Ronnie Kavanagh (21 June 1950 – 4 May 2024[1]), known by his stage name Ron Kavana, was an Irish singer, songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, and band leader.
Born in the County Cork town of Fermoy, he was the son of an Irish father and an American mother from Chicago with Cajun roots.
[2] A talented songwriter, Kavana has written songs exploring history and politics, as well as drinking, dancing, and playing music.
[3] In the late 1970s, he moved to London, getting a job at Rock on Records, replacing Philip Chevron, who was leaving to work full-time with his band, The Radiators From Space.
During this era, Kavana and members of the band toured and recorded with many American acts, including Big Jay McNeely, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Willie Egan, Dr. John, Doug Sahm, Augie Meyers and Flaco Jiminez, Wallace Davenport, Gatemouth Brown, Memphis Slim, Champion Jack Dupree, and Slim Gaillard.
Featuring 29 guests (including several members of The Pogues), the album was a fundraiser for LILT (London Irish Live Trust), a charity organisation working for peace in Northern Ireland.
The two appear together in the 1990 Ken Loach film, Hidden Agenda, performing the Wolfe Tones' song "The Ballad Of Joe McDonnell".
Kavana again entered Pogues territory, this time playing guitar in an early version of Shane MacGowan's band The Popes.
[8] Kavana has appeared in and/or composed music for the soundtracks of such films as Sid and Nancy, Ryan's Daughter, and Hidden Agenda (1990).