Seán Cannon

Seán Cannon circa 2005.

Seán Cannon (born 29 November 1940) is an Irish musician. Since 1982 he has been lead vocal and guitarist for the Dubliners.

Early life

Seán Cannon was born in Galway, Ireland. He travelled around Europe at an early age, rambling in England, Germany, Switzerland and Spain. It was during these trips that Cannon learned to speak several languages. He moved to England (where he still lives), and became a renowned solo artist, playing in almost every folk club in Britain (Including the Star Club in Digbeth Birmingham).

Family

Cannon married Pamela Blick and had two sons James and Robert Cannon. They later divorced. His father, Jim Cannon, was born in Donegal, but moved to Galway City and married Kathleen Byrne, who came from Ballinue, Aughrim, Co Galway. Family still living in Ireland: cousin Martin Byrne, living in Banagher Co Offaly, Seamus Byrne Florencecourt Enniskillen Co Fermanagh, cousin Tom Forde living in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.

Career

By 1969, Cannon had joined an England-based folk group called The Gaels. (The Gaels consisted of three Irishmen and a Scotsman.) They released an album. He also released several solo albums, two of which were released in the 1970s.

Cannon had known the Dubliners for years and, like Eamonn Campbell, joined them on stage on numerous occasions. When Luke Kelly became ill, he stepped in, and became a full time Dubliner in 1982. Cannon still manages to do some solo work in between the touring. He plays gigs with his son, James Cannon. They call themselves The Cannons. Sean Cannon lives in Coventry, United Kingdom.

Sean Cannon is immortalised in the Christy Moore song "Lisdoonvarna". The line "Sean Cannon Doing Back Stage Cooking" is a direct reference to when Sean travelled to all the music festivals in the late 1970s with a converted caravan and sold curry.