Jim McCann (musician)

James "Jim" McCann (* 26 October 1944 in Dublin; † 5 March 2015) was an Irish entertainer and folk musician. He was a member of the Irish folk band The Dubliners from 1974 to 1979. For most of his career, however, he performed as a solo musician.

The beginnings

As a young man he began studying medicine at University College Dublin. He got into folk music during a summer holiday in Birmingham in 1964. He began performing in folk clubs in the region there and on his return to Dublin he joined the Ludlow Trio. The following year the band had a number one hit with their version of Dominic Behan's The Sea Around Us. A year later, the group broke up and McCann embarked on a solo career. It was during this time that he produced his first album, McCann. He later went on to work in theatre and make his first television appearance. The TV special Reflections of Jim McCann and the television series The MacCann Man were created at that time.

Time with the "Dubliners"

While filming The McCann Man, McCann met fellow folk musician Luke Kelly, who was a founding member of the folk band The Dubliners. The two then appeared on stage together in Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973. In 1974, Kelly asked Jim McCann to join The Dubliners to temporarily replace Ciarán Bourke, who was out due to illness. When Ronnie Drew left the band to start a solo career, Jim McCann became a permanent member of the band. At the end of 1979 McCann left the "Dubliners" again and continued to perform as a solo artist.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the "Dubliners" in 2002, he rejoined this band and went on tour with them. During this tour, the heavy smoker was diagnosed with throat cancer. The treatment seemed to be successful at the beginning, but Jim McCann lost his voice, with which he could sing soulful ballads and rough drinking songs.