LEAHY

An awe-inspiring eight-member brother and sister act are a triple threat of fiddle-driven music, dance and vocals augmented by keyboards and percussion who leave onlookers breathless from the moment they hit the stage. The intoxicating energy that drives LEAHY connects them to the audience with genuine, spontaneous and spectacular passion and excitement. At the center of this exceptional group is the oldest brother Donnell who is internationally proclaimed as one of the best fiddle players on the planet. There is a dynamic that takes place with Donnell, live or on record, that connects eight different musicians and the audience with genuine, spontaneous and spectacular energy and excitement.
The raven-haired Leahy Clan grew up in Lakefield, Ontario. Ancestor Michael Leahy settled there in 1825 from Ireland and brought with him a deep family musical tradition. Each of the Leahy children learned to play fiddle from their father, while their mother, a champion step-dancer born and raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, taught them to sing, dance and play piano.

As teenagers on break from school or farm work, the siblings gained popularity touring as the "Leahy Family," traveling across Canada to play at fairs and festivals. Their recognition increased with the release of a student documentary about the family entitled "Leahy: Music Most of All". The film won an Academy Award in 1985 for Best Foreign Student Film.

In 1996, the group burst onto the Canadian recording scene with the release of their debut self-titled CD. Subsequent touring earned LEAHY a total of three Juno Awards - as Best Instrumental Group and Best New Group in 1997, and an award for Best Country Group or Duo in 1998.

It was on the Juno Award telecast when LEAHY'S live performance was seen by pop/country star Shania Twain, who invited the group to join her upcoming two-year worldwide tour. LEAHY was instantaneously catapulted into an international spotlight, performing in stadiums and amphitheatres, were they were rewarded with standing ovations each and every night.LEAHY played 175 tour dates with Twain and appeared on her two major US television network specials.