Tony Cuffe's guitar playing was absolutely outstanding, he has to be one of the top three folk players of all time. His accompaniment was always perfect - he knew just which bass notes and chord inversions to use to make the tune sound pretty and interesting. And his technique was unmatched. One of the strongest right hands you will ever hear - just listen to his work on the "A Fisherman's Song For Collecting Seals" medley on Ossian's "Seal Song." He absolutely carried the whole band in those instrumentals - his guitar just rings like a bell and cuts through the whole sound, even when everyone else is really going for it. Amazing. His playing and singing on Alba's one and only album is fantastic as well.
I agree with all the previous replies to this video. Tony was one of a kind. A unique guitarist and singer. He will be sorely missed... a great loss to Folk music. Thank you for sharing this footage of him with us. I am in debt to you.
This is just magic. Warm and plangent and perfectly delivered. It kills me. I'm only just discoveirng this man, sad to have misse dhim when he was around (though perhaps I'd have been too young to appreciate). Thank you for uploading this footage!
I saw Tony at The Barn at UC Riverside in the mid-90s - did his cool puppet thing. It's September 2018, and I still have him on my mp3 player (old, yeah, I know) and listen to "When First I Went To Caledonia" regularly. I just saw his former bandmate, Billy Jackson, in concert in Dover, New Hampshire, and listen to my one Ossian album as well. I'm so glad I went to all these concerts in my youth. Thanks for this wonderful upload.
Just came across Tony Cuffe playing with Ossian! on the song Chairlie O Chairlie,posted by Douglas Hadden....couldn't believe my eyes when it appeared on youtube....never thought I would see this group again...check it out!!
thank you for putting this on. I have often wished I could have heard Tony talk about his songs as he does here. I love it. You get a glimpse of his love of the music, the tales and his warmth. Thanks.
I passed this on to Rumbjacks just now. Sandy Denny in mind. Is why we "rant and rail" ... not from madness. From pain, and love. godbless any and all who follow Ossian's path, and Tony's inspiration *_Mangalam!_*
I am stunned to see this, I last saw him perform at Gaelic Roots in Boston, 2001 I think...his last public performance, I think he died a year later. I first met him in NC at the Swannanoa Celtic week, and was blown away by the beautiful songs, musicianship and humor.
I've liked Scottish folk for 30 years, not an offinonado tho, surprised I've never heard of him or Ossian, I don't tend to listen to mainstream music if I can help it but what a talent..luv it, very honest and fantastic sound 👍
Tony Cuffe's guitar playing was absolutely outstanding, he has to be one of the top three folk players of all time. His accompaniment was always perfect - he knew just which bass notes and chord inversions to use to make the tune sound pretty and interesting. And his technique was unmatched. One of the strongest right hands you will ever hear - just listen to his work on the "A Fisherman's Song For Collecting Seals" medley on Ossian's "Seal Song." He absolutely carried the whole band in those instrumentals - his guitar just rings like a bell and cuts through the whole sound, even when everyone else is really going for it. Amazing. His playing and singing on Alba's one and only album is fantastic as well.
One of my favourite singers. He left us too soon.
CaTheYowes i wish i had the chance to meet him, he was my mum’s cousin
has done more for my appreciation of life and guitar, simply love openly given, when we lost Tony there is no measure of the treasure the world lost
Beautiful song ❤️ - great musician 👌
I agree with all the previous replies to this video. Tony was one of a kind. A unique guitarist and singer. He will be sorely missed... a great loss to Folk music. Thank you for sharing this footage of him with us. I am in debt to you.
Thank you so very much for this. Tony was such a wonderful person.
love this performance, so feeling. I will share it with friends.
This is just magic. Warm and plangent and perfectly delivered. It kills me. I'm only just discoveirng this man, sad to have misse dhim when he was around (though perhaps I'd have been too young to appreciate). Thank you for uploading this footage!
Beautiful song ❤️
I saw Tony at The Barn at UC Riverside in the mid-90s - did his cool puppet thing. It's September 2018, and I still have him on my mp3 player (old, yeah, I know) and listen to "When First I Went To Caledonia" regularly. I just saw his former bandmate, Billy Jackson, in concert in Dover, New Hampshire, and listen to my one Ossian album as well. I'm so glad I went to all these concerts in my youth. Thanks for this wonderful upload.
Just came across Tony Cuffe playing with Ossian! on the song Chairlie O Chairlie,posted by Douglas Hadden....couldn't believe my eyes when it appeared on youtube....never thought I would see this group again...check it out!!
thank you for putting this on. I have often wished I could have heard Tony talk about his songs as he does here. I love it. You get a glimpse of his love of the music, the tales and his warmth. Thanks.
I passed this on to Rumbjacks just now. Sandy Denny in mind.
Is why we "rant and rail" ... not from madness. From pain, and love.
godbless any and all who follow Ossian's path, and Tony's inspiration
*_Mangalam!_*
I'm pretty good with docs ... but have not located lyrics of Tony's work here.
I am stunned to see this, I last saw him perform at Gaelic Roots in Boston, 2001 I think...his last public performance, I think he died a year later. I first met him in NC at the Swannanoa Celtic week, and was blown away by the beautiful songs, musicianship and humor.
I saw him at Boston College, too, Virginia. A gracious, lovely man.
Great musician Tony was......unique......
grande tony r.i.p. dall'italia...
I've liked Scottish folk for 30 years, not an offinonado tho, surprised I've never heard of him or Ossian, I don't tend to listen to mainstream music if I can help it but what a talent..luv it, very honest and fantastic sound 👍
Tony unfortunately has throat ache here...