More memories...
Below are memories of Tony sent to this web site. Send us your memory of Tony here...
I would like to share with you my story of meeting Tony at a concert I promoted in Fredericton New Brunswick, Canada, but more importantly the influence he and the members of Ossian have had on my family, my friends and the community as a whole.
What can I say about how this man changed my life? I only met him once, but his manner and gentleness were traits that were the first thing one noticed about him. But it was a few years before I had this wonderful opportunity that his influence and that of Ossian opened a door for me and than to a whole community of friends and family to a world of Scottish music I never knew existed and thus shaped and changed our lives forever; but it is how this came about to this day remains an extraordinary story of a destiny founded through sheer magic so please allow me to explain. While driving in my car one day I overheard on the local CBC radio station, a piece of music that simply floored me. I had never heard anything like it and when arriving home I immediately phoned the station to find out who it was I had heard. The radio announcer informed me that it was group called Ossian and one that he had heard while hosting a show in Cape Breton Nova Scotia. So now I was stuck. How was I ever going to be able to find a recording of a Scottish folk group in a place where Country and Rock-and-Roll where supreme?
The following day I went to my local music shop to find out if the owner had some kind of "universal catalogue" of recordings that would help in me tracking down any mystery recordings but when I arrived, finding the owner was preoccupied with a customer, I decided to have a look in the folk music section on the off chance he had a new recording by Makem and Clancy. Fanning through the albums, (they were vinyl recordings in those days) what did I see before my eyes but; you guessed it - an Ossian recording. Not only that, there were two recordings! I believe I actually trembled as I stood there holding it not believing my eyes. But this odd encounter with the unexpected was only just beginning, for when I took the recording (I could only afford one on that day - pre Debt Card) to the counter, I asked the owner if he had any more recordings by this group other than the one remaining in the bin. He looked at the recordings and said, "Where did you find these?" which I thought would have been self evident, but before I could answer he said he had never seen the recording before and again asked me where I found it. Leaving the counter for a few moments, he return to tell me he had no record on invoice of where this particular recording had come from and was unaware of any distribution company that he was aware of that carried the record label of IONA. Though I thought it odd that he could not answer my question, I told him to set aside the other recording and I would pay for the "Seal Song" album now and return later for the other one.
Upon returning home and opening my newly found treasure, I noticed inside the jacket, a small card which informed me that "if I was interested in this recording, mail the card back to receive a catalogue of all the recordings the distributor handles." Taking the card back the next day to the store, the owner once again informed me that after I had left he had searched his records and still had no idea how he had received the recording or how it had found its way in his store, a mystery to this day speaks of predestination and the supernatural. In any case, it was several weeks following that I received the catalogue, and found the recording had been imported by a small, "Basement - Ma and Pa" operation in Edmonton Alberta, who I subsequently found out, were Scottish immigrants and lovers of UK folk music.
But the story continues! It was several months after this experience that I was introduced to a lady who my wife knew that was a fluent Scottish Gaelic speaker and when finding out that I had an interest in folk music, informed me that one of her fondest wishes was to be in a folk group that performed Celtic music. We discussed the possibilities and as she was on her way to Saint-Pierre & Miquelon to study French she left it up to me to form a group which she would perform in upon her return and the rest as far as the group is concerned is history, as ORAN was formed and has been performing for 27 years.
But getting back to Tony and Ossian. Having played their music when my children were young, the influence of the group and Scottish culture found as they all become pipers or drummers, bouzouki and guitar players of world class renown. To this day, Tony Cuffe's voice resonates through my own and the house of my friends and the music of Ossian is still considered the "classical" music of choice for us all. It has influenced the lives of not only my family but my grandchildren and the families of those I call friends, all of whom are now involved with Scottish culture as musicians along with the communities we all inhabit through the music of ORAN.
Thank you Tony Cuffe and God rest your soul.
-- Douglas Carter, March 16, 2010
I had the unforgettable privilege of stage managing the tour when Tony and Ossian worked with 7:84 Theatre Company. The show, "There is a Happy Land", was a musical history of Gaelic Scotland (also filmed for Channel Four) and Tony's contributions brought not only Scottish history but also Scottish traditional music alive for me.
That warm rounded voice and such skillful, measured guitar have been my model for contemporary folk music ever since. I can't believe he's gone.
-- Colin Salter, Edinburgh, May 2008
I didn't know Tony that well, but I'll be forever grateful for the support and encouragement he gave me when I was first getting into traditional singing in the mid 90's. I was already enthralled by his voice and way of singing--as well as the songs he chose to sing--and was excited to learn that he was living in the Boston area. I met with him at his house a couple of times to talk about songs and singing and remember how warm and welcoming he was. I got him to sing for me--the first time I heard him live. It was a private 'performance' I still have on tape and will always remember.
-- Michael O'Leary, Gloucester, MA, April 7, 2003