Album Notes

Paddy Graber is a traditional singer and story-teller from Vancouver, B.C. He was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary in Ireland, and grew up in a rich musical family. His mother was a well-known traditional singer in Counties Limerick and Tipperary. Paddy is an expert on Irish history, folklore, and music. Much of his musical repertoire comes from his family in Ireland and often includes local variants of traditional Irish songs. He has also written songs of his own. Paddy has performed at Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle every year of its existence but one. He is a real treasure, and his songs and stories need to be preserved and passed on to future generations.

In November, 2003, I spent a couple of days with Paddy in Seattle, recording his stories and songs. Here is a sample of some of them; there are more to be released in the future. - Stewart Hendrickson, November, 2003.

"Paddy Graber is a Canadian National Treasure... what counts is the love and respect for the songs and their histories presented by the expert who has essentially been there, done that. Anyone who is Irish, part Irish, wished they were Irish or just likes to hear and know more about Irish songs and history is strongly advised to get this CD" Faith Petric, San Francisco Folk Music Club.

"This is a striking CD - part documentary, part entertainment - featuring only the voice of the storyteller and traditional singer Paddy Graber. Producer Stewart Hendrickson has done a splendid job of arranging Graber's incredible store of tales and songs, so that listening to the whole CD is a seamless experience: like listening in the most intimate club, or at a friend's fireside." Mary DesRosiers, SingOut! Vol. 48 #3, Fall 2004, pp. 117-118.

"It's a great pleasure to hear the CD which includes some of my favorites and some new treats too. Stewart Hendrickson is to be congratulated on recording this material so well; the disc offers 'a sample', and I trust more is on tape to be issued. Paddy Graber's repertoire has been astonishingly diverse and eclectic, with little (or large) variations from standard versions, besides sometimes being apparently unique; and the songs he has himself composed are ofttimes delightful - as witness his contribution to Easter mythology, 'The Hen that became a Hare'."
Murray Shoolbraid, Editor, Journal of the British Columbia Folklore Society, B.C. Folklore, No. 19, 2004