Biography

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That's me on the banjo followed by Andy Kuhns,

Don Sheppard, Jeff Carter and Greg Carter     

photo courtesy of Kara Sheppard

Don Sheppard, Jeff Carter and I began a Wednesday night tradition that would go unbroken for two years.


Every Wednesday night we would meet at the White Horse Inn in Champaign, Il and drink ourselves into singing mood.


Every night about 9:30 we would begin singing Irish songs in the beer garden without instruments.  Some people would start to stare and others (the majority) would cheer us on.  That's when we decided that we should become a band. That's when we became

The Irish Alkies.


A little while after that, I moved to Troy, MI where I pursued a solo career in Irish Entertainment.  I made a lot of good friends and learned a lot from people like Terry Murphy, who plays regularly at the Tipperary Pub in Detroit..


In February 2000, I joined up with Brendan McNulty for the St. Patrick's Day season.  Brendan is a very accomplished harmonica and mandolin player and after a successful St. Paddy's Day season we decided to stay together.  We were fortunate enough to engage the talents of Alan Mead and we became Another Pint.  I enjoyed playing with these two excellent musicians, but things can't always last and I have no regrets.


After that I joined up with Rick McMurray who produced my CD "Kelly Griner & The Shamrock Shore: It's All For Me Beer And Tobacco".  I enjoyed being with his band so much that we joined up and have had a great time. 


Now back in Chicago, I have teamed up with "The Colonel" Rob O'Connor, Angel Tuider and Nik Staller to form the most exciting Irish band in Chicago


Check out our website and come see us some time.



Slainte!

The Irish Alkies started as three college students in Illinois playing Irish songs for fun

This is one of the last photos taken of us as a band. From left to right in the back row:  Andy Kuhns, Don Sheppard, Kelly Griner,  middle row: Greg Carter, Paul McCahill (the drinks master)  and the

irrepressible Jeff Carter

Rassilon Records

To contact us:

(630) 783-1747

rassilon.records@attbi.com