The Dubliners' Ronnie Drew Dies 2008-08-16 by Dave de Sylvia EMERITUS | 4 Comments | Ronnie Drew, the iconic founder of Irish folk institution The Dubliners, has died aged 73.
Drew died on Saturday afternoon following a long battle with an unnamed illness, believed to be a recurrence of the throat cancer he had beaten in 2005. He died peacefully in his sleep with his family by his side. His wife Deirdre, who nursed him through his battle with cancer, died last year.
In 1962, Drew came together with singer Luke Kelly to form the Dubliners, a group influenced as much by the burgeoning folk scene in Britain as they were Irish traditional music. Upon Kelly's departure for a solo career in 1964, Drew became the de facto leader, and his gravelly baritone would become the defining feature of the band's music for over four decades.
Tributes have poured in for one of Ireland's most beloved musical icons, with Taoiseach Brian Cowen offering the following words: "I met him and admired his music, his unique singing voice was loved by so many people. Ronnie, whether as part of The Dubliners or during his solo career, will also be remembered for his promotion of Irish music both at home and around the world. He bore his illness with bravery and will be sadly missed."
U2 singer Bono added his voice to the chorus of tributes with the following website posting: “Music to inspire, to console... an optimism that was contagious... that’s what U2 took from The Dubliners. Ronnie has left his earthly tour for one of the heavens... they need him up there... it’s a little too quiet and pious.
“God is lonely for a voice louder than His own.”
In 2007, a group of Drew's friends and followers, led by Bono, gathered together to record the tribute song 'The Ballad Of Ronnie Drew,' the proceeds of which went to cancer research. Appearing on the track were members of U2, Republic Of Loose, Shane MacGowan, Glen Hansard, Sinead O'Connor and Bob Geldof, amongst others.
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Tagged: Ronnie Drew
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Rest in peace.
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this is really deppressing
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nice office quote.
r.i.p. though
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A lot of famous people are dying, it sucks
Rest in Pieces
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