Tommy Makem

Tommy Makem came from Armagh in Northern Ireland, where he grew up around traditional Irish music. He learned to play uilleann pipes, guitar, and banjo, drawing from local musicians like Sean O'Boyle and Francis McPeake. In the early 1960s, he started performing with the Clancy Brothers, and their albums together included "The Rising of the Moon" and "The Boys of Wexford."

Makem went solo in the 1970s and put out records like "In the Misty Light" in 1972, "Song for Ireland" in 1974, and "The Bard of Armagh" in 1976. His songs often drew from Irish tradition, tunes like "Derby Ram," "Apples In The Basket," and "As I Roved Out" kept a straightforward, narrative feel. He sang in a clear, unadorned baritone that suited the material.

He sometimes addressed the political tensions in Northern Ireland, which brought both criticism and support. But mostly his work stayed rooted in balladry and folk melody, without much studio gloss. Makem kept recording and performing into later decades, but he never really shifted from that core sound.