Such Sadness
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Earlier this week I found my dear friend and long-time bandmate Marcus Turner dead in his bed at home. This has been such a shock not only to mee but to the whole folk community throughout New Zealand and even overseas. Marcus had only just booked a European tour for September - I wrote his bio:
"Multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter Marcus Turner is a New Zealand folk music icon, regularly guesting at New Zealand folk festivals and clubs for more than 30 years. Since the unlikely minor hit single of his satirical Civil Service Song in the early 80s and his stint as a young television personality – he has become renowned for his astute song writing, from the dark to the endearing; from the political to the exceedingly funny.
Marcus gained international recognition with performances at Australian and British festivals, coming to the attention of many other performers who have covered his songs, most notably Andy Irvine who recorded When the Boys Are On Parade.
Based in Dunedin, living on the Otago Peninsula he finds no shortage of inspiration in the natural world around him, with a cynical eye for its future. Add to this his interest in, and considerable
repertoire of music from other traditions and languages, no performance is ever predictable or dull. It is no overstatement to say the audience is always left wanting more."
Little did I think it would be his eulogy.
Mike Moroney
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