Bill Whelan

Bill Whelan, born in Limerick back in ’50, is kind of a legend if you’re into Irish music or just big, sweeping scores in general. The guy’s fingerprints are all over some seriously iconic stuff—think “Dancing at Lughnasa” with Meryl Streep, the emotionally gut-punching “My Left Foot,” and even “The Mask” from the mid-’90s. But, honestly, if you mention his name at any pub in Ireland, people’s minds usually jump straight to “Riverdance.” That’s his baby. It started out as an interval act at Eurovision in ’94—just a little show to fill some time between songs—and it basically exploded. Next thing you know, it’s a global phenomenon, selling out theaters from Dublin to New York. Whelan isn’t just some behind-the-scenes composer, either. He’s been right in the thick of the music industry, producing tracks and shaping the sound of a whole generation of Irish music. The guy’s ear for melody and rhythm is insane. You listen to his stuff and, yeah, you get the Celtic vibes, but it never feels like he’s just repeating the old tunes. There’s always something fresh going on—something that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. Whether he’s working on a film score or putting together a stage show, Whelan’s music just kind of wraps around you. He’s the real deal, no question.