Steve was a priceless asset to the class, bringing with him the unfailing cheerfulness, enthusiasm and generosity which were familiar to all who knew him.
His was a life well lived, a voice well used, a curiosity well channelled, a passion well honed. Jock Duncan, singer of songs, collector of stories, cultural giant, extraordinary man.
His role in the local music scene and further afield cannot be understated. He was a highly skilled and versatile musician who never stopped striving for an even higher standard. His presence was captivating, and he was the best of company with a renowned sense of humour. His enthusiasm was boundless and he loved playing with and encouraging younger musicians.
“a kind of musical north star.”
Legendary Irish accordion player, Joe Burke, died on 20 February 2021 at the age of 81. Joe, who was without doubt one of the most influential musicians of his generation, was also one of the most loved, and tributes to the man and his music have flowed since his passing.
‘Another man done gone’
Nimble thimble-fingered Pilgrim,
Battered washboard on his knee,
It was with great sadness that the family of Peter Cooke announced his passing on 28th December 2020, aged 90. An internationally renowned ethnomusicologist, musician, musical director, lecturer, founder of forums, archivist, his life’s work embraced and touched a myriad of people. In recognition of his contributions to Scotland’s musical heritage, in 2019 he received the Hamish Henderson Award for Services to Traditional Music.
He was always there. A constant in my life for over half a century and for countless others far and wide. Mick Peat died on January 22nd, aged 80. He will be remembered, of that there is no doubt – but he won’t be there, he won’t be here. My daughter wrote to me after she’d heard: “What do we do now?”
One of my dearest friends passed away on 20th January 2021. Willie Haines and I had worked on many projects over the last couple of decades, including the Scottish Folk Directory and, most recently, Edinburgh's Festival of Ireland. Willie will be sorely missed by his family, friends and fellow musicians both in Scotland and elsewhere.
Sheffield has a fine tradition of folk music and dance and since the folk revival of the 1960s, Gerry Bates, who has died in hospital aged 78 after a short illness, played a large part in it. One of his friends described him as a “folk master” which indeed suited him very well.
Jim was born in Hull. His two brothers both went off to the war at sea. The older, John Henry known as Jack, born in 1922, was at 17 the youngest to qualify as a wireless operator, and Jim said the youngest wireless operator to be lost at sea at any time, when at the age of 18 his ship, S.S. Cree, was torpedoed on 22nd November 1940. Jim’s middle brother Fred had gone to sea in rescue tugs in 1942; called T124T, the men who sailed in them were known as the Tattie Lads!