Background

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Thank you for wanting to learn more about me and my music. I included this page after receiving many questions on why and how I began playing the bagpipes. My father, Jack, and Pipe Major Cliff Roberts are my mentors, but the following tells the full story.

 

I grew up embraced by Irish and Italian cultures and my interest in music began early when Jack, a middle school music teacher, with the support of my beloved mom, Barbara, taught me how to play the trumpet at age eight. After many years of improvising jazz on the trumpet while he played the piano, I auditioned for and performed in New Jersey state high school jazz bands. A picture of mom and dad is below.

 

Jack also helped me make connections towards my first volunteering for veterans when I played Taps on the trumpet every year in high school after the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Salute before hundreds of people at the conclusion of the Flemington, NJ Memorial Day Parade. Following each parade, I traveled with the VFW in their military jeep to numerous area cemeteries to play Taps for our fallen heroes.

 

Years later, my father pursued his lifelong goal, bought Dunfion Bagpipes from Isle of Arran, Scotland and taught himself how to play. He joined St. Ann's of Hampton Pipes & Drums and Leatherneck Pipes & Drums in New Jersey where he enjoyed performing from Iceland and the New York 9/11 site to California. Mom took the picture below which shows him with his friends from St. Ann's in front of the St. Patrick's Cathedral at a 2001 St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City. I'm walking behind the band with my sister, brother-in-law, friends and then girlfriend of just a couple weeks, now wife since 2002. 

 

I understand my unavoidable bias but, in addition to being an amazing father, Jack was a very personable and effective music teacher with a gift of connecting with his students. He was well rounded combining his exceptional musical talents with a very successful high school background in football, baseball and wrestling. And he maintained strong lifelong friendships with his DKE fraternity brothers from Rutgers University and fellow educators. I've seen numerous past students approach him after his middle school band concerts thanking and crediting him for his influence towards them continuing to play an instrument and/or devoting their profession to music after college. And other students expressed their gratitude for him helping them through very personal, tumultuous times during grade school. In addition, parents have shared with me their appreciation for the positive impact Jack made on their children while under his tutelage. Finally, he had a strong work ethic restoring our 18th century stone farmhouse, with my help, while coaching my baseball team and helping mom nurture a loving household for me and my dear sister, Jennifer. In short, Jack was a wonderful brother, husband, father, coach, teacher, mentor and friend to many.

 

Jack, otherwise healthy, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep at the young age of 63 only two years after retiring his exemplary 35-year teaching career and just before another New York City St. Patrick's Day parade in 2007. Devastated, I distracted myself by immediately finishing the restoration of one of his antique furniture projects pictured below with the help of his terrific brother, Rick. I then committed to learning on his pipes and in his kilt teaching myself bagpipe fingering on his practice chanter and memorizing one of his favorite tunes, Amazing Grace. Our daughter, Shannon Lane, was born three months later and, for the next six years, I occasionally tried to learn more on my own. We had Cliff and Liz Roberts, friends and leaders of St. Ann's of Hampton Pipes & Drums, over for dinner in 2013 when they, after I played Amazing Grace, convinced me to begin formal lessons and join the band. Many years had passed since playing the trumpet and it felt good to make music again.

 

I had a great experience learning how to play the bagpipes, marching in numerous parades and becoming acquainted with the wonderful people of St. Ann's. Cliff Roberts, Pipe Major, introduced me to the intricacies of bagpipe music and continues as my piping instructor. Cliff's wife, Liz Roberts, who sadly passed way November 2024, in addition to being an accomplished piper, registered nurse, and yoga instructor, was a professional harpist and taught our daughter how to play. We went together for lessons in their home where I took instruction from Cliff and Shannon from Liz. Shannon practiced on the harp pictured below which my late father built several years before she was born. A picture of her at seven years old is also below marching in my first parade, John Basilone's 32nd annual with St. Ann's in Raritan, New Jersey. 

Liz's  nursing background and passion to help others was always evident in her vibrant personality, positive outlook, amazing smile and hearty laugh. She played the pipes while attending Manhattan College where she met Cliff, one of their drummers. In the 1990s during St. Ann's infancy, Liz was denied when asking to join area pipe bands only because she was not a man, until she spoke with Jack who immediately invited her to their next practice and welcomed her into St. Ann’s. Liz later actually became Pipe Major (band leader), but wanted to relinquish her role to Cliff when he learned the pipes and joined the band, which my dad and others supported. Cliff and Liz did an amazing job managing St. Ann’s over several decades and credit St. Ann’s existence to Jack. Like my father, she left us far too young and will always be sorely missed. Liz was the brightest star in the sky. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light." John 1:5 CEB. St. Ann's is still under Cliff's fantastic leadership and I'm sure Liz and Jack, reunited, are now shining down their good cheer on us all. We are forever grateful to Cliff and Liz for the opportunity, tutelage and friendship.

 

After leaving St. Ann's in 2015 due to my move from New Jersey three hours north to Upstate New York, I was honored to receive a call from Liz and be asked to rejoin the band in December 2023 for the March '24 NYC St. Patrick's Day parade (St. Ann’s is in video at 34:10) and several competitions in Maryland, New Jersey and New York leading up to the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland. A picture of me and Liz at the 2024 St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City is below.

 

My passion, like Jack's, is to touch lives through this unique and historical musical instrument. And my goal is to uplift your special day, whether happy or sad, with tailored bagpipe music to add elegance and tradition to any occasion. Bagpipes are among the most difficult musical instruments to learn and playing them requires countless hours of consistent practice and careful maintenance, in addition to time spent traveling to events and during overnight competitions. I credit the ability to devote this time and perform at my best to the generosity of my loving wife, Rachel, and amazing daughter, Shannon.
❤️

 

My Services

Many aren't sure how to involve bagpipes in an event but, once you share your thoughts, I will:

• suggest ways to enhance the experience for your guests

• introduce myself to the venue such as a church's Pastor and Music Director or Organist, restaurant's owner or manager, Funeral Director, golf course's management, etc.

• align with them what will work best with their planned agenda, logistics, and meeting space

• and visit the requested location to determine my most appropriate positioning and to more accurately suggest the most impactful use of my music. Most just ask me to do what I think best, but I am always open to alternate ideas and requests.

In other words, just provide me the opportunity to honor your loved one or maximize your guest's experience and I will take it from there. Enjoy the peace of mind knowing that I always arrive early, will be fully prepared and do my best to accommodate any last minute changes.

Testimonials

Please read a few unsolicited responses about the unique experiences I've created for my clients:

"Your sounds were beautiful to hear in the distance, even the EMS enjoyed hearing your soulful tunes."

Mr. Dooley,

Words cannot express our thankfulness for you taking time out of your day to come and welcome our cancer survivors to their Cancer Survivor’s Day Party.

Your sounds were beautiful to hear in the distance, even the EMS enjoyed hearing your soulful tunes.

Attached is a collage of some of the photos I took of you, I thought you might enjoy having them.

Thank you again.

“Thank you for all your time and effort to raise awareness of this cause and help make the run/walk/ruck event a success. Through your efforts, VCN helps TMF empower veterans and the community they serve.”

 

Veterans Community Network Partnership with Travis Manion Foundation
If not me, then who? The words of Travis Manion as he gave his life for fellow Marines and the protection of our freedom. TMF carries on the legacy of selfless service and leadership embodied by Travis and all those who have served, or continue to serve, our nation. Thank you for all your time and effort to raise awareness of this cause and help make the run/walk/ruck event a success. Through your efforts, VCN helps TMF empower veterans and the community they serve.

"The medal has only been awarded a few times and if ever there was a worthy recipient it is John Dooley."

Thank you and congratulations to piper John Dooley for his continuing support and our newest recipient of our special medal for excellence in supporting the American Irish community and culture! The medal has only been awarded a few times and if ever there was a worthy recipient it is John Dooley.

"Everyone enjoys listening to the bagpipes, and we are immensely grateful for your continued support."

John,

Thank you so much for joining us at this year's National Cancer Survivor’s Day Celebration. Everyone enjoys listening to the bagpipes, and we are immensely grateful for your continued support.

Many thanks again

“Thank you so much again John!  It was a great success!!  Hopefully we’ll see you again next year.”

"It truly made the gathering even more special."

Thank you so much for sharing your gift of music at (his) Celebration of Life. It truly made the gathering even more special. I know (he) was smiling! Enjoy every day, life is too short.

"You went above and beyond and my appreciation could never justify your time."

Hi John,

I know this is overdue but I wish to thank you again for your time and the effort you put into this weekend’s event for your cancer survivors! You went above and beyond and my appreciation could never justify your time.

You made many people very happy and I hope you did get to feel that from the guests.

Please enjoy your summer, and hope to see you again when you are in the area!

With heartfelt thanks!

"Thanks. U were fantastic"

Let's Get Started

 

Ready to honor your guests with the timeless tradition of bagpipe music? Contact me with your desired date(s) and share details of your occasion so I can begin tailoring a bagpipe performance around your specifications.

I could also connect you to some outstanding pipers (and people) in New Jersey from St. Ann's of Hampton Pipes and Drums.

Mom and Dad

Shannon marching in my first parade, John Basilone's 32nd annual, in Raritan, NJ, 2013.

Liz Roberts and I

Pipe Major Cliff Roberts

Dad with St. Ann's Pipes & Drums in front of the St. Patrick's Cathedral during a NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2001 with me, family and friends marching behind.