The Burns Sisters

by Craig HarrisFolk, pop and rock are given a Celtic slant by Ithaca, New York-based vocalists the Burns Sisters. Accompanied by Rich DePaolo's guitar, Eric Aceto's fiddle and their own guitar and mandolin, the three sisters -- Annie, Marie and Jeannie -- harmonize with heartfelt spirit.
The Burns Sisters originally began as a quintet featuring five sisters of a family of fourteen children. One of their earliest gigs was a spot in the movie, Atlantic City, which they had gotten through the insistence of their brothers who worked as film technicians in Hollywood.
Although they recorded a rock-inspired album, Endangered Species, for Columbia in 1986, the label dropped them one week before the scheduled release of their second album two years later.
Although the Burns Sisters released an album, Songs of the Heart, on their own label, older sisters Terry and Sheila dropped out to devote more time to their families. Agreeing to continue as a trio, Annie, Marie and Jeannie switched their focus to acoustic music. Their trio debut, Close to Home, was released by Philo in 1995, while their second trio album, In This World, released in 1997, was recorded in Nashville and produced by Bruce Springsteen's bass player, Gary Tallent. The three sisters released an album of seasonal songs, Tradition: Holiday Songs Old & New, the same year. They returned in 2000 with Out Of The Blue.

In addition to performing with her sisters, Marie Burns is a member of Mac Benford & the Woodshed All-Stars.