Pete Sutherland’s passing on November 30 left a deep void in Vermont’s traditional music community that will take a long time to fill. Sutherland, 71, was arguably Vermont’s dean of traditional music.
“If you want to learn about the music that is unique to Central Vermont, look no further than Pete Sutherland,” wrote traditional Cabot musician Dana Robinson on Facebook.
“I don’t know of anyone who has had such a profound and positive impact on Vermont’s acoustic music scene. Pete’s original songs are sometimes hilarious and poignant, and always deftly pay attention.” Some are already well-worn, and his fiddle-playing swing is legendary as you can see from a mile away.Pete’s knowledge of song sources is encyclopedic. When Pete joins a session, the playing always goes up a notch or three.”
Since the late 1960s, the Vermont native has influenced many other musicians with his fiddle, banjo playing, singing, songwriting, teaching and album making. During his 50-plus-year career, Sutherland has many important Vermont records, including The Arm and Hammerstring Band, Rhythm in Shoes, Clayfoot Strutters, Metamora, Woodshed All Stars, Woods Tea Company, and Pete’s Posse. I played with a band. He also played the annual role as music producer for his concerts in the East He He Church held with Deb He Flanders Old West He He Church Summer and was also a principal performer. His collaboration with singer Patti Casey on the long-running “Winter Tales” at the Vermont Stage in Burlington and Old West Church will be missed.
Sutherland’s signature fiddle playing has graced numerous album listings, and his songs have become staples of Vermont songbooks. In Vermont he has been writing about music for over 16 years and we have had many opportunities to review his work. One article writes: He is a talented Irish style fiddler, while some rate him as perhaps the best old-fashioned fiddler in the country. ”
“He attracts great musicians like Bernie Sanders gets votes,” we wrote. A musician with a virtuosity, his years of playing have brought him to a place where other musicians jumped at the opportunity to share the stage with him.”
In an interview, Sutherland said, “I like to put together my musical life and bring my musical friends into the performance.
The website for his last band, Pete’s Posse, accurately describes Sutherland as follows: ”
The American Festival of Fiddle Tunes said that Pete “shines with the pure spirit that covers the map and imbues every part of his music, and cannot help but move everyone who hears him.” He has served on the staff of dance and music camps from the Coast to the Coast and is widely known at home as a year-round teacher and performer.”
Friends and many of the musicians themselves took to Facebook to share their memories and tributes when Sutherland died.
“Pete Sutherland plays the fiddle like he sings through it, fiery and gentle at the same time,” writes Melody Johnson. “As a guitarist and pianist he had an incredibly rich imagination for chords, harmonies and counterpoint. And as a songwriter Pete has a lot of humanity and wisdom in his writing.”
Eric Garza wrote, “He was too humble to admit it, but he was a living legend in the folk scene here in the Northeast.”
A close friend of Sutherland’s, Cabot’s Lee Blackwell, had known him for 40 years. “Pete was a great singing and dancing man,” he said.
Blackwell revealed a Pete Sutherland that others may not have known: Pete loved the Beatles and learned about chords and chord progressions that way.
“In later years he became really good at teaching children. He was dedicated to it and lived for it,” Blackwell continued. “I think over the last ten years, he felt that was his greatest success. Pete brought out some great new talent with his teaching and mentoring.”
Sutherland was a humble man. As Blackwell remembers, “He wasn’t interested in being a big personality. He was interested in passing on the traditions he knew so well.”
Blackwell said his friend was “a natural, super mentor who tried to empower kids who wanted to do music on their own. He was able to identify with kids and give them what they needed.” I made it.”
While undergoing chemotherapy last winter and living with Blackwell, Sutherland taught online.
“He really didn’t stop.”
Middlesex native Larry Becker shared a home in Burlington in the 1970s with Sutherland and his ex-wife Karen.
“He was in charge early in his career at the time,” said Becker. “He had a driving rhythm. He was always a leader in the music that was developing in Burlington at the time.”
Becker said that Sutherland was “a great collaborator, bringing together many people to play many styles of music. was a great proponent of the ability to
Patti Casey, a popular Montpelier singer-songwriter with several groups, including Woods Tea Company, had known Sutherland for years. “He touched a lot of people with his music,” she said. “For me, playing with Pete, his fiddle and keyboard playing, was his signature sound. He was playful and skilful. He was into music and lived for it. is.”
She reflected, “I think he lived longer than he actually did because he wanted to keep playing and sharing music.”
Curry native Tom McKenzie also left us with fond memories. He threw a very wide net. He stayed true to the traditions of many of the styles he played. I learned more songs from him than anyone else. ”
Sutherland’s legacy has been “only to share his music. In the last few years he has been interested in passing music on to younger generations. Many of the children he has worked with are No longer a child, working as a musician.
“Music was his life. He played and interacted with many people.”
“His musical breadth was amazing,” said RD Eno of Cabot. “He was very eclectic, crossing over into different styles, even in a single composition. As a tuner, his range of musical references was vast. He had a disgusted smile on his face.”
Eno described him as “a great teacher. He was humble and discreet when teaching. He was a caring person and a songwriter.”
Sutherland and Mark Sustic founded Young Tradition Vermont. It focuses on learning and performing traditional music and dance, working with players, singers and dancers in and near his teens.
“He was a great musician and a talented and insightful teacher,” Sustick said. “He was able to build a good relationship with the children and respected where they came from and where they were going.”
Oliver Scanlon, now 27, took Sutherland lessons at the age of 10 as part of an after-school contra dance band and program at the Lake Champlain Waldorf School in Shelburne. Member of Pete’s Posse with Tristan Henderson.
“Despite being an 18-year-old amateur musician, he never made me feel that way. He made me feel equal,” Scanlon said. I was.
“What drew people in was the casual respect he had for young people, and the wealth of knowledge and exciting play that always captivated people,” Scanlon said. “He had a very intelligent wit and a great sense of humor.”
Scanlon sees Sutherland as: He has taught me a lot through music and our friendship, but I am not the only one. ”
For those unfamiliar with Pete Sutherland, you can stream his music on Pete Sutherland’s Google. www.youtube.com His music can also be streamed on Spotify. Check out his website on Pete’s Posse www.petesposse.com The band’s three albums.