Sean Cannon was born on the 29th November 1940, in Claddagh, Galway to James Cannon, a postmaster and Kathleen Byrne. He has a sister, Eileen. His father played the fiddle and his mother listened to John Mccormack on the grammophone, and he was surrounded by music at a young age. In 1955, he came to England to start a painting and decorating business, but soon moved to Reusten, near Tubingen in Germany, and lived in a hostel on the Rhine. In 1962, he purchased his first guitar, and the first song he ever learnt was "On The Swabian Railway". He later learnt songs and chords out of The Clancy Brothers Songbook. He is multilingual and can speak over 8 languages (including Latin). In 1963, he moved to Spain for a short while, and he lived with another Dubliners member, Ronnie Drew, and became a teacher of English to priveliged children. In 1964, he moved back to Europe, and effectively became a rambler. In 1967, he came back to England; specifically Coventry, and he started a band, The Gaels. The Gaels recorded one album before disbanding.
It was around this time that Sean decided to became solo, and he became a travelling folk singer all around England. He had a wide variety of songs (ranging from old love ballads to comical songs and lilting), and he travelled all around England in a Morris Minor to go to folk clubs and play. Soon, Sean becoming acquainted with such legends of folk music as Joe Heaney, Seamus Ennis and Luke Kelly. At this time as well, Sean converted a caravan and sold what he called "Kinetic Curries" at various folk festivals in England. This is mentioned in the Christy Moore song "Lisdoonvarna". In 1974, he recorded his first album "Woes of War", and in 1977, another "The Roving Journeyman" followed. In 1979, he recorded another album called "Erin The Green", and he became a distinguished folk singer for his gentle, sweet, lyrical voice along with his genial and funny stage prescence.
Around this time, in 1979, Sean was touring with the folk band, Planxty, and Luke Kelly in The Dubliners became ill with a brain tumour. Unable to perform all the time, Sean Cannon was called up by The Dubliners and asked to perform with them. Initially audiences were skeptical about Sean Cannon, but he soon became a valued member of the group. In 1984, Luke Kelly died and Sean Cannon took his place. Sean is known for many comical songs (The Waterford Boys, The Sick Note, The Pool Song), litling, and Gaelic songs (Peggy Lettermore, Fainne Gael an Lae, Cill Cais) and also rousing renditions of the clasics.
After The Dubliners ended in 2012, Sean became part of The Dublin Legends, and has toured with them ever since. And even at the grand old age of 85, he still entertains audiences, plays and sings for them, and still records occasional albums and songs as well.
Sean is a polished polyglot, and is able to speak over 7 languages. His is fluent in English, German, French, Gaelic and Spanish, and is also able to converse (to varying degrees) in Dutch, Hungarian, Italian, Russian and even Latin. When he's not on tour, he is probably found with his head buried in a dictionary! Sean also has an interest in opera and poetry, and even has a painting of Robert Burns in his living room!
Sean is divorced and lives in Coventry. He has 2 sons, James and Robert, who he occasionally tours with as "The Cannons."
Instruments
These Are The Instruments Sean Plays
Discography
Guest Spots