OBIT: Tony Cuffe (Dec 2001)

Subject: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: Judy Predmore
Date: 19 Dec 01 - 01:49 AM

Tuesday December 18

From: Seamus Connolly
Some of you know Tony Cuffe as a musician or as a teacher, and some of you know him as a friend. You may also know that Tony was being treated for cancer. We are saddened to bring you the news that Tony passed away peacefully at 8:20 this morning at his home in Arlington, MA. He was surrounded by his loving family, good frineds and the music that he loved so much.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Ignatius Church, Commonwealth Ave at Boston College, across from the Boston College T stop, at 10am on Saturday morning.
A reception will follow at the Connolly House, 300 Hammond Street.
Parking will be available in the parking garage at Boston College's lower campus. (Drive past the church, take a right onto the campus, and drive approximately 500 yards to the seven story parking garage).
Flowers may be sent to St. Ignatius Church (28 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02167, Telephone [phone]) in Tony's memory.
Our heartful symapthies go out Cath, Lindsey, Chris and Aidan.
----------------------
Seamus Connolly and the Tony Cuffe and Family Benefit Fund Committee [e-mail]
Boston College

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: Judy Predmore
Date: 19 Dec 01 - 02:24 AM

I feel so privileged to have been in Tony's classes at Swannanoa Celtic Week in 1999. On Tony's night to lead the one hour song swap, after an hour & a half, I said "I hate to mention this because we want you to stay, but your hour was up a while ago." He knew the time & his obligations, and that he was having a good time... He stayed a total of 2 hours.

He seemed like someone who really enjoyed life, & shared that joy with others, especially the joy of music. His classes were fun, his conversation witty, he was open, friendly, generous, down to earth, played guitar like an angel, had a warm thick voice like mollasses. His solo recording is one of my favorites. He's going to make a fine addition to one or more of the "angel bands" up there...

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 19 Dec 01 - 06:40 AM

This is terribly sad news. Tony Cuffe was one of the very finest interpreters of Scottish music on the guitar, ever. His playing had such warmth, taste and space to it and he had possibly the sweetest tone I ever heard from a steel-string player.

I hadn't seen him play in years. I first heard him at the July Wakes Folk Festival in Chorley, Lancashire in 1976. He was with Alba then and after their set on the main stage they played an absolute stormer of a set in the Banqueting Hall (a converted barn) of the adjacent hotel until the early hours. I remembered it so fondly I (much) later got married in the same room.

I only met him once, a few months later at the Half Moon in Putney. He was an absolute gent, lovely bloke. His playing with Ossian was a huge influence and inspiration for me. I was in Boston in 1988 and saw that he was offering lessons from a notice in a music store in Cambridge. I was always sorry I didn't take the chance to call him as at the time I was probably listening to him more that any other guitar player and I'd just come back from Cape Breton. Sadly, I was flying back to London the next day and I never called. I would love to have studied with him.

His solo record, 'When First I Went To Caledonia', is one of my faves too. Every guitarist should hear it, especially if they aspire to playing Scottish or Irish music.

A great shame. My condolences to his family and friends.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 19 Dec 01 - 08:54 AM

Sad to hear the news. I saw Tony a couple of times but was priviledged to be at Cumbernauld when I think it was his first gig with Ossian. A wonderful player.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 19 Dec 01 - 01:48 PM

I did sound for him and the rest of Windbags when they came to Shepherdstown in Feb 98. He saw me wince when they came in playing the bombard and great pipes, and when I pulled the earphones off, and told him it was "like miking smoke detectors", he got a great laugh. We tried to have them back several times, but couldn't make their gate, after they took off. My condolences to the family.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 19 Dec 01 - 02:00 PM

I agree the "When First I went to Caledonia" was a great album. I got to play with Tony in a Celtic guitar workshop at Old Songs a couple years back and it was a great experience. One of the nicest people I've met.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: karen k
Date: 19 Dec 01 - 02:38 PM

Tony was one of my favorite musicians. I didn't know him well but I knew him a little bit and he was a wonderful person. I am truly saddened by his loss. My condolences to the Cuffe family. Tony was truly a gift to all he came in contact with. Tony, I'm sure that you will be sung out in fine style. So many will lift their voices in your honor.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 19 Dec 01 - 07:01 PM

How sad! His solo CD is one of my treasured possessions, and I thought his was one of the most attractive voices in Scottish folk music (and beyond). I only saw him once, at the Glasgow Folk Festival in 1994, and have always wished to see him again somewhere. Also, I have two or three bootlegged songs from that gig and now will never be able to ask him about the song 'Time Wears Awa' which he did a beautiful rendering of. Time does indeed wear awa' ...

My sympathy to his family!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: Murrey
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 12:59 AM

I am so very sad to her the sad news of Tony's passing. It was with great pleasure that I presented him in concert more thatn once for The Bath-brunswick Folk Club at the Chocolate Church in Bath,Me.He was an incredible musician,singer and an engaging performer and his voice and joy of living will b sorely missed.My sympathies to his family.He will be dearly remembered always. Murrey

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: Murrey
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 01:02 AM

I am so very sad to hear the sad news of Tony's passing. It was with great pleasure that I presented him in concert more than once for The Bath-Brunswick Folk Club at the Chocolate Church in Bath,Me.He was an incredible musician,singer and an engaging performer and his voice and joy of living will be sorely missed.My sympathies to his family.He will be dearly remembered always. Murrey

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: GUEST,Peg
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 12:40 PM

I found out last night. My new band, Epona, had our first gig and we went for dinner afterwards. One of our members had heard the news and told me inthe restaurant..

I was shocked and saddened (but far better to hear this way than via eail; there was one waiting when I got home).

I took a beginning pennywhistle class with Tony; the man had the patience of a saint! :) And such a warm sense of humor. I attended his concert at Music by the Bay in April and spoke with him about taking private harp lessons. He'd said his trip home to Scotland would be delayed and so this would be a possibility he'd like to try and oblige. I did not knowhat night about his illness but found out soon after.

Sadly, I missed the Boston benefit conecrt in November as I was in Florida. All this time I have pictured Tony beating this terrible disease with his beautiful heart and spirit and strength, with his family around him. I thought he'd come through it and survive. This seems so horribly unfair.

He was a fine musician and a good man and I wish I had gotten to know him better.

One song he performed in April, Bonie Susie Clelland, really spoke to me and I had been thinking of adding it to my repertoire. I had hoped to talk with Tony about his version and how he collected it. I now plan to learn it and sing it as a tribute to him. What a loss we have suffered. I picture his smiling face and hear his rich, earthy voice and a bit of magic music has gone from the world forever.

Peg

Subject: Tony Cuffe
From: GUEST,Nerd
Date: 28 Dec 01 - 03:31 PM

On December 18th, Tony Cuffe (Scottish singer and guitarist, onetime member of Alba, Ossian, Jock Tamson's Bairns and the Windbags)passed away from cancer. I'm away from home and my usual sources (hence the guest tag) or I'd write a true obituary. But I wondered if anyone would care to share memories of Tony. I knew him since he came to live in the US in about 1989 or so. He was so good as a musician and singer, and so nice as a person, that I often felt he was underrated and underappreciated. He wasn't into self-promotion, just songs and music, and his singng could bring tears to my eyes. Now they're there again.

Steve

Subject: RE: Tony Cuffe
From: GUEST,emily b
Date: 28 Dec 01 - 03:57 PM

Oh, yes tears in my eyes too. Tony was part of a Revels Houston show back in 1997. I enjoyed his company and music immensely. Him and the other musicians down from Boston. In fact, it was that show that opened so many doors for me into the whole folk world and my life today.

I always meant to get up to Boston and get together with all of them. The perils of procrastination.

My deepest sympathies go out to his family and loved ones. I will sing a song for him tonight. Thanks for sharing this unfortunate news. Emily B

Subject: RE: Tony Cuffe
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 28 Dec 01 - 06:48 PM

Some memories can be found in this earlier thread.

Subject: RE: Tony Cuffe
From: Susan A-R
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 08:58 PM

I was just listening to The Thistle and Shamrock and Fiona played some of Tony's hornpipes in loving memory, so I came to see what had happened.

Tony gave a concert here in Montpelier about two years ago. There were probably only 30 of us in the audience, and it was a remarkable evening. Despite the beginnings of a cold, he sang song after song, all new to me, and all wonderful. He also played beautifully, and I have listened to his cd often, while working in my kitchen. I'll give it a listen tomorrow and think of him. What a musician and collector of songs.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: GUEST,Tyler Schmid
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 03:08 AM

I saw tony with the wind bags in KC Bought the cd and cherished it since. I learned of his passing 2 months ago and broke down into tears. I am still weeping. He has spot in heaven and he will never be forgotten. God love him, and so do I!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Tony Cuffe
From: Nerd
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 10:54 AM

Yes, Tony was a rare one. Greentrax released a posthumous CD, made up of tracks he was working on for a solo project and a windbags project, plus some live tracks and other things. It includes "Sae Will We Yet," the song he sang with Jock Tamson's Bairns that was NOT included on their reissue CD. It's really worth having, and though I can tell he's sick on some of the vocals that just makes it more emotional for me....