Cathie Ryan - The Farthest Wave (2005)

Although born in Detroit, MI, singer Cathie Ryan is the daughter of Irish immigrants. Picking up her love of music from her family (her father is a tenor vocalist, while her grandmother was a fiddler and singer), Ryan would often visit relatives in Ireland, and attended Gaelic league sessions. After moving to New York, Ryan began studying with renowned sean-nós singer Joe Heaney, and in 1987, joined the Irish traditional women's ensemble, Cherish the Ladies (her talents were immediately felt in the group as she penned the title song to the group's second release, 1992's The Back Door, as a tribute to Irish immigrants), remaining a member for seven years. After leaving Cherish the Ladies in 1995, Ryan launched a solo career, signing with the Shanachie label, who issued her self-titled solo debut in 1997, following it up with such further releases as The Music of What Happens in 1998, and Somewhere Along the Road in 2001. Ryan has enjoyed numerous accolades during her career, including being named Irish Female Vocalist of the Decade by the Irish American News in Chicago, while the New York Daily News said Ryan is "firmly in the upper echelons of Irish music singers." In addition to her singing career, Ryan is one of the hosts of pledge programming on New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut's PBS, WNET, Channel 13, as well as co-leading tours to mythological sites in Ireland for the New York Center for Jungian Studies. ~ Greg Prato