Joanie Madden

Joanie Madden was born in the Bronx to Irish parents, her mother is from County Clare, and her father, Joe, was a renowned accordion player and bandleader from County Galway. As the top-selling whistle player in history, Joanie has sold over 500,000 solo albums. With 24 albums and contributions to over 200 recordings including three Grammy-winning projects—her music resonates with audiences worldwide. Joanie has shared the stage with luminaries such as Pete Seeger, Sinead O’Connor, Vince Gill, Don Henley, David Gray, Steve Earle, The Boston Pops and Tommy Emmanuel. Joanie's accolades are extensive, including recognition in Irish America Magazine's Top 100 Irish Americans, being named Traditional Musician of the Year by the Irish Voice, and she has a street named in her honor in the Bronx. She received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor and became the first Irish musician to win the USA Artist Fellowship, acknowledging her as one of America’s most innovative and influential artists. In 2021 she was a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship and received the “Spirit of Ireland” Award from New York’s Irish Arts Center . In 2024 she was inducted into the esteemed Irish American Hall of Fame, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Irish-American leaders. For 40 years, she has been the leader and driving force behind one of the most successful Irish music ensembles in history, Cherish the Ladies.