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In 1958, Avoca issued Irish Violin, an LP recording of Brooklyn fiddler (and James Morrison protégé) Jackie Roche, as well as Irish Violin and Accordion, Roche’s collaboration with box player Timmy Cronin. These were the first LP-format discs of purely traditional Irish music recorded in the U.S., though many tracks were initially released as 78s or, for juke box use, 45 rpm discs. Roche also maintained a popular dance band in which saxophone, piano, drums joined his fiddle, Timmy Cronin’s accordion and Jack McKenna’s electric guitar with a repertoire that mixed foxtrots, quicksteps and waltzes with more traditional tunes.
