John J. Kimmel (13 December 1866 – 18 September 1942[1][2]) was a German-American musician known for playing Irish, Scottish, and American music on the 1-row diatonic accordion (or melodeon).[3][4] Though not Irish-American, but rather German-American (born in Brooklyn to German immigrants Margaretha Schmidt and John Kimmel), Kimmel's playing had an enduring effect on the playing of the Irish accordion.[5]
Kimmel's career stretched roughly from 1904 to 1920,[6] largely in New York City.[citation needed] His earliest recordings, done on Edison Wax Cylinder, were around 1906.[7] Kimmel's works often appeared under the name Kimmble,[1] and he was known to bill himself as the Irish Dutchman (cf. Deutsch).[8] He made electrical recordings in 1928 for Victor and on Edison Diamond Discs.