简介：TheyoungerbrotherofinfluentialIrishsinger/songwriterChristyMoore,BarryMoorehadtiredofbeinginhisbrothersshadowwhenhedecidedtorelocatetotheUnitedStatesin1987.RechristeninghimselfLukaBloomduringthelongairplaneride,hetookthefirststepstowardestablishinghisownreputation.Amasterinterpreter,Bloomhascontinuedtobalanceoriginalsongswithreinventionsoftunesbyadiverserangeofsongwriters.HisreworkingofLLCoolJsINeedLovetransformedthesongfromitshiphoporiginstoabrogueinflectedfolktune.His2000albumKeeperoftheFlamefeaturedcoversoftunesbyBobDylan,JoniMitchell,BobMarley,NinaSimone,U2,ABBA,Radiohead,andTimHardin. Launchinghiscareerinthe1970s,Bloomwasencouragedbyhisbrother,whohiredhimtoplaywithhisgroupsPlanxtyandMovingHearts.Althoughherecordedthreeimpressivesoloalbumsinthe1970sand80s,hewasunabletothematchhisbrotherssuccess.MovingtotheUnitedStates,BloomtemporarilysettledintheWashington,D.C.,area.HisfirstperformanceataGeorgetownpubledtoasixmonthresidency,wherehehonedhisnewact.Bloomsreputationasaskilledguitaristandupliftingperformercontinuedtogrow.AcceptingasecondresidencyattheRedLioninNewYorksGreenwichVillage,hebegantoshuttlebetweenthetwoclubs.Bytheendoftheyear,hehadelectedtomakeNewYorkhishome.ThedecisionprovedfortuitouswhenhisshowattheRedLionwascaughtbyatalentscoutfromReprise,whosignedhimtothelabel.AfterrecordingthreememorablealbumsforReprise—Riversidein1990,AcousticMotorbikein1992,andTurfin1994—Bloomfellvictimtoacorporateshakeupin1995. Bythen,hehadreturnedtohishomeland,settlinginDublin.His1999album,SaltyHeaven,waspartlyrecordedinhiscottagehomeinthevillageofBirr,andcompletedatAbbeyRoadStudiosinLondon.KeeperoftheFlame,acollectionofcovers,arrivedinfall2000,followedbyBetweentheMountainandtheMoonin2002.HereleasedAmsterdam,hisfirstliverecord,inspring2003,followedbyBeforeSleepComes,acollectionofsoftlyplayed(andsung)meditationsonthemomentsbeforeslumberinspiredbyabrutalboutwithtendinitus.Innocence,releasedontheCookingVinyllabel,arrivedin2006,followedbyTribein2007.