Celtic Music: Golden Bough

Paul Espinoza's early musical influences were his mother, who used to sing American folk songs while working around the house, Hank Williams and Woody Guthrie. His first instrument was the accordion, but in his early teens he switched to guitar because, he writes, "The Beatles did not have an accordion player!" The Liverpool lads are his biggest influence, and discovering Bob Dylan convinced him he wanted to write his own songs. His interest in Celtic styles comes from discovering Scotland's Incredible String Band.

Espinoza and Margie Butler were part of a Bay Area quartet, The Everyman Gypsy Band for a few years before becoming a duo and settling in San Francisco. When they formed Golden Bough, they were joined by Lief Sorbye, violinist Margot Duxler and Simon Spaulding. They recorded their first album. This lineup remained together through 1980 and 1981. In early 1982, Paul, Margie and Lief toured as a trio, developing music for the next recording. Later that year they were joined by violinist Florie Brown.

Golden Bough toured the United States and Europe over the next few years and released four albums. Lief left the group in 1987 and formed Tempest, a Celtic-rock band. Flute player Richard Ferry joined the group in 1993 and played through 1996.

In 1992, Nina Black became Golden Bough's manager. She has handled bookings, created promotional materials, contributed artistic ideas and served as director on several projects. Nina has a degree in music and has done musical research and scored musical arrangements.

In 1997, Florie Brown left to raise a family and Alison Bailey replaced her until 1999. She was replaced in turn by Sue Draheim, who has performed and recorded with John Renbourn of Pentangle fame. After two years, Sue left to join Leif Sorbye in his band Tempest.

Kathy Sierra, Golden Bough's current violinist, joined the group in 2001. She majored in drama and music and has performed with orchestras in Hawaii and California as she developed her fiddle style. Her voice blends naturally with Paul's and Margie's and together they have a rich sound and a comfortable stage presence.

Golden Bough began playing in Europe on the streets and in small folk clubs in the early 1980s. Soon they were doing major European tours and had a recording contract with a top European folk label. In Europe they have been involved in peace marches, and events for human rights, religious freedom and drug rehabilitation. They've also performed for thousands of children in elementary schools.

Golden Bough's programs and recordings consist of traditional ballads, jigs, reels, sing-alongs, and their own compositions. Their acoustical instrument arsenal includes Celtic harp, penny-whistle, violin, octave-mandolin, mandolin, accordion, guitar, harmonica, recorder and bodhran.

Pirate Gold
1. The Reluctant Pirate
2. Pirate Gold
3. The Wind From the West
4. Captain Ward & the Rainbow/
Ned Coleman's
5. Shifty Morgan
6. Eanach Chúin/
Oró! sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile
7. Henry Martin
8. The Wild Barbary
9. Seafaring Men /
Three Sea Captains/One-Legged Man
10. Sea Queen of Connemara
11. The Bold Princess Royal/
Byrnes Hornpipe
12. The Sea Gypsy
13. Pillaging, Plundering Pirate

or the MP3 at CD Baby - Pirate Gold

Jug of Punch: Popular Irish Pub Songs
This is a solo album by Paul Espinoza.
1. The Real Old Mt. Dew/
Whiskey, You're the Devil
2. The Jug of Punch
3. The Irish Rover
4. The Rocky Road to Dublin/
The Butterfly
5. Courtin' in the Kitchen
6. Whiskey on a Sunday
7. Johnny McEldoo
8. Whiskey in the Jar
9. The Hiring Fair
10. The Spanish Lady/Stanton Island
11. Roisin The Bow
12. The Little Beggarman
13. Carrickfergus
14. The Mermaid

or the MP3 from CD Baby - Jug of Punch: Popular Irish Pub Songs

Christmas in a Celtic Land
1. Drive the Cold Winter Away
2. Christmas Bells
3. The O'Rourke's
4. Dear Joseph
5. Praise Midwinter
6. Ochiag Nollag
7. Green Grow'th the Holly
8. The Raddle Man
9. Christmas Morning
10. Mrs. Fogarty's Christmas Cake
11. A New Year Song
12. Il Est Ne
13. The Snow Storm
14. Bring Us a Bowl
15. Farewell on a Cold Winter's Day

or the MP3 from CD Baby - Christmas in a Celtic Land

Winter's Dance - A Celebration of the Season
1. Christmas Day in the Morning
2. The Holly and the Ivy
3. The First Noel/We Three Kings/What Child is This?
4. The Gloucestershire Wassail
5. Tomorrow is my Dancing Day
6. Det Va Den Heilage Jolekvell
7. Logs to Burn
8. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
9. Christmas Comes But Once A Year/Lord Mayo
10. One Bottle More/Humors of Winter/Apples in Winter
11. Down in Yon Forest
12. Lullaby/Ma Chaora Bhan (My White Lamb)
13. The Toymaker/Last Day of the Year
14. Please to see the King/The Cutty Wren

or the MP3 at CD Baby - Winter's Dance - A Celebration of the Season

Join Squidoo and create your own lenses. They're free and you might even make some money at it through affiliate marketing. Lenses are web pages, but the Squidoo folks call them lenses because the pages focus in on topics. Everyone's an expert on something. Music, humor, books, travel, food, wine, collectibles, sports, movies, photography -- anything that interests you probably interests someone else. Ready to start? CLICK HERE

Back to Top