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 Johnny
McGreevy (1919 - 1990) was a lifelong Chicagoan and a lifetime member of the Irish Musicians
Association of America and later the Irish Musicians Association of Chicago. He could
argumentatively be called the greatest fiddler born in Chicago.
His gift of memory was astonishing. Johnny could play anything he heard and never forgot
a tune once he learned it. As a master of the Sligo style, he often taught in Ireland
for Willie Clancy Week.
 Two of Chicago's (and America's)
most venerated musicians,Johnny on fiddle and uilleann piper Joe Shannon recorded on
Green Linnet records, "The Noonday Feast", loaded with rare, unusual, and
always beautiful tunes.
Johnny could dredge up old piping tunes that he had since the 1930's when Chicago was
full of uilleann pipers. Johnny's was genuinely one of the nicest people you would ever
meet. His good naturedness endeared him to generations of musicians whereverhe went.
Johnny had a unique way of expressing himself, often exclaiming his famous "Oh
Golly!"
Terence McKinney and Johnny McGreevy in motorhome travelling
up to the Calumet Opera House in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, February, 1984. |
Jimmy Thornton, Johnny McGreevy, Una McGlew, Terence McKinney
and Tim Clifford (accordian) practicing for the Calumet gig. |
Johnny...frozen in Calumet. |
The McGreevy Clan accepts the Hall of Fame award, October 27,
2003. |
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