Sean Folsom was born in Berkeley, California, in 1949. In 1962, he started the Clarinet and Saxophone, in junior high school. In 1963, he learned the Oboe, in order to perform with a Baroque ensemble, at his private music school.
He added the Guitar in 1964, playing Saxes, Flute, and Guitar, with various Jazz and Rock'n'Roll groups (1965-1976).
Sean's love of traditional folk music led him to the Scottish Bagpipes in 1969-70 and to England, Scotland and Ireland. On these tours, he discovered the softer Northumbrian and Irish bagpipes, starting in 1973. Since then, he has collected more than 45 different Bagpipes (all of which he plays) from Europe and the Middle East. In addition, he performs music on 3 Hurdy-Gurdies, Flutes, Reed-Pipes, Asian Harmonicas (like the Chinese Sheng), and a host of other rich and varied instruments, in his extensive instrument collection. Sean performs for schools, festivals, and at corporate meetings; throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and a wonderful tour of New Zealand, in 1996.
Sean recorded the album "Holy Well" (1985), with the Irish/Celtic group
"Sheila na Gig"; 2 tracks on "Beautiful Vision" (1982) with Rock'n'Roll celebrity Van Morrison; 3 tracks with Ron Wilson and His Surfaris: "Lost It in the Surf" (1987). Ron Wilson (RIP-1944-1989) was the Drummer who made the famous Surf tune, "Wipe-Out !" (a "Top 10" hit in May, 1963). Sean also played on the soundtrack of the film, "Northern Lights", (Cine-Manifest, San Francisco, Director Rob Nilson) which won the "Best New Film" Prize at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.
His current album is called "Bagpipes of the World". For information about this album and to order a copy, Click Here.
This album is also available on CD Baby.
