Album Notes

A photo of Jamie crossing London Bridge is the centerpiece to the cover of “Many’s the Mile, Love…” As a youngster, Jamie crossed this bridge when they both resided in London, England. He crosses the same bridge, but now both are in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Many is the mile they have traveled.

Jamie grew up in a London-Irish family where music and dance was the order of the day. Over the years, on two continents, he has amassed an astounding repertoire of songs dating back to his childhood: Irish ballads and music hall (vaudeville) songs from his father and grandmother; rock and pop music from his teenage years, English traditional music from his college days; central European folk song from his time in Germany and France; and old timey and swing from his Pennsylvania days. But he constantly returns to his first love – the old songs and tunes of his days on the back doubles of South London, the hooleys and ceilis, family and friends.

For this album, he is accompanied by a number of close musical friends. From Pennsylvania, he is joined by fiddler Ryck Kaiser, mandolinist Henry Koretzky and bassist Bruce Campbell – the quartet form the basis of Harrisburg’s noted old timey band, Medicinal Purpose – along with long-time musical partner, John Winship (concertina). From Maryland, pianist and singer Donna Long (Cherish the Ladies), fiddler Rosie Shipley (the Willow Band, Gerry O’Beirne), button accordion player Billy McComiskey (Trian, Liz Carroll), noted percussionist Myron Bretholz and multi-instrumentalist Paul McKeown (who also engineered and co-produced the album). Rounding out the album adding her vocal talents is Arizona’s Nancy McCallion (the Mollys, the Last Call Girls).

Jamie has delved into his long musical history to select 13 tracks from Irish, English and music hall traditions, including pieces written in traditional style by modern writers such as Percy French, Michael Winship and Jamie himself. He has returned to melodies he learned as a youth, which he plays on guitar, songs from his old unaccompanied English folk song group, Ogron, and lullabies sung by his father. Along with his singing and guitar playing, he can also be heard playing harmonica.

He also pays tribute to his friend and mentor, Hawaiian singer, songwriter and guitarist, George Kahumoku Jr. by playing his own composition dedicated to George and his wife, thanking them for their help, encouragement and inspiration over the years.