History

Diane Taraz has a silken, crystal-clear voice perfectly suited for beautiful traditional and original songs. Her clarity ensures that listeners can understand every word, a luxury that audiences appreciate. She can also belt out a sea chantey or a millworker's song, leading other band members in rich harmonies. Diane is an award-winning songwriter who loves to create songs about fascinating historic events, particularly those that involve women. Visit her website, Raisin Pie Music, at dianetaraz.com.

Owen Hartford, co-founder of the Gloucester Hornpipe & Clog Society, lives in Milton, MA. For many years he was a member of the Providence Mandolin Orchestra, and an international award-winning composer for mandolin ensembles and orchestras. He is also a photographer and videographer. His photography, video, graphic design and publications appear at bluehillsmedia.com

Jonathan Gilbert's wooden flute dates from the 1830s: it's the Irish flute's 19th-century ancestor!  With a background in historical music and years of experience locally as a dance musician, he can also switch to mandolin or fiddle, whistle or recorder, guitar, bass, or bodhrán—and fill out a song with baritone harmony.  

Andrea Mori is an active musician for Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, teaching at their Boston Music School at Harvard and Boston College. She also teaches Tin Whistle classes at the Irish Cultural Centre of New England. She co-leads an Irish session at The Snug in Hingham Center on Monday nights from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, and she is the founder and director of The New Boston Ceili Band, a group of a dozen talented teenagers who perform in the greater Boston area.

Gareth is a UK fingerstyle guitarist whose repertoire ranges over raw delta blues, sweet jazz classics, lighthearted American music hall gems and original compositions. His CD release 'Candy Man' with Lance Bennett captures the magic of live performance, which intrigues and delights our listeners. See http://www.westernweb.co.uk/garethhedges/.

After returning from several years living in Taiwan, Jeremy attended the 2019 Reunion concert and sang two terrific songs.

Kevin teaches Uilllean (Irish) pipes at the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Boston Music School at Harvard University.

Laura plays the flute in Tinton Falls, NJ. She is also a member of the Greater Shore Concert Band of Monmouth County, NJ

Lynn has been an educator at Lesley University and is a documentary film maker.

Ralph plays accordion and concertina, and hails from Winthrop, MA. Formerly with the Boogaloo Swamis, now with the Squeezebox Stompers. 

Susan is a soapmaker extraordinaire from Greenfield, MA.

Fiddler Tim and his wife Patty founded Denver's oldest continuously running traditional Irish music sesiun (time and place at  thesession.org). They were 2/5ths of "Last Night's Fun," a premier Denver traditional Irish band.

Betsy Gerber Hartford

In Memorium

Betsey Gerber was an original member of the band, married to  Owen Hartford in Milton, MA. Betsy wrote the libretto for the mini-opera, The Frog Prince. 

Jim Gleason

In Memorium

Flutist Jim Gleason from Holliston, MA led a session Tuesday nights at Stone's Public House in Ashland, MA. He also played and recorded as a member of  the Stoneybatter band. 

Louise Kennedy

In Memorium

Louise  (1923 - 2008) was the person who managed the unmanageable (the band) and booked us for many years. She  was a folk music and folk dancing fan, and loved Irish music and all  things French. She was a person with a mind of her own, and not  afraid to take risks, which is why she was perfectly suited for the  Gloucester Hornpipe and Clog Society. 

Patty Shinehouse

In Memorium

Patty died of cancer on July 27, 2000, at the age of 43. From Bryn Mawr, PA, Patty was a professor of flute at Drake University, PA. Obituary

Susan Zimelis

In Memorium

 In 1996 we lost our dear friend and superb hammered-dulcimer player, Susan Zimelis, to leukemia. Throughout her illness, music was a comfort to her, a soothing balm to her family and friends, and an inspiration to the many musicians who filled her hospital room day and night, playing the tunes she loved most. 

Vincent Vito

In Memorium

Vinny Vito was an original band member, in 1976.