www.johnwhelanmusic.com
This year represents my 50th anniversary of playing traditional Irish music. My passion for Irish culture and music is still as strong as ever. I am eternally grateful to all of the wonderful people and musicians who I have met along the way and appreciate the great opportunity to write music that has been performed and recorded all over the world. It gives me such joy and is very humbling to hear my music being played by others. Thank you.
With this project, I will compile the tunes that I have composed over the years, creating what I hope will be a legacy for my children and a lasting contribution to the world of Irish traditional music. The music book will be accompanied by a CD of my melodies. The book will also include descriptions of the tunes, their history, and the stories behind them.
I will also produce a new CD with other artists who are steeped in the tradition and paving their own path. The new CD will reflect the love I have for the music and the accordion. I am excited to have an opportunity to work with artists I have long admired. For the last few years I have been presenting my music regularly through my Facebook live broadcast called Monday nights with John. I am grateful for the support I get each Monday, and look forward to capturing that joy, love, and comradery with these proposed projects.
None of this would have been possible without the support of many people who I have encountered along the way. I am proud of my work to date, most of which was made possible by Narada, a wonderful record label that also embraced my vision. Alas, the recording industry has changed and along with many other record labels of the past, Narada is no more. Thus, here I am for the first time in my solo career asking you, my dear friends and fans, to help make these projects possible.
For those of you who happen upon this and don’t know me, here is a little background. I was born in London to Irish parents, my Father Denis is from Blackwater, County Wexford, and my Mother Mary from Ballingarry, Thurles, County Tipperary. At the age of 11 my parents bought me a beautiful button accordion and so the journey began. It was obviously a good choice as I took to it right away and spent most of my waking hours practicing. Soon after that I won the first of many Fleadhs and went on to record The Pride of Wexford, my first of nearly 15 CDS. When I landed in America in 1980, I was immediately embraced by the wonderful community of musicians living in and around New York and it wasn’t long before I started to perform with Andy McGann, Brian Conway and Eileen Ivers to name a few. In 1987 Eileen and I recorded an album called Fresh Takes which was highly regarded at the time. Over the next few years I collaborated with Pat Kilbride, Steve Missal, Richard Lindsey, and Kinny Landrum in the Kips Bay Ceili Band. We recorded two very successful CDs with Green Linnet Records. It was while recording the second CD that I signed a five CD deal with Narada. One of these CDs, Celtic Crossroads, rose in the Billboard World Music Album charts to No. 5. It was during this busy time that I composed most of my music, some of which was used in TV and film. I went on to produce, Gaelic Storm’s Herding Cats CD, a CD for wonderful sea chanty group from Connecticut called Shipping News, and two CDs for Blackthorn, a wildly successful band in Philadelphia. PA.
Most people don’t know that at age 15 I went to trade school, and I have spent most of my life working in the trades. Balancing two completely different careers has not been easy, but I do love working with my hands. After a brief illness some years ago, I went out and got a small benchtop lathe, thinking it would be good to keep myself occupied while recuperating. I love the creative process. Like music I took to wood turning right away. This is why I will be offering hand-made pens and wine bottle stoppers as premiums in the funding process.I have been talking about these projects for some time and have already started them but now its time to get serious. For a long time i had the resources available to produce and record good quality cd's and as you all know that all changed as the music business model moved to streaming and most record labels went away. So we are left to our own devises and that is why I need your help. The good news is that help comes with rewards and in turn we all win. This is a huge undertaking and so I ask you to consider taking a look and see if there is a way to join my team and help me to continue providing quality music and enjoyment to all my fans and friends. I know this is a busy time with Thanksgiving next week and Christmas around the corner but I'm counting on my Mondays with John fans and all of you who have enjoyed my music over the years. Thank you.
Here are some samples of my playing with some of my dear friends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14MFdUzDHrg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXaRc0YKhI4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8teIYGfd5Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lff4uqTpRsc
For a pledge of $15 you will receive a digital download of cd not associated with the music book and a personal note of thanks from me.
For a pledge of $25 you will receive a digital download of both CDs, as well as a personalized note of thanks from me.
For a pledge of $75 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums, plus signed copies of both CDs.
For a pledge of $125 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums, plus a signed copy of the tune book.
For a pledge of $175 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums, plus a one-of-a-kind handmade John Whelan pen.
For a pledge of $300 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums, plus a one-of-a-kind, handmade John Whelan bottle stopper.
For a pledge of $1000 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums as well as a tune written for you and your name in the CD “thank you” credits.
For a pledge of $2000 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums plus free concert tickets and an invitation to one of the CD recording sessions.
For a pledge $4000 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums, plus a free house concert at your home anywhere in the US.
Budget
This budget reflects an estimate of what the project will cost. Or course, the costs may have to be adjusted as the project progresses.
Tune Book
Book cover and design$2500
Transcribing $2000
Printing$4000
Companion CD
Compiling and remastering$2000
Liner notes and cover design$1500
Pressing and printing$1500
New CD
Studio time$5000
Mixing$3000
Mastering $3000
Musicians fees$5000
Liner notes and cover design $1500
Miscellaneous expenses (airfare, etc)$2000
Pressing and printing$1500
Total `````` $34,500
This year represents my 50th anniversary of playing traditional Irish music. My passion for Irish culture and music is still as strong as ever. I am eternally grateful to all of the wonderful people and musicians who I have met along the way and appreciate the great opportunity to write music that has been performed and recorded all over the world. It gives me such joy and is very humbling to hear my music being played by others. Thank you.
With this project, I will compile the tunes that I have composed over the years, creating what I hope will be a legacy for my children and a lasting contribution to the world of Irish traditional music. The music book will be accompanied by a CD of my melodies. The book will also include descriptions of the tunes, their history, and the stories behind them.
I will also produce a new CD with other artists who are steeped in the tradition and paving their own path. The new CD will reflect the love I have for the music and the accordion. I am excited to have an opportunity to work with artists I have long admired. For the last few years I have been presenting my music regularly through my Facebook live broadcast called Monday nights with John. I am grateful for the support I get each Monday, and look forward to capturing that joy, love, and comradery with these proposed projects.
None of this would have been possible without the support of many people who I have encountered along the way. I am proud of my work to date, most of which was made possible by Narada, a wonderful record label that also embraced my vision. Alas, the recording industry has changed and along with many other record labels of the past, Narada is no more. Thus, here I am for the first time in my solo career asking you, my dear friends and fans, to help make these projects possible.
For those of you who happen upon this and don’t know me, here is a little background. I was born in London to Irish parents, my Father Denis is from Blackwater, County Wexford, and my Mother Mary from Ballingarry, Thurles, County Tipperary. At the age of 11 my parents bought me a beautiful button accordion and so the journey began. It was obviously a good choice as I took to it right away and spent most of my waking hours practicing. Soon after that I won the first of many Fleadhs and went on to record The Pride of Wexford, my first of nearly 15 CDS. When I landed in America in 1980, I was immediately embraced by the wonderful community of musicians living in and around New York and it wasn’t long before I started to perform with Andy McGann, Brian Conway and Eileen Ivers to name a few. In 1987 Eileen and I recorded an album called Fresh Takes which was highly regarded at the time. Over the next few years I collaborated with Pat Kilbride, Steve Missal, Richard Lindsey, and Kinny Landrum in the Kips Bay Ceili Band. We recorded two very successful CDs with Green Linnet Records. It was while recording the second CD that I signed a five CD deal with Narada. One of these CDs, Celtic Crossroads, rose in the Billboard World Music Album charts to No. 5. It was during this busy time that I composed most of my music, some of which was used in TV and film. I went on to produce, Gaelic Storm’s Herding Cats CD, a CD for wonderful sea chanty group from Connecticut called Shipping News, and two CDs for Blackthorn, a wildly successful band in Philadelphia. PA.
Most people don’t know that at age 15 I went to trade school, and I have spent most of my life working in the trades. Balancing two completely different careers has not been easy, but I do love working with my hands. After a brief illness some years ago, I went out and got a small benchtop lathe, thinking it would be good to keep myself occupied while recuperating. I love the creative process. Like music I took to wood turning right away. This is why I will be offering hand-made pens and wine bottle stoppers as premiums in the funding process.I have been talking about these projects for some time and have already started them but now its time to get serious. For a long time i had the resources available to produce and record good quality cd's and as you all know that all changed as the music business model moved to streaming and most record labels went away. So we are left to our own devises and that is why I need your help. The good news is that help comes with rewards and in turn we all win. This is a huge undertaking and so I ask you to consider taking a look and see if there is a way to join my team and help me to continue providing quality music and enjoyment to all my fans and friends. I know this is a busy time with Thanksgiving next week and Christmas around the corner but I'm counting on my Mondays with John fans and all of you who have enjoyed my music over the years. Thank you.
Here are some samples of my playing with some of my dear friends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14MFdUzDHrg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXaRc0YKhI4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8teIYGfd5Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lff4uqTpRsc
For a pledge of $15 you will receive a digital download of cd not associated with the music book and a personal note of thanks from me.
For a pledge of $25 you will receive a digital download of both CDs, as well as a personalized note of thanks from me.
For a pledge of $75 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums, plus signed copies of both CDs.
For a pledge of $125 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums, plus a signed copy of the tune book.
For a pledge of $175 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums, plus a one-of-a-kind handmade John Whelan pen.
For a pledge of $300 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums, plus a one-of-a-kind, handmade John Whelan bottle stopper.
For a pledge of $1000 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums as well as a tune written for you and your name in the CD “thank you” credits.
For a pledge of $2000 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums plus free concert tickets and an invitation to one of the CD recording sessions.
For a pledge $4000 you will receive all the previously mentioned premiums, plus a free house concert at your home anywhere in the US.
Budget
This budget reflects an estimate of what the project will cost. Or course, the costs may have to be adjusted as the project progresses.
Tune Book
Book cover and design$2500
Transcribing $2000
Printing$4000
Companion CD
Compiling and remastering$2000
Liner notes and cover design$1500
Pressing and printing$1500
New CD
Studio time$5000
Mixing$3000
Mastering $3000
Musicians fees$5000
Liner notes and cover design $1500
Miscellaneous expenses (airfare, etc)$2000
Pressing and printing$1500
Total `````` $34,500
Organizer
