Luke Kelly

For other people named Luke Kelly, see Luke Kelly (disambiguation).

Luke Kelly
Black and white picture of a man (with focus on torso, not a full length picture). He has goatee (beard) and curly hair, and is holding a guitar He is looking at the guitar with concentration. He is wearing a shirt and coat.
Kelly in 1967
Background information
Born(1940-11-17)17 November 1940
Sheriff Street, Dublin, Ireland
Died30 January 1984(1984-01-30) (aged 43)
Dublin, Ireland
GenresIrish folk
Occupations
  • Singer
  • folk musician
  • banjoist
  • actor
Instrument(s)Vocals, banjo, guitar
Years active1962–1984

Luke Kelly (17 November 1940 – 30 January 1984) was an Irish singer, folk musician and actor from Dublin, Ireland. Born into a working-class household in Dublin city, Kelly moved to England in his late teens and by his early 20s had become involved in a folk music revival. Returning to Dublin in the 1960s, he is noted as a founding member of the band The Dubliners in 1962. The Irish Post and other commentators have regarded Kelly, known for his distinctive singing style and sometimes political messages, as one of Ireland's greatest folk singers.[1]

  1. ^ Senan James Fox (30 January 2014). "Remembering Luke Kelly 30 years on". The Irish Post. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.