Ron Kavana
Encyclopedia
Ron Kavana is a London-based Irish singer, songwriter, guitarist and band leader. Born in the County Cork
town of Fermoy, he is the son of an Irish father and an American mother from Chicago with Cajun
roots.
Performing with a lengthy list of bands, Kavana has performed with influential musicians from the worlds of British soul
, blues
, rhythm & blues, rock
, Irish folk and folk-rock, and worldbeat
music. His "Galway to Graceland" albums was described as an album of Blues, Tex Mex, country, rock, cajun, and occasionally Irish influenced music. A talented songwriter, Kavana has written songs exploring history and politics, as well as drinking, dancing, and playing music. The Village Voice has called him a "hard-hitting, no-nonsense realist".
in the late 1970s. He got a job at Rock On Records, replacing Philip Chevron, who was leaving to work full time with his band, The Radiators From Space
. In 1977, Kavana put together Kavana's Krisis Band, playing regularly at Islington
's Hope & Anchor, a hot spot of the 1970s London soul scene. This band evolved into Juice on the Loose, who became something of a house band for Ace Records
, with Kavana as band leader and producer. During this era, Kavana and members of the band toured and recorded with many legendary American acts, including Big Jay McNeely
, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Willie Egan, Dr. John
, Doug Sahm
, Augie Meyers and Flaco Jiminez, Wallace Davenport
, Gatemouth Brown, Memphis Slim
, Champion Jack Dupree
, and Slim Gaillard
. Kavana appears on Juice on the Loose's self-titled album, released on Line Records in 1981. Other Juice on the Loose recordings would surface on Kavana's first solo album, Rollin' & Coastin' (In Search of America)
.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Kavana also played with Panama Red, The Thunderbirds, The Balham Alligators
, and The Alexis Korner Band. Following a European R & B package tour backing Korner, Kavana played an anniversary show for the Boogie Woogie Band's anniversary at Dingwalls, with an all-star band that included Charlie Watts
on drums and Jack Bruce
on bass.
in 1985, on the Italian record label, Appaloosa. The album was a compilation of solo tracks and Juice on The Loose recordings.
In the mid/late 1980s, Kavana opened several tours for The Pogues
, whose management considered him as a replacement for departing bass player/singer Cait O'Riordan
. The band chose road crew member Darryl Hunt
for the job, but Kavana makes several appearances on The Pogues' album If I Should Fall From Grace With God
, and co-wrote two songs with Pogue Terry Woods
: “Every Man Is A King (In The U.S. of A.)” and “Young Ned Of the Hill”, the former released originally as a B-side and the later included on The Pogues album Peace and Love.
In 1990, Kavana produced the album For The Children
. Featuring 29 guests (including several members of The Pogues
), the album was a fundraiser for LILT (London Irish Live Trust), a charity organization working for peace in Northern Ireland
.
By the late 1980s, Kavana had formed the eclectic group Alias Ron Kavana. The group was subsequently named "Best Live Act in the World" by Folk Roots Magazine in 1989, 1990, and 1991. The Alias Band's first album, Think Like a Hero
, was released in 1989. Alias Ron Kavana's second album, Coming Days
, followed in 1991.
Terry Woods
joined forces with Ron Kavana and recorded the album Home Fire
, released as Kavana's second solo effort in 1991. The two appear together in the 1990 Ken Loach
film, Hidden Agenda, performing the Wolftones' song “The Ballad Of Joe McDonnell”.
After quitting The Pogues, Woods joined with Kavana and formed a new band, The Bucks
. This lineup recorded the album Dancing to the Ceili Band, released in 1994 on WEA. The album and the band's live shows were well received by fans and critics, but disbanded after a short time. Kavana cites lack of label support as a reason, and claims he “never got a penny” for the album.
Returning to the Alias Band, Kavana recorded Galway to Graceland (ARK 002) in 2005. The album was self-financed and produced independently. Due to financial difficulties it was deleted before getting a full release.
Kavana again entered Pogues territory, this time playing guitar in an early version of Shane MacGowan
's band The Popes. Kavana’s guitar work can be heard on “Haunted”, a duet featuring Sinead O’Connor. He also came up with the tune for "Snake With Eyes of Garnet" from MacGowan’s first solo album, The Snake, although he received no credit for this work.
course, graduating with first-class honours in Irish Studies and Film Studies
.
Working on and off for several years, Kavana released a two-disc set Irish Songs of Rebellion, Resistance and Reconciliation in 2006. This was followed by the 2007 four disc set Irish Ways: Story of Ireland in Song, Music & Poetry. The albums followed Irish history through songs and poems from 1796 to the present day. The albums are credited to The Alias Acoustic Band.
(see also "Rollin' & Coastin' (In Search of America)
")
, Ryan's Daughter
, and Hidden Agenda
(1990).
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
town of Fermoy, he is the son of an Irish father and an American mother from Chicago with Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
roots.
Performing with a lengthy list of bands, Kavana has performed with influential musicians from the worlds of British soul
British soul
British soul, Brit soul or the British soul invasion is soul music performed by British artists. Soul has been a major influence on British popular music since the 1960s, and American soul was extremely popular among some youth subcultures, such as mods, skinheads and the northern soul movement...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, rhythm & blues, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, Irish folk and folk-rock, and worldbeat
Worldbeat
Worldbeat is a music genre that primarily refers to a blending of Western pop music with traditional/folk or world music influences...
music. His "Galway to Graceland" albums was described as an album of Blues, Tex Mex, country, rock, cajun, and occasionally Irish influenced music. A talented songwriter, Kavana has written songs exploring history and politics, as well as drinking, dancing, and playing music. The Village Voice has called him a "hard-hitting, no-nonsense realist".
Early career
After cutting his early musical teeth in a R&B band, the Wizards, Kavana moved to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the late 1970s. He got a job at Rock On Records, replacing Philip Chevron, who was leaving to work full time with his band, The Radiators From Space
The Radiators From Space
The Radiators From Space are an Irish punk rock band. The band formed in 1975 in Dublin, originally under the name Greta Garbage and the Trashcans, and consisted of Philip Chevron , Pete Holidai, Steve Rapid, Jimmy Crashe and Mark Megaray. They were one of the earliest punk rock bands...
. In 1977, Kavana put together Kavana's Krisis Band, playing regularly at Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
's Hope & Anchor, a hot spot of the 1970s London soul scene. This band evolved into Juice on the Loose, who became something of a house band for Ace Records
Ace Records (UK)
Ace Records Ltd. was started in 1978. Initially the company only gained permission from the label based in Mississippi to use the name in the UK, but eventually also acquired the rights to publish their recordings. When Chiswick's pop side was licensed to EMI in 1984, Ace switched to more licensing...
, with Kavana as band leader and producer. During this era, Kavana and members of the band toured and recorded with many legendary American acts, including Big Jay McNeely
Big Jay McNeely
Big Jay McNeely is an American rhythm and blues saxophonist.-Biography:...
, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Willie Egan, Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
, Doug Sahm
Doug Sahm
Douglas Wayne Sahm , was an American musician from Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in country music, but became a significant figure in blues rock and other genres. Today Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as Tejano music...
, Augie Meyers and Flaco Jiminez, Wallace Davenport
Wallace Davenport
Wallace Foster Davenport was a United States jazz trumpeter. Davenport has been one of the few traditional jazz musicians of the 1930s who later branched out into swing and bop styles, as well as backing gospel and R&B vocalists during an extensive career in eight different decades.Davenport was...
, Gatemouth Brown, Memphis Slim
Memphis Slim
Memphis Slim was an American blues pianist, singer, and composer. He led a series of bands that, reflecting the popular appeal of jump blues, included saxophones, bass, drums, and piano. A song he first cut in 1947, "Every Day I Have the Blues", has become a blues standard, recorded by many other...
, Champion Jack Dupree
Champion Jack Dupree
William Thomas Dupree, best known as Champion Jack Dupree, was an American blues pianist. His birth date is disputed, given as July 4, July 10, and July 23, in the years 1908, 1909, or 1910. He died on January 21, 1992.-Biography:...
, and Slim Gaillard
Slim Gaillard
Bulee "Slim" Gaillard was an American jazz singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist, noted for his vocalese singing and word play in a language he called "Vout"...
. Kavana appears on Juice on the Loose's self-titled album, released on Line Records in 1981. Other Juice on the Loose recordings would surface on Kavana's first solo album, Rollin' & Coastin' (In Search of America)
Rollin' & Coastin' (In Search of America)
Rollin' & Coastin' is the first solo album released by London-based Irish musician Ron Kavana. The album was released on LP 1985 and compact disc by Appaloosa records in 1994 ....
.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Kavana also played with Panama Red, The Thunderbirds, The Balham Alligators
The Balham Alligators
The Balham Alligators were a band from London that mixed rock 'n' roll, cajun, country and R&B. The band centred around singer and instrumentalist Geraint Watkins.-Career:The band came together by chance at a London pub in 1983...
, and The Alexis Korner Band. Following a European R & B package tour backing Korner, Kavana played an anniversary show for the Boogie Woogie Band's anniversary at Dingwalls, with an all-star band that included Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts
Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts is an English drummer, best known as a member of The Rolling Stones. He is also the leader of a jazz band, a record producer, commercial artist, and horse breeder.-Early life:...
on drums and Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
on bass.
Solo career
Kavana released his first solo album, Rollin' & Coastin' (In Search of America)Rollin' & Coastin' (In Search of America)
Rollin' & Coastin' is the first solo album released by London-based Irish musician Ron Kavana. The album was released on LP 1985 and compact disc by Appaloosa records in 1994 ....
in 1985, on the Italian record label, Appaloosa. The album was a compilation of solo tracks and Juice on The Loose recordings.
In the mid/late 1980s, Kavana opened several tours for The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
, whose management considered him as a replacement for departing bass player/singer Cait O'Riordan
Cait O'Riordan
Caitlín O'Riordan is a British musician. She played bass guitar for the British-Irish punk/folk band The Pogues from 1983 to 1986. She later played with Elvis Costello, her husband from 1986 to 2002, as well as several other projects....
. The band chose road crew member Darryl Hunt
Darryl Hunt (musician)
Darryl Hunt is an English musician, most famous as the bassist of The Pogues from 1986 until their breakup ten years later...
for the job, but Kavana makes several appearances on The Pogues' album If I Should Fall From Grace With God
If I Should Fall from Grace with God
If I Should Fall from Grace with God was well-received by critics. Mark Deming of Allmusic awarded the album four and a half out of five stars, calling it "the best album the Pogues would ever make." Robert Christgau gave the album a B+ and said that "neither pop nor rock nor disco crossover stays...
, and co-wrote two songs with Pogue Terry Woods
Terry Woods
Terence 'Terry' Woods , is an Irish folk musician, specialising in playing the mandolin and cittern. He is known for his membership in such folk and folk-rock groups as The Pogues, Steeleye Span, Sweeney's Men, The Bucks and, briefly, Dr. Strangely Strange. Prior to being a founder member of...
: “Every Man Is A King (In The U.S. of A.)” and “Young Ned Of the Hill”, the former released originally as a B-side and the later included on The Pogues album Peace and Love.
In 1990, Kavana produced the album For The Children
For The Children
For The Children is a British television programme, the first to be designed especially for young children of school age. First broadcast on the BBC Television Service at 3pm on Saturday 24 April 1937, for its first two years the series was only ten minutes in length...
. Featuring 29 guests (including several members of The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
), the album was a fundraiser for LILT (London Irish Live Trust), a charity organization working for peace in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
By the late 1980s, Kavana had formed the eclectic group Alias Ron Kavana. The group was subsequently named "Best Live Act in the World" by Folk Roots Magazine in 1989, 1990, and 1991. The Alias Band's first album, Think Like a Hero
Think Like a Hero
Think Like a Hero is an album released British musician/songwriter Ron Kavana and was released by Chiswick Records in 1989. The album is credited to Alias Ron Kavana and was the debut of Kavana's Alias Band...
, was released in 1989. Alias Ron Kavana's second album, Coming Days
Coming Days
Coming Days, released in 1995 on Chiswick Records, was the third album released by Irish artist Ron Kavana, the second credited to "Alias Ron Kavana"...
, followed in 1991.
Terry Woods
Terry Woods
Terence 'Terry' Woods , is an Irish folk musician, specialising in playing the mandolin and cittern. He is known for his membership in such folk and folk-rock groups as The Pogues, Steeleye Span, Sweeney's Men, The Bucks and, briefly, Dr. Strangely Strange. Prior to being a founder member of...
joined forces with Ron Kavana and recorded the album Home Fire
Home Fire
Home Fire was the fourth album by Irish musician/songwriter Ron Kavana. Released in 1991 on Green Linnet records, the album is really a joint project with Terry Woods, formerly of The Pogues. The album features two Kavana/Woods co-writes, including "Young Ned Of The Hill", previously recorded by...
, released as Kavana's second solo effort in 1991. The two appear together in the 1990 Ken Loach
Ken Loach
Kenneth "Ken" Loach is a Palme D'Or winning English film and television director.He is known for his naturalistic, social realist directing style and for his socialist beliefs, which are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as homelessness , labour rights and child abuse at the...
film, Hidden Agenda, performing the Wolftones' song “The Ballad Of Joe McDonnell”.
After quitting The Pogues, Woods joined with Kavana and formed a new band, The Bucks
The Bucks
The Bucks were a band who played music based largely on Irish folk, touring briefly and recording and releasing one album for WEA Records in 1994. While remaining obscure, the band was formed by well-known Irish musicians Terry Woods and Ron Kavana...
. This lineup recorded the album Dancing to the Ceili Band, released in 1994 on WEA. The album and the band's live shows were well received by fans and critics, but disbanded after a short time. Kavana cites lack of label support as a reason, and claims he “never got a penny” for the album.
Returning to the Alias Band, Kavana recorded Galway to Graceland (ARK 002) in 2005. The album was self-financed and produced independently. Due to financial difficulties it was deleted before getting a full release.
Kavana again entered Pogues territory, this time playing guitar in an early version of Shane MacGowan
Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan is an Irish musician and singer, best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues.-History:...
's band The Popes. Kavana’s guitar work can be heard on “Haunted”, a duet featuring Sinead O’Connor. He also came up with the tune for "Snake With Eyes of Garnet" from MacGowan’s first solo album, The Snake, although he received no credit for this work.
Academics and current career
In 1995, frustrated by problems with record labels and the music business generally, and finding himself financially under pressure, Kavana took a three year break from the industry, enrolling in a full time HumanitiesHumanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
course, graduating with first-class honours in Irish Studies and Film Studies
Film studies
Film studies is an academic discipline that deals with various theoretical, historical, and critical approaches to films. It is sometimes subsumed within media studies and is often compared to television studies...
.
Working on and off for several years, Kavana released a two-disc set Irish Songs of Rebellion, Resistance and Reconciliation in 2006. This was followed by the 2007 four disc set Irish Ways: Story of Ireland in Song, Music & Poetry. The albums followed Irish history through songs and poems from 1796 to the present day. The albums are credited to The Alias Acoustic Band.
Solo
- Rollin' & Coastin' (In Search of America)Rollin' & Coastin' (In Search of America)Rollin' & Coastin' is the first solo album released by London-based Irish musician Ron Kavana. The album was released on LP 1985 and compact disc by Appaloosa records in 1994 ....
- 1985, Appaloosa - Think Like a HeroThink Like a HeroThink Like a Hero is an album released British musician/songwriter Ron Kavana and was released by Chiswick Records in 1989. The album is credited to Alias Ron Kavana and was the debut of Kavana's Alias Band...
- 1989,1995 ChiswickChiswickChiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with... - Coming DaysComing DaysComing Days, released in 1995 on Chiswick Records, was the third album released by Irish artist Ron Kavana, the second credited to "Alias Ron Kavana"...
- 1991,1995 ChiswickChiswickChiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with... - Home FireHome FireHome Fire was the fourth album by Irish musician/songwriter Ron Kavana. Released in 1991 on Green Linnet records, the album is really a joint project with Terry Woods, formerly of The Pogues. The album features two Kavana/Woods co-writes, including "Young Ned Of The Hill", previously recorded by...
(with Terry WoodsTerry WoodsTerence 'Terry' Woods , is an Irish folk musician, specialising in playing the mandolin and cittern. He is known for his membership in such folk and folk-rock groups as The Pogues, Steeleye Span, Sweeney's Men, The Bucks and, briefly, Dr. Strangely Strange. Prior to being a founder member of...
) - 1991, Green Linnet - Galway to Graceland- 1995, Alias Recordings
- Alien Alert (with The Resident Aliens) [live] - Proper Records, 1999
- Irish Songs of Rebellion, Resistance and Reconciliation - 2006, Primo Records
- Irish Ways: Story of Ireland in Song, Music & Poetry - 2007, Proper Records
- 40 Favourite Folk Songs (with friends) - 2011, Primo Records
with Juice on the Loose
- Juice on the Loose - 1981
(see also "Rollin' & Coastin' (In Search of America)
Rollin' & Coastin' (In Search of America)
Rollin' & Coastin' is the first solo album released by London-based Irish musician Ron Kavana. The album was released on LP 1985 and compact disc by Appaloosa records in 1994 ....
")
In film
Kavana has appeared in and/or composed music for the soundtracks of such films as Sid and NancySid and Nancy
Sid and Nancy is a 1986 British biopic directed by Alex Cox. The film portrays the life of Sid Vicious , bassist of the seminal punk rock band the Sex Pistols, and his relationship with girlfriend Nancy Spungen .-Plot:The film opens with several police officers dragging Sid Vicious out of the Hotel...
, Ryan's Daughter
Ryan's Daughter
Ryan's Daughter is a 1970 film directed by David Lean. The film, set in 1916, tells the story of a married Irish woman who has an affair with a British officer during World War I, despite opposition from her nationalist neighbours...
, and Hidden Agenda
Hidden Agenda (1990 film)
Hidden Agenda , directed by Ken Loach, is a political thriller about British terrorism in Northern Ireland that includes the assassination of an American civil rights lawyer.-Plot and historical context:...
(1990).