November 17th , 1939
Luke Kelly, the renowned Irish folk singer and founding member of The Dubliners, was born on November 17, 1940, in Dublin, Ireland.
Born into a working-class household in Dublin city, Kelly moved to England in his late teens and by his early 20s had become involved in a folk music revival.
He played a significant role in popularizing traditional Irish music and left a lasting legacy as one of the leading figures in the folk music scene.
Luke Kelly’s distinctive voice and his contributions to songs like “The Rocky Road to Dublin,” “Dirty Old Town,” and “Raglan Road” have made him an iconic figure in Irish music history. The Dubliners, formed in the early 1960s, became one of the most influential folk bands, and Luke Kelly’s passionate and soulful singing was a key element of their success.
Luke Kelly passed away on January 30, 1984, but his impact on Irish folk music endures, and his contributions are remembered and celebrated by fans of traditional and folk music worldwide.
