Joe Burke (keyboardist)

Joe Burke (keyboardist)

Joe Burke (born 1939) is a noted Irish accordion player.

Joe Burke was born in Kilnadeema, south of Loughrea in Co Galway. He reportedly began playing at age four. In the fifties he bought an accordion in Waltons of Dublin for £5. He still owns it. He won the All-Ireland Senior Accordion Championship in Thurles in 1959 and again in 1960 in Boyle.

In 1955 he joined the Leitrim Ceile Band, which included players such as Ned Coleman, Oliver Roland, Sean McGlynn, Paddy Doorley, Jack Derven, and Mick Darcy. Later the band was joined by the legendary flute player Paddy Carty.

Burke continues to perform, and to influence accordion music, as one of Ireland's top accordion players. For example, he joined Cajun player Marc Savoy and jazz accordionist Art Van Damme, while representing Ireland at the 1989 and 1992 International Accordion Festivals, in Montmagny, Quebec.

A Manchester Frank Sinatra-soundalike singer also called "Joe Burke" is frequently confused with the accordion player, particularly on websites sellings CDs.