Michael Cooney (musician)

Michael Cooney
Born
Michael B. Cooney

(1943-01-19)January 19, 1943 (age 82)
Carmel, California
GenresFolk, Blues
InstrumentsVocals, guitars, banjos, ukulele, concertina, harmonica, Jew’s harp, nose-flute, pennywhistle
LabelsFolk Legacy, Front Hall Records, Alliance Records, Cove Haven Records
Websitemichaelcooney.com

Michael B. Cooney (born January 19, 1943; Carmel, California)[1] is an American folk and blues musician who performed during the folk music revival from the 1960s onward. He is known for his blues performances as well as for performing at, and organizing, many folk festivals. In 1963, he participated in a "Young Folksinger's Contest" at the Monterey Folk Festival; Barbara Dane was the contest judge and another contest participant was Janis Joplin.

Cooney was the featured musical guest on a first-season episode of Sesame Street (episode 33, originally aired December 24, 1969). He performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival 23 times from 1967 to 2001.[2]

Most of the material that Cooney recorded were his arrangements of traditional songs. Many recording musicians copyright their arrangements of older songs in order to receive "author" royalties. But when Cooney did this, according to a note on his "Singer of Old Songs" album, he donated his royalties to the Folksong Archives at the Library of Congress.

Cooney served on the boards of the Newport Folk Festival and also the National Folk Festival.[3]

Discography

Solo

  • The Cheese Stands Alone (Folk Legacy FSI-35, 1968; available from Smithsonian Folkways) Many cuts available on YouTube
  • Singer of Old Songs (Front Hall FHR-07, 1975)
  • Still Cooney After All These Years (Front Hall FHR-016, 1979)
  • Pure Unsweetened (live) (Alliance Records AR-001, 1982)
  • Singer Of Old Songs...Still Cooney After All These Years (Front Hall FHR-304CD, 2001) (compilation of FHR-07 and FHR-016)
  • Together Again (Cove Haven Records CHRCD001, 2002)

With The New Golden Ring

  • Five Days Singing, Volume I (Folk Legacy) (FSI-41, 1971) (CD-41, 1996)
  • Five Days Singing, Volume II (Folk Legacy) (FSI-42, 1971) (CD-42, 1996)

References

  1. ^ "Michael Cooney - Biographical Notes". Michael Cooney. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Previous Lineups - Philadelphia Folk Festival". Philadelphia Folk Festival. Philadelphia Folksong Society. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  3. ^ Dunaway, David. Singing Out : An Oral History of America's Folk Music Revivals, p. 203 (Oxford University Press 2010).


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