Top End Folk Club
4d ·
TONY SUTTOR
It is with deep sadness that we farewell TEFC Life Member Tony Suttor who passed away Saturday night aged 75.
Tony was no stranger to the folk scene when he first arrived in the NT. He was well known for his singing and musicianship in groups including the Larrikins and Pageant, as well as playing accordion for many dances.
He first came to the Top End in 1982 and embedded himself in the Top End Folk Club through the heady days of the Gun Turret. It wasn’t just the music or the environment that he fell in love with - there was also Jenny Armour, his forever partner.
Tony is remembered all over Australia as always smiling, generous with his music, happy to help others learn and grow and an inspiration to all. In Darwin, he was involved with many bands including** the Darwin Ceili Band, The Hind Quartet, The Bilge Ratz, Tropical Ear, The Dangling Dunlops and most recently The Fettlers. His last performance was only two weeks ago at the Top Half Folk Festival, where he performed with the Fettlers at a tribute concert for Peter Bate.
He was admired and appreciated for his enormous repertoire of songs and tunes, along with his musicianship. He had a particular talent for harmony** and was an inspiration to all who saw him sing.
Tony also contributed to regular TEFC events held in various places over many years. We acknowledge his enormous contribution and send condolences to Jenny and his family and friends.
Tony is remembered with love and gratitude by members of the Top End Folk Club for his contributions and commitment to music and community.
Vale Tony Suttor


** Postscript from Rich-Joy :
Two of the Top End a cappella Harmony groups that Tony is well remembered as being an integral part of are :
Chameleon (with Sharon Mannix and Paul Lawler)
and
No Strings Attached (Final line-up 1992-93 was : Richenda Bridge, Jenny Fitzgibbon, Paul Lawler, Marianne Piercy, Tony Suttor.   Earlier additional members were : Alex Bridge, Jane Carpenter, Cathy Flint, Sarah Hopkins, and Viki Kane.)

Due to lack of time and proficiency (!) only one NSA track has made it SO FAR to Lawls&Chend's YT channel :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hckf3JiZo7M

"Beneath Uluru" (Dave Oakes comp) sung by No Strings Attached in Darwin, NT, 1992



When emailing with Tony's Beloved, Jenny, I was reminded of that perennial Gun Turret favourite, with Vin Garbutt/Pete Best as channelled by Paul Lawler and lustily joined by the whole moonlit audience and always including Tony!! : "They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore" :

"Eh, how we could sing
What fun those nights would bring
Singing for hours on end,
Once we found the key
Oh, what Harmony
Those boozy voices would lend!!
'Heart of My Heart'
and just for a start
'Walking My Baby Back Home'
And when it comes to an end
It's Let's Sing It Again!
They Don't Write 'em Like That Anymore!!"





I am not on FB, but some of the TEFC page Comments/Tributes came through to me :

Steve Jones 3D
I am very sorry to learn of Tony’s passing - my condolences to his partner and close friends. I knew Tony for only a short period, but I well remember the kindness and the musicianship that everyone has remarked upon. I was with him when he arrived in Darwin in 1982. Four of us had driven from Sydney to Alice Springs to play at a festival there, and then made our way up to the top - taking a few weeks about it, camping in the bush, playing music around the camp fire and often sleeping under the stars. A magical, absolutely unforgettable trip. I don’t think Tony had been planning to stay in Darwin, but it quickly became clear that he loved the place! We lost touch after that, but happily we eventually reconnected through Facebook. Rest in peace, old friend.

Yvonne Gray 1D
Such a beautiful man & musician. Always smiling, playing beautiful music & a treasured friend. We were so lucky to have a lovely visit with him the day before he passed.?? Always remembered. ?????????

Ruth Dickson 3D
We met up with Tony in May this year. We are pleased for that opportunity, and found that while he was very ill, his humour was much the same as always. Up until May we hadn't seen him since our last trek to the THFF in 2013 (?). However, we'd spoken on the phone a few times - and always followed his lovely posts on FB. Tony abounded with love for - life, music, Jenny, family members and friends (including his four legged friends) everywhere. And yes, your spirit will live on, as the years roll by.

Michelle Scott   3D
Such a stalwart of the NT folk scene, so many lovely memories, playing in sessions, bush dances and never short of a song.
Dear Jenny, condolences to you and your families, thinking of you.
“…It’s time to go now, haul away your anchor”

Bruce Watson 3D
So sad to see Tony go. What a lovely man. Kind, gentle, positive, enthusiastic - and a great musician. And with an incredible knowledge of folk music. He was a huge help to me over the past year with my Immortal project.

Jayne Nankivell 3D
Tony was a mentor to so many - he taught me so much and I treasure the long chats we’ve had over the years.

Sand Williams   3D
A wonderful enthusiastic musician who loved the Folk Club and its community. Condolences to his family. He made music fun and he put his stamp on every tune he played and sang. Vale Tony. You will be missed and remembered always.

Paul Reynolds   4D
Goodbye to a great guy. He taught me so much!
"they marry and go as the world rolls back,
They marry and vanish and die;
But their spirit shall live on the Outside Track
As long as the years roll by."

Sean Roche   4D
A true gentleman,,in my prayers,,



I am still hoping Warren Fahey (of Larrikin Records fame, aka Catter Bodgie) will also be able to post here ....