The Chieftains started in Dublin, Ireland, in November 1962, introducing the world to the timeless sounds of traditional Irish music.

Throughout the years, the band performed with countless established rock and jazz music stars including Sting, The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor, Natalie Merchant, Diana Krall, Art Garfunkel and Tom Jones.

In 1983, The chieftains became the first group to ever perform on the Great Wall of China and in 1989 were named Ireland's Musical Ambassador, the highest honor to be given to a group.

Although their early following was purely a folk audience, the range and variation of their music very quickly captured a much broader public, resulting in their present fame worldwide. "We didn't go to college to learn this music," says group founder, Paddy Moloney, about their music. "It was passed on to us through our families, from our fathers and our grandparents. I was fortunate to have this music be such an important part of my life. It was like learning a language. It came naturally to me."

The group earned their latest Grammy in 1998 for Best Traditional Folk Album for Long Journey Home. Their score for Stanley Kubrick's 1995 movie Barry Lyndon won them the Oscar, while they received an Emmy for their music in the play Playboy of the Western World. Besides 'live' performances and music, The Chieftains have also composed the scores for other Hollywood movies such as Rob Roy, Circle of Friends and Far and Away.

The Chieftains are:

Paddy Moloney on the Uilleann pipes and tin whistles

Derek Bell on the harp, piano, oboe and tiompán

Kevin Conneff on bodhrán and vocals

Seán Keane on the fiddle

Matt Molloy on the flute.

In 2003, the CD Further Down the Old Plank Road continued the groundbreaking collaboration between The Chieftains and some of country and bluegrass music's most original and influential artists, celebrating the Irish roots of American country and folk idioms.  Featured on the album are artists including Carlene Carter, Rosanne Cash, Allison Moorer, Nickel Creek, and Jerry Douglas. [Read the CD review, The Chieftains Go Further Down the Old Plank Road].

Official Web Site: www.thechieftains.com

Further Down the Old Plank Road (Arista/BMG, 2003)