Ally Crowley-Duncan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995 (age 29–30) Latham, New York |
| Education | Edinboro University, BA |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bagpiper, social media influencer |
| Website | piperally |
Ally Crowley-Duncan, known as Ally the Piper, is an American musician, bagpiper, and social media personality. [1] She is known for playing songs from rock, pop, and metal music on the bagpipes. [2] Her videos gained attention on social media, attracting millions of followers on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. [3] [4] [5]
Crowley-Duncan was born in 1995 in Latham, New York. [6] [1] [ failed verification ] She graduated with a bachelor of arts in music from Edinboro University in 2017. [2]
She developed an early interest in music, learning to play piano, flute, saxophone, and clarinet. Her stepfather’s Scottish heritage played a significant role in shaping her musical interests, leading her to develop a fascination with the bagpipes at age 12. [3] [2] [7] [8]
That same year, Crowley-Duncan saw a bagpipe band perform at a parade in New York, which further solidified her passion for the instrument. She began taking bagpipe lessons at 14 and later competed several times in the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland, where her band took first place in the grade Novice-Juvenile. [3] [6] [9]
She previously played with the Stuart Highlanders pipe band. [10]
Crowley-Duncan music career grew during the COVID-19 pandemic when she started posting videos of her bagpipe covers on social media, including TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. [3] [5] [1] [8]
In 2023, she reached 1 million followers on TikTok, gaining attention for her covers of rock and pop songs such as Metallica’s Enter Sandman and Avicii’s Wake Me Up. [4] [2] [6] [9]
She blends traditional bagpipe music with modern styles, which helped her gain followers from various music communities, including rock fans. Bands like Metallica and Iron Maiden have praised her work. [3] [6] [7] [1]
Crowley-Duncan has collaborated with other musicians, such as The Indianapolis Colts Drumline, Dr. Peacock, Mia Asano, [10] and Miracle of Sound. [2] She has also worked with USA Kilts. [4]
She has been recognized for bringing bagpipes into mainstream music. Her online covers have received praise from fans and bands, and Scottish communities have supported her efforts to represent the instrument. [4]
| Title | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Trip to Scotland | Single | 2024 |
| Magdalena | Single | 2023 |
| The Viral Hits | Album | 2023 |
| The Crazy Train [11] | Single | 2023 |
| The Pipes are Calling | Album | 2022 |
| Billow and Breeze | Extended play | 2021 |