John Nolan Biography John Nolan was born and raised in the Bronx, where his initial interest in music came from watching and listening to his father play the button accordion. He began to play at the age of 12, studying under John Glynn. As John Nolan himself puts it: "John Glynn taught me the fundamentals. Later on, I studied with Martin Mulvihill, who taught me the music. Through Martin's son Brendan, I met Billy McComiskey, my biggest influence, who taught me to play. It was Billy who introduced me to the music and friendship of Sean McGlynn, the great button accordionist from east Galway." In 1982, John journeyed to Listowel, County Kerry to compete at Ireland's national traditional music festival, Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, where he became the first American-born musician ever to win the Senior All-Ireland Championship on the button accordion. On another trip to Ireland in 1994, John was the sole American button accordionist invited to perform at Aonach Paddy O'Brien, a prestigious festival in Nenagh, County Tipperary, dedicated to the memory of one of Ireland's greatest box players. John is still devoted to the old-style Paolo Soprani accordion, the "grey box" or as he calls it, "the box with soul." Back in the Big Apple, John performed frequently throughout the 1980s and 1990s with two top New York fiddle players and fellow Bronx natives, Pat Keogh and Brian Conway. Together with Pat and other musical friends, he released his first recording, A Taste for the Traditional, in 1988. John has also been in great demand as a sideman with top Irish ballad singers, and as a recording session player on a dozen different albums. In 2000, John released his solo recording, A Rake of Reels, which has been a tremendous success and ranked among the best of traditional recordings. Career Highlights: Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann -- Listowel, Co. Kerry, 1982. John Nolan becomes the first American-born musician ever to win the Senior All-Ireland Championship on the button accordion. Annual St. Patrick's concert -- St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York Aonach Paddy O'Brien -- Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, 1994. John is the sole American button accordionist invited to perform at this prestigious festival dedicated to the memory of one of Ireland's greatest box players. Carnegie Hall w/The New York Pops led by Skitch Henderson, 1997 John F. Kennedy Memorial Mass w/Morning Star -- New York, 1999 New Year's Eve w/ Cherish the Ladies -- New Jersey -- 12/31/2000 Desconso Gardens Concert w/Cherish the Ladies and The Pasadena Pops Orchestra--California, 2003 Long Beach Performing Arts Center w/Cherish the Ladies and The Long Beach Symphony Orchestra--2005