Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 45

Thread: David Surette has passed.

  1. #1
    plectrist Ryk Loske's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Craftsbury, Vermont
    Posts
    695

    Default David Surette has passed.

    We've lost a wonderful human being who was a superb musician.
    mandolin ~ guitar ~ banjo

    "I'm convinced that playing well is not so much a technique as it is a decision. It's a commitment to do the work, strive for concentration, get strategic about advancing by steps, and push patiently forward toward the goal." Dan Crary

  2. #2
    Administrator Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Lawrence, KS
    Posts
    3,835
    Blog Entries
    14

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    Rest in peace, David. It's announced on his Facebook page.

  3. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Mandolin Cafe For This Useful Post:


  4. #3
    Registered User EvanElk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    428

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    Very sad news. I loved his playing and his spirit...so sorry to hear that he passed. Condolences to his family and friends
    2003 John Sullivan F5 "Roy"
    2015 Heiden F Artist
    2019 Ruhland F5 #35

  5. #4

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    This one is hitting hard. I only got to be around him a little bit at Swananoa Gathering a few years ago where he was teaching, but seemed like a great, kind soul and a wonderful musician. Sending my condolences.

  6. #5
    Registered User Randi Gormley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Connecticut, USA
    Posts
    3,379

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    So sorry to see this -- damn. condolences to his family near and far.
    --------------------------------
    1920 Lyon & Healy bowlback
    1923 Gibson A-1 snakehead
    1952 Strad-o-lin
    1983 Giannini ABSM1 bandolim
    2009 Giannini GBSM3 bandolim
    2011 Eastman MD305

  7. #6
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Co. Mayo, Ireland
    Posts
    3,570

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    Sad news indeed, may he Rest in Peace, condolences to his family and friends.
    2018 Girouard Concert oval A
    2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
    2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
    1969 Martin 00-18




    my Youtube channel

  8. #7

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    So sorry to hear of David's passing. Condolences.

    I always loved this video of David playing Little Martha. So sweet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLvDHv0jldM

    Last edited by Mandolin Cafe; Dec-22-2021 at 8:37pm.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

  9. The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to Don Grieser For This Useful Post:


  10. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Posts
    14

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    May David’s memory be a blessing. The video Don posted was the one that introduced me to David and his music. A couple years ago I emailed him seeking out the tab for his rendition and he quickly responded. He was kind and friendly, and his music is beautiful, accessible, and eternal. His gentle soul surrounds us. Peace.

  11. The following members say thank you to ago for this post:


  12. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Invergordon,Scotland
    Posts
    2,860

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    So sorry to hear this. I always loved his playing.
    I met him once at his home a long time ago and we were in touch a bit over the years. He was a really nice man. Deepest condolences to Susie and their daughters.
    David A. Gordon

  13. The following members say thank you to Dagger Gordon for this post:


  14. #10
    Registered User Bren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, Scotland
    Posts
    1,036

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    RIP.
    I just started exploring his music the last couple of years and i liked everything I heard.
    Bren

  15. #11

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    Can’t see the Facebook page without an account.

    This is very sad news…I was never a fan of Irish/Celtic playing until I took a workshop with David. Loved him, his teaching, and playing…RIP David and deepest condolences to his friends and family.
    Northfield F5M #268, AT02 #7

  16. The following members say thank you to bigskygirl for this post:


  17. #12

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    As I hale from North Conway, NH, my first exposure to David was when I saw him ski at Mt. Cranmore, and for the life of me, I could not get him onto my junior high ski team. Time flies, and soon (?) we were in lineup together at the Wildcat Mountain Ski School.
    As they say, the rest is history......
    If my feeble memory serves me correctly, I had seen him on NH Public TV with the (late) Bill Staines and soon after I had seen his (late) retired father in the staff lounge at Kennett High School, while Dick was a substitute for the day....he had been principal at the Bartlett Elementary School....and I had to comment on how David had finally arrived....don't ask me how long ago that was......Dick just rolled with it....
    I had to make sure I signed up for EVERY workshop of his at the NH Fiddleheads Jam Camp....what a GRRRRREAT teacher, besides being such MAAAVALOUS musician and a wonderful human being, and having 3 talented, musical women in his life, with wife Susie and two daughters...Isa plays with Lula Wiles.
    I attended just about every Fiddleheads from 2004-2015, and tried to play in the band that David lead on our fun filled Saturday nights.
    Part of the the Fiddleheads learning experience was the ad hoc bands that were formed on Saturday afternoon for the evening entertainment.
    One VERY special treat was when David and Susie backed up my good friend Rebecca and myself on the Sunday morning Open Mic when we did "One More Dollar".....
    Boy Howdy....we have NEVER sounded so good.
    This probably WAY TMI, but I have been just so blessed to be a tiny part of David Surette's musical life that I just wanted to share it here.
    We have just lost TOO many gems in the last few years.

  18. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to PhilO For This Useful Post:


  19. #13
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    5,658

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    What a wonderful musical legacy he leaves behind. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

  20. #14
    Registered User danielpatrick's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    543

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    Very sad news….

  21. #15
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    1,987

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    So sad. I'd never met him, though I'd hoped to.
    His family will be in my prayers.

  22. #16
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Auburn, Washington
    Posts
    1,553

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    Very sad to read this. Rest in peace, Sir.
    Worlds okay-ist mandolin player

    Relative newcomer

    Weber Yellowstone F (2015)
    Red Valley EM (2018)
    Howard Morris Blue A4 (2023)
    Flatiron 1N (1982)

    https://youtube.com/@zachwilson54?si=iGum4xPlSj0pbcjj

  23. #17
    Registered User amowry's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Bend, OR
    Posts
    2,168

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    So sorry to hear this. He’s been a big influence on me since we first crossed paths in the contra dance world 30+ years ago.

  24. #18
    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    3,320

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    Very sad. RIP David, you will be missed.

  25. #19
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Chicago, IL,USA
    Posts
    613

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    A truly great musician, wonderful gentleman, positive, cheerful, generous spirit. At the camps he would be called upon to accompany all the artists, in every style. his beautiful sense of rhythm and harmony carried every show, thanks to his selflessness and keen listening. One after another the performers would be introduced and after the second or third one the MC would be laughing..."and on guitar is David Surrette, imagine that!"--there seemed to be nothing he couldn't play and play with groove and feel. Incredible and so inspiring and wonderful to witness.

    The Celtic tunes were David's specialty, but he gave so much to the art of mandolin playing in general...I've heard him play grass, swing, Dawg, classical, old-time, Italian, and he wrote all manner of tunes as well. He made his own camp, March Mandolin Festival, and it was just as eclectic and inspiring and supportive and helpful as he was.

    I'm grateful for our friendship and cherish the times I got to be around David Surrette. I'm going to continue to try to be more like him.

  26. The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to Don Stiernberg For This Useful Post:


  27. #20

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    It was a pleasure to hear him play Frieze Britches in person at Swannanoa 2017 where I was first introduced to his teaching and music, and on the Mandolin Mondays video. On my drive back from Ashville to Chicago, one of the two CDs I had with me was David's The Green Mandolin, which I played constantly. Devanney's Goat, Pidgeon on the Gate, Frieze Britches, the various An Dros and Breton tunes he taught soon were added to my list of tunes I knew. In 2019, I attended Mandolin Camp North, and took as many of David's classes as I could. I was able to choose David for my one-on-one lesson, and I will never forget playing Frieze Britches for him, and he accurately stated after I finished "Well, there is a lot we can work with there". To me, as a somewhat new mandolin player, that was a terrific compliment from a musician I really admired. The sound he produced from his pumpkin top Girouard custom mandolin led me to commission my own mandolin from Max and Laurie. Every time I pick up my mandolin, I will think of David.

    TheFriezeBreeches.mp3

    Girouard Custom Studio A Oval
    P.W. Crump OM-III

  28. The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Gary Leonard For This Useful Post:


  29. #21
    Registered User samlyman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Post Falls, Idaho
    Posts
    295

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    May the 4 winds blow you safely home David!

  30. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to samlyman For This Useful Post:


  31. #22
    Registered User seankeegan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    East Coast of Ireland
    Posts
    246

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    Very sad news. May he rest in peace.

  32. #23
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    14,284
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    I appreciated his music and his participation here. My sincere condolences to his friends and family,

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  33. #24
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    San Diego CA
    Posts
    2,200

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    Very saddened to hear this. I thought he was doing better, and was actually hoping to join his online class once he got better. Always loved his playing, but never got a chance to meet him in person. It's a big loss to the music community, and my sincerest condolences to his friends and family.

  34. The following members say thank you to Clement Barrera-Ng for this post:


  35. #25

    Default Re: David Surette has passed.

    Very sad news, David is such an amazing musician.

    For you Grateful Dead fans out there (this video was how I found out about David):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaCCBwJ8Iwo

  36. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Vince Pacific For This Useful Post:


Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •