Born Barry Moore on May 23, 1955, in Newbridge, Ireland, Bloom first played in a band called Aes Triplex while in high school. He began to perform in the Dublin area and with the help of his brother, singer Christy Moore, he recorded a single, "Wave Up on the Shore."

Bloom contributed to a number of his brother's albums, and recorded several of his own before carpal tunnel syndrome forced him to replace his finger-picking guitar style with a more strummed approach. The late '80s brought other upheavals, including a move to the United States and a name change. "Luka" was taken from the tune of the same name by singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega and "Bloom" from the main character of James Joyce's Ulysses.

Bloom performed regularly at several Washington, D.C., clubs before signing with Reprise Records in 1989. He issued his first U.S. release, Luka Bloom, a year later.

Bloom released The Acoustic Motorbike in 1992, followed by Turf in 1994.

Last year saw the release of Salty Heaven, his fourth album since moving to the States, and his first for the folk-centric Shanachie imprint. His melodic style and dramatic lyrics are exemplified by songs such as "Ciara" and "Hungry Ghost" (RealAudio excerpt).

Bloom continues to be popular among folk enthusiasts, particularly on the East Coast.

Other birthdays Tuesday: Daithi Sproule, 50, and Sylvia Woods, 49.