I wasn't close with Tony, but we sang together in late night sessions at the local folk music festival most years. He got me to come along to TradFest (a camping event several hours away) a couple years back, and picked me to sing in the evening concert he was organising. I almost chickened out, but in the end I sang four songs in front of a barn full of people. My offerings were very well received and Tony looked so smug afterwards, like I was this gem he'd found and gifted to his audience. Though he didn't know that much about me besides that I knew a bunch of tunes and could sing them tolerably well, I've rarely felt so seen or so valued.

Thank you, Tony.