Leahy

Leahy
Belonging from Lakefield, Ontario, Canada, Leahy a Folk Music Group comprises of eight out of eleven siblings of the Leahy Family. The Leahy family has its roots set in Ireland, from where the ancestor of the Family Michael Leahy migrated to Canada along with his Irish Musical Tradition and settled in Lakefield in1825.

Music ran in the family and each of the Leahy band members learned how to play fiddle from their father Frank, while their mother Julie, who was a champion step dancer from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia taught them how to play piano, sing and dance.

In their early ages the siblings used to perform at local fairs and festival during their breaks from farm work and school and from there they earned their initial recognition.

They received more exposure when a documentary titled Leahy: Music Most of All won an Academy Award in 1985 for being the Best Foreign Student Film.

The line up of the band has never stable, and it keeps on changing depending upon the availability of its band members. Under the titled of The Leahy Family, they recorded a number of LPs which they sol at their live performances during late 1980s till early 1990s and apart from that the group was repeatedly hosted by the Big Valley Jamboree Concerts in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The name Leahy was introduced for the band for the first time in 1997 when they commenced their recording of their instrumental album titled Leahy.

Although the album was comprised of instrumental tracks only but the band added their vocals during their live performances. The albums that followed Leahy comprised both of vocal and instrumental tracks.

The vocals for the group are usually provided by the female band members. The group members are not only skilled instrumentalists but also skilled dancers. Apart from featuring expert fiddle players, the female band members also perform their step dancing routines during their live performances.

Even though the band was in the music business since quite some time but their album Leahy was considered their mainstream debut which is why they were awarded with two Juno Awards for Best New Group and for Best Instrumental Artist in 1998.

Also in the same year the group performed as an opening act for Shania Twains 1998 Come on Over Tour. The group also performed Twains song Dont Be Stupid (You Know I Love You) with her in Live and The Specials, a television special from the tour.

Like Natalie MacMaster, Leahy is also known for giving exciting live performances and keeps the audiences entertained with their exquisite step dance routines, toe tapping tunes, instrumental capabilities and captivating Celtic and country music.

All of the eight band members are extremely skilled and the oldest group member Donnell Leahy is undoubtedly the best fiddle player in the world. Due to their immense popularity, they were hand picked by Shania Twain once again to perform as an opening act to her 1999 World Tour.