Composer of 'Katy Daly' honoured

Tomorrow, 30 June, at the Cityfolk Festival in Dayton, the Ohio Arts Council will present the 2007 Ohio Heritage Fellowship Award for Performing Arts to Paul 'Moon' Mullins - fiddler, broadcaster, and composer in 1962 of the bluegrass standard 'Katy Daly', which has been popular in Ireland (of course) ever since.

The award goes every year to those still active in their field, 'whose achievements have had a positive impact on the excellence, vitality and public appreciation of folk and traditional arts in Ohio', and who are judged on 'authenticity, artistic excellence and significance within the tradition of the performing art form'.

Born in 1936 in Frenchburg, Kentucky, Paul retired two years ago from nearly 45 years as a full-time broadcaster, with a unique regional status, which the IBMA recognised in 2000 by giving him a Distinguished Achievement Award and the Broadcaster of the Year Award. He also played important roles as a promoter; as a fiddler with bands including the Stanley Brothers (who gave him his first professional job in music), the Boys from Indiana, and the Traditional Grass; and as MC for Bill Monroe's festivals at Bean Blossom, Indiana. His son Joe, one of the finest traditional bluegrass banjo players of recent years, follows in his footsteps as a radio presenter.

More details and links can be found on the Bluegrass Blog.