Tony Cuffe DavyStuart @ St Andrews Folk Club 8-1-78 (artiste only)

TONY CUFFE: one of the most distinctive voices of modern folk song in Scotland. Born in Greenock in 1954 singer/guitarist Tony was one of five brothers from a musical family, the oldest played Highland pipes,while his younger brother was well known as a guitarist on the rock scene.
Attending Glasgow University, in the 70’s, Tony was influenced by Carthy, Pentangle, Fisher and others and was soon performing on the Scottish folk scene. First co-founding “Alba” then as a member of “Jock Tamson’s Bairns” and “Ossian” with whom he recorded four albums.
Tony toured extensively through Europe and North America settling in 1989 in Arlington, Massachusets. He released 2 solo albums and contributed to many others.
Tony passed away from cancer on the 18 December, 2001, in Arlington, aged 47.
DAVY STUART: Brought up in Edinburgh, Davy was exposed to a wide variety of music. Piano lessons led to a move to guitar then mandolin, fiddle and bozouki thereafter.
University life in the 70’s introduced him to “Sandy Bells” and the impromptu sessions of the Folk Revival. A number of groups rose out of those sessions and Davy soon joined a newly formed “Alba” along with fellow member Tony Cuffe. The group toured Europe where there was a great following for Scottish music. When the group disbanded Davy and Tony continued to perform as a duo.
A period with Scots band Crannachan followed - playing the Cambridge and Winterfolk (Holland) festivals as well as numerous clubs and festivals throughout Scotland.
In ‘88 Davy was invited to join Scottish band “Rua” as they were about to make their 2nd album “ Caves of the Sun” with Davy playing Bouzouki, Viola and Harmonium. A tour of New Zealand followed at the end of that year and a return some six months later for his own wedding. The group played New Zealand and Australia from ‘89 on and released “Live in the Cathedral” on the New Zealand “Ode Records” label with Davy performing backing vocals and accompaniment on Guitar and Mandola.
Today he performs regularly with New Zealand’s top Celtic harpist, Helen Webby - their repertoire ranging from the traditional music of Ireland and Scotland to newly composed material from NZ and elsewhere.



[FOOTNOTE]
Thanks to Tony Furnell and Colin Harper for restoration work on the audio tape from which this recording was extracted.
Also on this reel is a recording of Dick Gaughan appearing at St Andrrews on 18.12.77, if interested please browse: Dick Gaughan: R/evolution 1969-84