GLATT, John. The Chieftains. The Authorised Biography (Signed by The Chieftains; Paddy Moloney and Kevin Connef)

New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1997. First American edition. pp. [viii], 294. Brown cloth, titled in gilt on spine. Fine copy in near fine dust jacket (minor marking to upper panel).

Signed and inscribed on the title page by several members of The Chieftains, including Kevin Conneff, Matt Molloy, and one other, with the Irish greeting “Go Síoch!” in blue ink. Illustrated with sixteen pages of photographic plates showing the group’s performances, tours, and meetings with international figures.

This authorised biography charts the remarkable rise of The Chieftains from a group of traditional musicians in Dublin led by the late Paddy Moloney, to international ambassadors of Irish music. Glatt’s work, based on exclusive interviews and archival research, follows their journey through collaborations with artists such as Van Morrison and The Rolling Stones, and their influence in popularising Irish traditional music worldwide.

An appealing association copy, especially rare signed by members of the band.

[WR music]