Billy, an accordion player, has been living in Baltimore for many years now, but he’ll always be a Brooklyn boy at heart and still makes frequent visits back to New York City and the Catskills. Seán McGlynn from Tynagh in east Galway mentored Billy’s musical development and Billy’s most cherished possession is the vintage black Paolo Soprani accordion he inherited from McGlynn. In addition to an All-Ireland championship, Billy has won a National Heritage award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the U.S.A.’s highest award for a traditional musician. Billy has issued two solo recordings and has appeared on many others with Liz Carroll, Brendan Mulvihill Mick Moloney and “The Pride of New York” band.
Scatter the mud, jig ; The Nova Scotia jig / Jack Coen, flute ; Billy McComiskey, concertina. Recorded by Terry Rafferty at the Glen Echo Festival, Maryland, United States of America, 27 May 1990
Untitled, polka ; The Cobbler, polkas / Chris Norman, flute ; Billy McComiskey, accordion. Recorded by Terry Rafferty at the Eagle Tavern, New York, 30 April 1988
Farewell to Erin, reel / Jack Coen, flute ; Mike Rafferty, flute ; Paddy Reynolds, fiddle ; Billy McComiskey, accordion. Recorded at the Snug Harbour Festival, Staten Island, New York, 21 July 1989
Gerry Commane's reel ; Paddy Taylor's reel / Mike Rafferty, flute ; Willie Kelly, fiddle ; Billy McComiskey, accordion. Recorded by Terry Rafferty in Mike Rafferty's basement, New York 1991
The duke of Leinster, reel / Jack Coen, flute ; Mike Rafferty, flute ; Billy McComiskey, accordion. Recorded by Terry Rafferty at the Snug Harbour Festival, Staten Island, New York 1989
ITMA Reference | NYC-277078/2/023 |
Creator | Unidentified photographer |
Date | 2009 |
Location | New York |
Type | Image |
Collection | New York Collection |
Subject | United States of America: Instrumental Music |
Copyright | Publicity photograph |
Source | Joanie Madden |
View in ITMA catalogue: |
Pride of New York / Unidentified photographer
© Publicity photograph
Tony DeMarco
Tom Dunne