Patrick Clifford
Encyclopedia
Patrick Clifford is a musician
, songwriter
, and producer
of Irish and folk music
, best known as a key member of Four to the Bar
--a mainstay of the 1990s New York
Irish music scene.
Like many New York
Irish musicians, he received his earliest training from the renowned Martin Mulvihill
, (on piano accordion
). His primary instrument with Four to the Bar was the bass
, but he also added piano
, guitar
, and accordion
to the band's sound, on both stage and recordings.
As a songwriter
, he wrote two tracks for the band's watershed album, Another Son
:
He and guitarist
Martin Kelleher are generally credited with the production of both of Four to the Bar
's full-length albums; Another Son
is notable for its elegance and Craic on the Road
for its punch and atmosphere.
In 1993, he produced Sky in My Hand, the first release by New York
folk singer
/songwriter
Liz Dacey. This recording was engineered by Virgil Moorefield
.
In 2008, he recorded, mixed, and mastered To the Fray, an album by the band Hobnail. He also played bass and sang on this release.
In 2010, he released American Wake
, his first solo album.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
of Irish and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, best known as a key member of Four to the Bar
Four to the Bar
Four to the Bar was an Irish band in New York City during the early to mid 1990s.From its beginnings as one more hard-drinking pub band from the boroughs, it ventured into a neotraditional fusion of pop, rock, and Irish and American folk....
--a mainstay of the 1990s New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Irish music scene.
Like many New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Irish musicians, he received his earliest training from the renowned Martin Mulvihill
Martin Mulvihill
Martin Mulvihill was an Irish traditional musician, composer, teacher, and author. He composed roughly 25 tunes in the Irish traditional style....
, (on piano accordion
Piano accordion
A piano accordion is an accordion equipped with a right-hand keyboard similar to a piano or organ. Its acoustic mechanism is more similar to that of an organ than a piano, as they are both wind instruments, but the term "piano accordion"—coined by Guido Deiro in 1910—has remained the popular...
). His primary instrument with Four to the Bar was the bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, but he also added piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and accordion
Piano accordion
A piano accordion is an accordion equipped with a right-hand keyboard similar to a piano or organ. Its acoustic mechanism is more similar to that of an organ than a piano, as they are both wind instruments, but the term "piano accordion"—coined by Guido Deiro in 1910—has remained the popular...
to the band's sound, on both stage and recordings.
As a songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, he wrote two tracks for the band's watershed album, Another Son
Another Son (album)
Another Son was the second full-length album, and final recording, by Four to the Bar, released in 1995.The album was a radical departure from their first, 1994's Craic on the Road.The band is listed as producing the album...
:
- "The Western Shore" and
- "The Old Men Admiring Themselves in the Water" (music only).
He and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Martin Kelleher are generally credited with the production of both of Four to the Bar
Four to the Bar
Four to the Bar was an Irish band in New York City during the early to mid 1990s.From its beginnings as one more hard-drinking pub band from the boroughs, it ventured into a neotraditional fusion of pop, rock, and Irish and American folk....
's full-length albums; Another Son
Another Son (album)
Another Son was the second full-length album, and final recording, by Four to the Bar, released in 1995.The album was a radical departure from their first, 1994's Craic on the Road.The band is listed as producing the album...
is notable for its elegance and Craic on the Road
Craic on the Road (album)
Craic on the Road: Live at Sam Maguire's was the first full-length album by Four to the Bar, released in 1994.- Track listing :#I'll Tell Me Ma #Waxie's Dargle/The Rare Old Mountain Dew #My Love's in Germany...
for its punch and atmosphere.
In 1993, he produced Sky in My Hand, the first release by New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
folk singer
Folk Singer
Folk Singer is a 1964 album by Muddy Waters. Waters plays acoustic guitar, backed by Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar...
/songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Liz Dacey. This recording was engineered by Virgil Moorefield
Virgil Moorefield
Virgil Moorefield is a composer and intermedia artist. Moorefield's work focuses primarily on live acoustic performance, electronic processing of acoustic signals, and live visual music . CDs of his composer-led ensembles have been released on several labels, including Tzadik, Cuneiform, and Innova...
.
In 2008, he recorded, mixed, and mastered To the Fray, an album by the band Hobnail. He also played bass and sang on this release.
In 2010, he released American Wake
American Wake (album)
American Wake is the first full-length solo album by Patrick Clifford, released in 2010.The title refers to a gathering in an Irish home the night before a family member emigrated to America, in which friends and family would say goodbye to the emigrant for what was probably the last time.The...
, his first solo album.