The Kelly Family: Brother, Brother

The Kelly Family were children of two American parents who traveled as vagabond musicians throughout Europe beginning in the 1970s. While they are immensely popular throughout the European continent, they are virtually unknown in the US. I found the Kelly Family by accident when I was looking for bouzouki music and found a recording by the youngest of the family – Angelo Kelly. The family is very close-knit and all are multi-instrumentalists.

Today’s Spiritual Sunday tune features the third from the youngest member of the band: Michael Patrick Kelly who is better known as Paddy Kelly. He is the only one of the 12 Kelly children who was born in Ireland.

The brother that sang "Brother, Brother" became a Brother.

From 2004 to this year, Paddy study theology at a monastery in Ireland where he took the monastic name of John Paul Mary. Paddy has left the order and is returning to music full-time.

My favorite part of the instrumentation of "Brother, Brother" is the chorus effect on the guitar. It just makes this song.

"Brother, Brother" was written for his family – especially the male members, but it can have significance for all of us. At the time the song was written, the band’s father Dan Kelly was still living. He died in 2002. The live recording below was recorded after Dan’s death.