Johnny and Phil Cunningham reunite at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival

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Leading figures in Scottish traditional music, brothers Phil and Johnny Cunningham were founders of the seminal 1970s band Silly Wizard and the 1980s supergroup Relativity. Born in Portobello near Edinburgh, Phil is a legendary accordionist, Johnny an extraordinary fiddler. Both also gained renowned as composers and entertainers—banter and storytelling being as central to their performances as their astounding playing. They hadn't performed together in eleven years before reuniting for this concert of songs and stories at the 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Sadly, Johnny passed away unexpectedly a few months after the Festival.

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Smithsonian Folkways
• Johnny Cunningham
• Phil Cunningham
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival
• musicians
• Scottish Traditional Music

[Brennna]

Fantastic! :)

[checkpointscotland]

music was brilliant, & the speed which it was played is something else...your brother, like you Phil, were born with music to be remembered....I'll never forget Johnny's...bet your so proud of him!!!

[trumpd52]

Fairy Dance. Great song.

[snarlacarla]

I love Celtic music, as do many Jews! We have had to deal with anti-semitism right up till the moment and i'm never getting on an ill-repaired airplane, which I am sure most of them are.

[caithness7]

So totally brilliant - I'm so glad I found this. Brilliant storytelling and music as always.

[1956biteme]

I spent a lost weekend with Johnny at The Old Songs Music and Dance Festival in Altamont NY back in the 80s. Truly a loss both as a musician and a wonderful human being.

[stix2you1]

Fantastic! What talent. Proud to be Scottish,

[DaveH001]

What a pleasure to see these giants playing together. The music these two brothers created over many years is a treasure.  I'm so glad the Smithsonian recorded them and posted it here on YouTube.