John O’Regan 32 SIngland Crescent Garryowen Limerick Ireland – phone: 00353 87 2308600,
email jor32@hotmail.com
John O’Regan Biography 2016
John O’ Regan is a Broadcaster and Freelance Journalist from Limerick City, Ireland. His work has appeared in magazines such as, ‘Hot Press’, “Irish Music”, fRoots, MOJO, ‘Record Collector’, “Rock ‘N’ Reel’ and “The Living Tradition “. His work has also been featured in online publications including, “Caught in the Act” and “The Greenman Review”. He has been involved in local radio since the 1970’s and writing for magazines in Ireland and abroad since 1981.
By day he works as an administrator with St Mary’s AID a community project based in Nicholas Street Limerick, serving St Mary’s Parish and the local community. Other times finds him at festivals, writing CD liner notes, reviews and articles and broadcasting on local radio. He has also graced the catwalk recently at the Strand Hotel Limerick for a fundraising fashion show for St Mary’s AID’s new Community Bus.
John was active in The Limerick Poetry Workshop in the 1980’s contributing to anthologies Sigh (1983). On The Counterscarp (1991) and The American Anthology of Poetry (1991) and he issued his own collection Out from the Shadows in 1984.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from University of Limerick and also an MA in Irish Media Studies from Mary Immaculate College/University of Limerick.
John O’Regan has had articles and reviews published in the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Norway and Australia. He contributed to “The Companion to Irish Traditional Music” (Cork University Press. 1999). His work was cited in ‘Irish Folk, Trad and Blues- a Secret History’ by Colin Harper and Trevor Hodgett (Collins Press. 2006) and ‘Beautiful Day-40 Years of Irish Rock’ by Sean Campbell (Cork University Press. 2004).
John O’ Regan’s depth of background knowledge has been classed as “Encyclopedic” earning respect for his broadcasting and writing abilities. Irish radio presenter, Mike Moloney described him as “Unreal, the guy really knows his tunes and he is passionate about his music.” The Programme for the 1998 “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Festival” Celtic Music tour of Germany referred to John O’Regan as, “One of Ireland’s leading Music Journalists.
John O’ Regan has written liner notes for over 200 albums on BGO Records, ARC Music, Rhino Records, Celtic Aires, Celtic Heartbeat and Music Club Records. He has written liner notes for albums by leading artists in the Folk/Roots/Rock, Blues and World Music including Grace Slick, John Fahey, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Gordon Lightfoot, Geoff Muldaur, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Jennifer Warnes, John Stewart, Iain Matthews, Perry Como, Jim Reeves, The Youngbloods, Stoneground, Janie Fricke, Charley Pride, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, The Incredible String Band, Tom Rush, Terry Reid, Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, Jimmie Spheeris, Jose Feliciano, The Young Tradition, The Johnstons, Buddy Rich, Poco, Dave Mason, Ravi Shankar, REO Speedwagon, Taj Mahal, Boz Scaggs, The Allman Brothers Band, Savoy Brown, Merle Haggard, John Martyn, Fairport Convention, David Johansen, Heart, Labelle, The Dubliners, Clannad, Capercaillie, Christy Moore, Renaissance, Mellow Candle, Savoy Brown, Catherine Howe, Gravy Train, Natural Acoustic Band, Curved Air, Shirley Bassey, Nobody’s Business, Stepaside, Auto Da Fe, The Isley Brothers, and The Ohio Players. More artist have been added to this list and will be so in the future…..
John also wrote the introduction to Sunshine Superman –The Story of Donovan (SPV Records Germany), a 3 Hour DVD documentary centered on the career of Donovan Leitch, narrated by Donovan himself. He has also compiled several anthologies of Irish Folk Music including the 2014 LiveIreland award winning compilation, “The Ultimate Guide to Irish Folk” for ARC Music, also “Gaelic Ireland” and “The Best of Celtic Folk” for ARC Music, “A Magical Gathering – The Clannad Anthology”, “The Very Best of Nicolette Larson” and “Legends of Ireland” for Rhino Records and “Celtic Spirit” for Music Club. He also wrote the liner notes for “The Celtic Heartbeat Collection” on Celtic Heartbeat Records/WEA which reached No. 3 in the Billboard World Music Charts.
Through his broadcasting and journalistic work, John O’Regan has achieved a reputation as an authority on both Traditional and Contemporary music. John O’Regan has appeared as a contributor to arts, music, and news programmes on RTE Radio One, 2FM, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC Radio Derby, Downtown Radio (Northern Ireland), 98FM (Dublin), and Radio Kerry. He has also contributed to shows on VRT Radio 1 (Brussels) and College Radio programs in Chicago, Cleveland and Milwaukee USA.
Currently, John O’Regan co-presents “Eclectic Celt” on Limerick City Community Radio on Sundays at 2pm (www.lccr.ie) Eclectic Celt Sunday at 2pm with John O’Regan and Louise McMahon features – songs , tunes and stories from the Folk, Celtic, Singer Songwriter, Traditional, Ambient scenes and more with new releases, archive tracks, special features, tour dates and live interview sessions. https://www.facebook.com/eclecticcelt
John is also a regular presenter of “Hav Yez No Homes Ta go Ta?” a weekly satirical comedy/ music show on Saturdays at 11pm on Limerick City Community Radio (www.lccr.ie). “Hav Yez No Homes Ta Go Ta?” is “A zany hour of fun, banter, stories, music, and whatever you’re having yourself. Perfect entertainment for a Saturday night with an eye for the ironic and surreal. Closing time has never been so good!” Complete with Liam Byrne, Sarah Lee Kiely, Maurice Egan, Dave O’Neill, Dionne Morrissey along for the craic John mans the deck with Senor Barman and Igor the Bouncer to give you thrills spills and fun on the radio on Saturday nights
http://www.limerickcitycommunityradio.org/schedule.php
John was also part of the show “U Kan Knot B Serious” with Pat Barry, Mary Honan, Tony Browne, Caroline Jessica Stewart and Lillian Burke. U Kan Knot B Serious was “An irreverent look at some of the stories – both mainstream and otherwise – combined with a look back on classic TV dramas and comedies; be prepared for laughs and occasional mayhem!” – http://www.limerickcitycommunityradio.org/schedule.php
John has lectured in Music Journalism to City & Guilds and NCVA students in Dublin, Cork and Leitrim.
John has delivered a lecture entitled, ‘Developments in Irish Music’ at major festivals in Ireland, UK, USA and Europe. He has lectured at ‘The Return to Camden Town’ festival in Camden Town, London, Milwaukee Irish Fest in Milwaukee Wisconsin USA, Dublin Ohio Irish Cultural Festival in Dublin, Ohio, USA, Erin Feis in Peoria Illinois USA, Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival in Cleveland Ohio USA and Copenhagen Irish Festival (Denmark). He has also delivered this lecture to capacity audiences at The South Sligo Summer School in Tubbercurry Co.Sligo and The Douglas Hyde Summer School in Ballaghadereen Co. Roscommon Ireland and Blas Festival at University of Limerick.
Among John’s many projects are, “The Ultimate Guide to Irish Folk” a double album compilation on ARC Music – The Ultimate Guide to Irish Folk captures a vivid snapshot of the current state of Irish Folk Music. It includes influential artists who have dominated the scene since the 60’s and a number of up-and-coming talents whose music again respects the tradition but possesses the excitement of creative discovery. It was voted Best Compendium of 2014 by LiveIreland and Chicago Irish American News newspaper. COMPENDIUM ALBUM OF THE YEAR: The Ultimate Guide to Irish Folk-“The people at ARC asked the famous Irish music writer, John O’Regan, to put together a compendium album of what he would consider a true cross-section of Irish music. He has done so, brilliantly. The double CD contains 34 cuts. Essentially, everything you would ever need is here—if you are looking for a total experience. Some of these cuts work better than others. And, that is the way it should be in a compendium album. Pretty much everything is here, and no one likes everything. But, we love enough of this to recommend it 100%. A great job, from a terrific Irish music journo”. Irish American Magazine called it “The best collection to come from this genre in years” and “Everything about this screams beginner friendly”.
John has also assembled a tribute page to Kyaldan an obscure folk rock band from Lorient (Brittany) featuring four members of The Samson family Alain, Christine, Danielle and Yannick. Their 1978 album “Breiz” is a Folk Rock Holy Grail and sells on over $300 to collectors. https://www.facebook.com/kyaldantributepage?
John has also branched into Artist PR handing press campaigns for albums by Clannad – “Nadur”, Ger Costelloe “Letting in Water”, Iron Mountain -“Unum”, The Young Folk “The Little Battle” and currently “The Very Round Robin Tour” with Roesy, Declan O’Rourke and The Young Folk. He is available for PR projects based in Ireland and the UK.
Between 2010 and 2013 John presented an online music video show called, ‘The JukeBox’, which rocked audiences worldwide online. ‘The JukeBox’ was a weekly feast of Classic Contemporary music on video on the social media website, ‘Facebook”, which went out on Fridays from 11pm-2am. Classic Rock, Soul, Blues, Folk, Country and more are on the menu along with band news, gig guides, club scoops, tour dates and more. https://www.facebook.com/kyaldantributepage?ref=hl
John O’Regan is a consummate professional broadcaster and writer. He lives for music and believes that spreading its good vibes is his vocation.
© John O’Regan October 2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The Ultimate Guide to Irish Folk is a new double CD compilation album produced by ARC Music Productions Ltd. In all 34 tracks are included with meticulous notes by music journalist John O’ Regan. His insightful knowledge on such matter makes for very good reading in a very detailed 32 page booklet that is also included. He writes that ” While Irish folk and traditional music never needed a revival like those in Britain and the US during the late 50’s and 60’s, there were times when folk music was often in danger of being forgotten or rendered obsolete as a term of social expression” He goes on to trace the history of this tradition from ” The Emergency” years of World War 2, and on through the 50’s and into the 60’s ballad boom period. He takes it right up to present day with the impact of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and all the new artists that continue on the tradition.
Written
on June 11, 2013