Micho Russell
# Micho Russell

Micho Russell (25 March 1915 – 19 February 1994) was an Irish musician and author best known for his expert tin whistle performance. He also played the simple-system flute and was a collector of traditional music and folklore.

## Biography

Russell was born in Doonagore, Doolin, County Clare, Ireland. Russell came from a musically renowned family, his mother played the concertina, and his father was a sean-nós singer. He had two brothers, Packie and Gussie, who were also musicians. He also had two sisters. He never married.

### Music

Russell taught himself to play the tin whistle by ear starting at age eleven. The 1960s revival of Irish traditional music brought him attention and performance opportunities. In 1973, Russell won the All-Ireland tin whistle competition, which further increased demand for his performances. Like Séamus Ennis, Russell was also known for his spoken introductions to tunes in his live performances, which incorporated folklore and legend. His knowledge of tradition extended past music to language, stories, dance, herbal lore, and old country cures.

### Death

Russell died in a car accident on 19 February 1994 on his way home from a gig just prior to going back into the studio to record another CD.

## Works

### Original music

"Micho Russell's Reel," his only known composition, is a variant of an older tune he called "Carthy's Reel." He told Charlie Piggott, "...So Carthy was beyond anyway and he heard the old tune from a piper playing it and he had the first part but only three-quarters of the second part. So when Séamus Ennis came around collecting music, I put in the last bit. That's roughly the story of the tune." The reel has been recorded by other artists such as Mary Bergin. His best-known songs were John Phillip Holland and The Well of Spring Water.

### Discography

Micho Russell performs on the following recordings :

| Year | Artist | Title | Label | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1975 | Micho, Pakie and Gusie Russell | The Russell Family of Doolin, Co. Clare | Topic Records | Recorded in O'Connor's Bar, Doolin January 1974. |
| 1976 | Micho Russell | Traditional Country Music of Co. Clare | Free Reed | Reissued on CD by Free Reed in 2008 |
| 1982 | Micho Russell | Micho Russell | Triskell | LP format. |
| 1990 | Micho Russell | Under the Cliffs of Moher | Xeric | |
| 1993 | Micho Russell | The Limestone Rock | GTD Heritage Recording Co. Ltd. | |
| 1993 | Micho Russell | The Man from Clare | GTD Heritage Recording Co. Ltd. | features duets with Eugene Lambe on Flute and Tin Whistle |
| 1994 | John Williams | John Williams | Green Linnet Records | |
| 1995 | Micho Russell | The Wind that shakes the Barley | GTD Heritage Recording Co. Ltd. | Features Music, Song and Folklore |
| 1995 | Micho Russell | In Our Own Dear Land | GTD Heritage Recording Co. Ltd. | A similar mix of Music, Song and stories. |
| 1995 | Micho Russell | Ireland's Whistling Ambassador | The Pennywhistler's Press | Includes a 28-page booklet with a biography and notes on his music. There is also a video release with different music. |
| 2015 | Micho Russell | Rarities & Old Favorites 1949–1993: Tin Whistle, Flute & Songs From North Clare & Beyond | The Pennywhistler's Press | A double-CD with forty-nine tracks that span Micho's entire career. Includes a 16-page booklet. Released both as a download and a physical CD. |

### Books

Micho Russell wrote the following books :

| Year | Title | Publisher |
| - | - | - |
| 1980 | The Piper's Chair | Ossian Publications |
| 1986 | The Piper's Chair No. 2 | Canal Press, N.Y. |
| 1988 | The road to Aran: Songs, Folklore and Music of West of Ireland | Micho Russell, Doolin. |
| 1990 | Doolin's Micho Russell | N.Y. |
| 1991. | Micho's Dozen | Ennistymon Festival of Traditional Singing, Co. Clare. |
| 1992 | Music & Folklore of Doonagore | Micho Russell, Doolin. |
