Mance Grady

Mance Grady has amazed many with his mastery of the traditional Irish frame drum, the bodhran, as well as with his skills on other ethnic percussion. He is known for his finesse as an accompanist to a variety of artists from a multitude of musical genres including the more traditional Irish (Seamus Connolly, Paddy Keenan, Johnny Cunningham) to pop/rock (Freebo of Bonnie Raitt Band & Marty Walsh of Supertramp, etc.). Rhythm is the tie that binds us all which Mance has shown in workshops and clinics on the bodhran. Venues have ranged from schools to festivals, including the Berklee College of Music (where he shared the stage with Giovanni Hildago, Victor Mendoza and Horacio El Negro Hernandez) and ICONNS Music Festival. Mance has performed with a virtual who's who in the Celtic music genre in his 39-plus years as a Celtic percussionist. When not performing with specific bands, Mance continues to be a guest artist both in performances and in the recording studio. His organic feel for rhythm allows him to journey into different musical genres and he loves to bring the bodhran into new musical territory. Performances can be arranged to include other musicians in various configurations for such events as concert weddings, private parties, and corporate functions.

Mance has the distinction of being the "first" bodhran player awarded the title of Master Player and sanctioned by the N.E.A. to teach bodhran in the U.S. He has taught in schools, privately, and was a guest clinician at Berklee.