About Us
Lonesome Gypsy is a father and son acoustic duo based out of Houston, Texas with a focus on Americana, Jazz and Bluegrass. We have a special interest in Texas Singer/Songwriters but play music from a wide variety of genres!
The Band
Sam Irwin got started at age seven when his dad built him a handmade banjo. He even inlayed Sam's name on the headstock! Sam learned the old tune Worried Man Blues, but he didn't worry long before he decided banjo wasn't for him. He quickly picked up the mandolin, that was intended for his sister, and never looked back! Over the next few years, he continued to advance in his playing and competed in the Texas State Mandolin Championship. He honed his skills practicing contest tunes and placed in the top three two years in a row! Sam went on to study music and over the years he picked up guitar, ukulele, upright bass, and pretty much anything with strings! As his musical interests evolved, he has grown to love bluegrass, gypsy jazz and americana, but that is just scratching the surface of his wide musical interests.
Sam & Bill Irwin have been making music together for years and don't intend to stop anytime soon!
The Name
We chose the name Lonesome Gypsy as a tribute to our greatest musical influencer, motivator and teacher: Kelly Lancaster. Kelly was a world-class guitarist from Nacogdoches, Texas. He played gypsy jazz, bluegrass, and everything in between. Some of my fondest memories are of going to hear Kelly play at little wine bars and restaurants in Houston. He played with an intensity and ferocity that is unmatched. He could play the most beautiful, melodic phrases, and pepper in false harmonics like you wouldn't believe. He could also play blazing fast licks that would knock your socks off! His prodigious guitar and mandolin playing was matched only by his kindness and altruistic spirit. Kelly passed away after a battle with cancer and was taken before his time. I often wish I could have one more lesson with him and think of him anytime I play my guitar or mandolin, I'm playing his licks after all!
We start every show with a Kelly Lancaster original, Maydelle's Reel, which he wrote about his childhood dog Maydelle. This one's for you, Kelly!