
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Cardiff, Wales
Genre:Folk
Years Active:1967–present
Current Members:Frank Hennessy, Dave Burns, Iolo Jones, Pino Palladino
Past Members:Paul Powell, Aloma Jones, Tom Edwards

The Hennessys are one of Wales' foremost traditional folk music groups.

History

In 1966, Frank Hennessy and Dave Burns (born David Burns, 4 November 1946, in Cardiff), both from Cardiff's Irish community, won a talent competition organised by Cardiff City Council which persuaded them to take up music professionally shortly afterwards, adding Paul Powell (born in 1946, in Cardiff – died 2007) on banjo and vocals.[1] Having achieved success in the Cardiff area, they decided to spend some time travelling around Ireland, to acquire a wider musical experience.[1] It was at this time that they were persuaded to develop a greater Welsh identity, and they started to introduce traditional Welsh language songs into their repertoire, with great success, and their career took off.

They appeared regularly on television in Wales, appeared on stage throughout the country and recorded several albums.[1] Many of their songs like "Farewell to the Rhondda" (about the decline of the mining industry in Wales and its social consequences), "Tiger Bay" (about emigration from Tiger Bay, the dockland district of Cardiff) and the capital's anthem "Cardiff Born" have become folk standards. Other hits include "The Grangetown Whale" and "Billy the Seal".

The current line-up still includes Hennessy (on guitar) and Burns (on guitar and mandolin), who have now been joined by fiddle player Iolo Jones (born 12 February 1955, in Plymouth, England).[1]

Frank Hennessy has been hosting his own radio programmes on BBC Radio Wales since 1984.

The current member of bass guitarist player Pino Palladino (born 12 October 1957, in Cardiff) since 2024.

Discography

Frank Hennessy

Dave Burns

The Hennessys

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin. Guinness Publishing. 1992. First. 0-85112-939-0. 1134/5.