Rick Mercer, Jr.
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Subject: I Miss Kevin Sutter
Dear Bob,
Kevin's sudden death really took me down. At this state of my life my friends are falling like flies. We used to speak twice a week… shoot the shit… talk radio/record business gossip… recent music and sports.
He made me swear not to talk about his decision to retire. Honestly, that was a decision that came 5 years too late. The business was not kind to him. The new era of radio programmers were disrespectful and it would piss him off. Trust me, none of these people have any sense to speak of. He would have to take inferior projects to make his "nut".
The last few weeks our calls have had an air of tension. He was disinterested in everything I talked about and would hang up on me for no reason. I knew his health was failing by the tenor of his voice. He had an appointment with his doctor, but he felt too weak to attend. I advised him he needed to go. He couldn't drive. I suggested that he take Uber or a taxi. Again, Kevin would chastise me for offering my opinion and asked me not to mention his weak state to anybody; which I complied with.
I owe so much to Sutter. I was fired from Arista when I returned from my honeymoon. Pretty fucked up!
He hired me and it was the beginning of a great relationship. My career blossomed under his tutelage. We had been friends for over 35 years.
I miss him already…
There are lessons in all this… Always call your friends no matter how busy you are. Even a voice mail or a text would suffice. Don't brood.. Don't carry a grudge…
Jeff Laufer
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From: Ian Anderson
To: Jim McKeon
I received word of this a couple of days ago via Anne Leighton, our US PR. I also read the Bob Lefsetz obituary.
Very sad to hear of his passing and last few years of struggle. When we last met in Seattle at a concert, I felt that things were not great for him.
He was a huge help and inspiration regarding the promotion of Crest Of A Knave and kept things rolling on the PR front relentlessly. Drove me mad, sometimes, but the end result was a gold album and a Grammy. In fact, Kevin was the one to call me in the UK very late at night to inform us of the Grammy win.
Salutations,
Ian Anderson
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Devastated and distraught about Kevin.
Your tribute is beautiful. You give his Life and career well deserved meaning.
We've stayed in touch over the years. As soon as we announced the release of a vinyl album, he would reach out to ask for one… which I gladly sent immediately.
We had incredible Road-trips together.
His expressions were priceless… "dude" especially.
We went to see David Lynch's "Blue Velvet" when it opened and he became obsessed, quoting the characters constantly.
He spearheaded Icehouse, Tull, Divinyls and so much more.
Our World Party and Waterboys campaigns were famous.
Spoke with Chris Wright today who felt horrible about our loss.
He was so proud to buy his home in Seacliff, LI . It was an amazing house.
Lots and lots of stories.
Thank you for writing about our dear Friend and esteemed colleague. He should not be forgotten.
Daniel Glass
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I worked with, "The Sutter-man" at M3 and then followed him to, "Tazmoe Music"! You would be hard pressed to find another promotion man more passionate about music and the job of promoting it. Simply, one of a kind and his passing hits me hard and leaves me riddled with guilt that I failed to keep in better contact with him. You always think there's never ending time and opportunity to keep in touch until it's too late. "The Sutter-man" will be missed.
Mark "Rad-man" Radway
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Sorry to hear about Kevin.
The Silencers owed him a debt of gratitude for his support in the USA.
Even when the American label company turned their backs on us, he didn't. We so wanted to tour the States again to promote A Blues for Buddha, they never did forgive us for not going right back into the studio after the '87 US tour, instead we toured Europe.
By the time we released the 2nd album in"89 they were over us and onto the next thing.
Thanks again for your kind words about our music, much appreciated.
All the best
Martin Hanlin
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Wounded, indeed.
I met Kevin in Houston, 1992, the 9th Annual KLOL Rock&Roll Auction….instant brother. You know exactly what I mean.
Like you, we talked every week for many years, then it eventually tapered off. That's just life sometimes. Still, every couple months, Sutterman would call, ask about me, then proceed to tell me everything about HIM! Just part of his charm.
I'm only learning of his passing from your email, and I am crushed.
Thank you for such a passionate and poignant tribute to a wonderful soul.
RIP SUTTERMAN!
Gary Poole
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Thanks for honoring Kevin. He took on my band Visitor Jim and worked us to Triple A radio via his company Tazmoe. He was working Jack Johnson's debut at the same time, guess which one blew up? But he always treated us with respect. If he liked your music and believed in you as a person, he'd work hard for you. Respect, Kevin
Jimmy Leslie
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Very sad news, Bob, I'm so sorry to hear this. I was the promotions coordinator at Chrysalis with Daniel and Kevin for a short time and interned at IRS before that when Kevin was there. Kevin was kind, fun to be around because I felt he knew so much, a hard worker, intense and smart, helpful when I was just starting out, and a super all-around music guy. I had so much respect for him, seeing him every day doing his job well at Chrysalis every day.
Difficult news.
Beth Winer
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I worked over the last 8-9 years on various projects with Kevin. Every phone call was over 30 mins. Likely an hour. He was one of a kind. We recommended each other often for projects. We liked working together. I remember his bike accident when he had an episode. That was scary but he Bounced back. We talked divorce and life He always asked about my kids.
I don't know the last time I talked to him. During the pandemic I know.
Damn. Really bummed to see this one today.
Life is short.
Melissa Dragich
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Oh my gosh! This was certainly not news I was expecting to hear when checking my phone a moment ago on Saturday night.
Kevin and I worked at I.R.S. Records together in the '80s, on opposite coasts, and in nearly opposite disciplines (press - radio). But he couldn't have been nicer and more helpful, always the extra mile, always the extra phone call...hell, if I needed anything at all, especially while 3,000 miles from home, Kevin was always there to tell me which subway to take, where the stage door was, what the best deli was...he even introduced me to a few key New York press people who became valuable contacts and friends.
Kevin introduced me to the word "geek." He went one farther to coin the word "geekdom" The word seemed more disparaging in 1984 than it is in 2022 when its something of a compliment, tantamount to "maven." No matter the context, I think of him every time the word comes up in daily dialogue.
Kevin and I worked a few projects as indies in the past decade or two. There are a lot of great Triple A promo specialists, but there was something special about Kevin — his passion, his drive, his caring, and, yes, his absolutely endearing geekdom.
Rest up, old soldier until we meet again.
Cary Baker
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Kevin was a good man. He was always passionate about the music. We weren't best friends, but we would talk often when I worked at Geffen after he moved to Seattle.
He always said good things about you.
Jim told me of his passing yesterday.
You spoke of him very fondly and beautiful.
Sorry you lost a good friend.
It is very sad.
Alan Oreman
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Remember Kevin from Buffalo when my gig would take me there to write up some band. Nice guy. Good times. Sad side two.
Jonathan Gross
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He worked some singles for us, he was a good guy, sad to hear this.
Mister Zero
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Very sad. Too young. A very good record man. Very sad.
Bob Morellli
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That's a great and nice thing you did on Kevin. He was a good guy and a music lover. You got it really right. He was always a big defender of yours too as you know :) You're a good man for doing this. You don't get to hear that often do you. .)
Thanks
Harry Levy
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Thank you for this. I was worried that his passing would go unnoticed in these batsh@#t crazy times.
I met The Sutterman in 82. My passion has always been music (skiing was business for me) and over the years he introduced my to so many artists. With Kevin I was able to dine with Ian Anderson (who was not in a great mood that eve), hung with Huey Lewis, Blue Rodeo and many others. His care packages came regularly and he turned me on to so much new music.
Kevin (and Glynnis) are the Godparents for our oldest. We were tight for 40 years. We had regular check in's where as you know, you were a listener on those calls.
The music business is brutal and most of the time makes no sense - he lived through it all, the highs and too many lows. At Christmas I would send him gift cards to Costco to feed his DVD addiction. I could never repay him for the music he turned me on to - and yes I still listen to Was Not Was and Go West.
He loved his artists and passionately promoting them with anyone. He made me feel like a music industry insider. Loved that guy (he still called me Dude!).
Stay safe.
Mike
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Very moving column about a former music biz compadre.
You portrayed Kevin's vibe so well. (He was especially active with us when my brother and I ran the Triple A Summits in Boulder for Gavin up 'til 2000.) Your piece stresses the deeeeeeep camaraderie of our biz, one I only partially found later in the publishing/literary set with editors, lit agents, writing clients…blah blah. Would have been IMPOSSIBLE to replicate something so priceless anyway.
You touched on the importance of creative career reinvention later on, which some talented passionate lifers like Kevin simply couldn't achieve. You often say it's every man for himself, and as gratifying and rewarding our fraternity was/is, many scale a deep chasm towards the end. Maybe that's the price you pay when you do something you adore for a living…
Keith Zimmerman
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I can't say I knew Kevin well - but I worked several of those small releases with him. I always enjoyed his love of the game and life. Loved that he called himself Sutterman. He was one of my tribe. I am so sorry to hear that he has passed.
Adam Lewis
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I'm so sad reading this. We spent a wonderful day with him, he drove us all around Seattle in his Acura. He spoke of his role cheering you on through your trials he was so gentle and caring. He won me over when we were driving through residential neighborhoods and he pointed and said "I love this house, it's just so cute"
Wendy Morris
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Wow. Thanks for the memories and words. I hired him to do local in Buffalo a real music junkie- I remember the stories he would tell me about his relationship with Ian Anderson. The above is the same as the below and the below is the above ! Eternal peace-crank it loud and have some of Ian's salmon for me!
Harvey Leeds
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Sorry to hear Bob. Such a great era when so many of us were in it for the music, always championing a longshot. Kevin was a wonderful guy and true to his passion. It is not easy to let go of one's passion in the face of massive changes. And yet to Kevin's detriment or his credit, he was determined to hang on as long as there was a glimmer of hope.
John Brodey
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Nice piece. I wish there was a fund established years ago for industry vets like Kevin. I remember suggesting it but no support then.. I do think "Music Cares" has something to help music vets, but I could be wrong.
I have helped some old record biz pals with "Go Fund Me",
Thanx again for the good read
Stan Goman
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That's a very sad story about Kevin. We spoke on the phone a few times, probably about those things you describe as 'obscure indie records' but he was a music guy. That's what I liked about him. Always coming up with ideas and showing enthusiasm.
Then I got to go to Seattle for the first time, probably around 2007 or 08, and I looked him up and called. He asked where I was staying and said he'd come around and show me Seattle. Long story short, that's exactly what we did. I watched Seattle from his car window and he showed me the sights and finally the cityscape from across the sound. Then he invited me back to his apartment to listen to some tunes and we watched DVDs and just soaked in great music. He was a big fan of David Gilmore live in concert at the time. We traded albums and then he dropped me back to my hotel.
I never forgot those few hours we spent together and one story in particular. Being an Aussie, as we were driving around I asked him how he felt about everyone in the US carrying guns. Its still bizarre to me that the sensible majority have never stood up to the power of the NRA in your weird country, where gun deaths per capita are higher than anywhere else in the world and yet people think they're safer for actually carrying them. So I said to Kevin, what happens on the roads when the inevitable road rage occurs, do people actually brandish guns? And he said yeh, it was a problem, but he had a solution. As we drove along the highway he reached below his drivers seat and pulled out a massive gun and said, "well I've got a bigger one". I looked in astonishment as he put it back away, more than bemused at this typical display of American bravado.
Kevin, was one of the good ones. VALE.
Rob Scott
The SourceSeeker
Noosa
Australia
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Thanks for your great piece about Kevin Sutter
Kevin was one of my best friends. We met over 35 years ago when he worked for Chrysalis and I was MD at WPYX in Albany, NY. Years later I was looking to make a career change and wanted to get involved with developing websites - this was at the dawn of the Internet age in the mid-90's. Kevin introduced me to Jim McKeon in Seattle and we started a business that continues to this day. I moved to the Seattle area and Kevin and I spent lots of time together - listening to and talking about music, going to shows , and hd loved to show me all the great places to enjoy in the Pacific.Northwest.
My internet company shared offices with Kevin and Jim's firm M3. Both as a former MD and PD on the receiving end of his calls and as a fly on the wall at the M3 offices, I witnessed Kevin's unique style of working records. He was passionate and loved to talk about the music he worked and loved. As years went on we had numerous meals together, conversations about the Seahawks and Mariners, and shared more adventures than I can remember.
Today I join all the others who are truly saddened that we will never get to enjoy his company again. He was a great friend and this is a tragic loss
RIP Sutterman .
Yours,
Joe Moss
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Thank you for your very kind and heartfelt remembrance of Kevin.
He was a great Promotion man who possessed more than an ample amount of kindness and compassion.
He was passionate and when he committed to a project, he was steadfast in his pursuit of airplay and artist development, which served him well over the years. Radio people knew he meant what he said. (That can be rare in this business)
I will miss our conversations and our mutual obsession with finding the next great undiscovered artist.
Also, he touched so many artists' lives in his career and all of us that knew him were well aware he was a force for good in the world.
Kevin will be missed by so many.
Jeff Cook
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Pic: bit.ly/3lCTS0N
Back row: Kevin Sutter, uncertain, Al Jardine, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, yours truly, Bruce Johnston, Walter Winnick
Front row was Brian Wilson, and several staffers from WBBF / WMJQ Rochester NY.
Oh, the stories I could tell...
You got the essence of my friend of 42 years mostly right, and for that I thank you.
Barry Lyons
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Dear Bob,
I just wanted to say "Hello," and my condolences to you and everyone who knew and adored the Sutterman. He will always be with us in his humor and uncontrollable wit! I read your letter re Kevin passing away...and just would like to correct some facts and him and I.
First, we met on Long Island, and I was managing a record/CD store in Roslyn NY...called Stone Cellar. He was the local promo guy for Epic... Our first date was a head banging band from England at My Father's Place, owned by Eppy... It was wild and fun. He got promoted to Buffalo and I moved back to Vermont... We dated and got married one year later in Buffalo and eventually moved back to Long Island.
We were married for 14 years.... The reason we split up was because of substance abuse. After 3 years of me going to therapy for what was going on, and the complications associated with substance abuse (coke) I gave him an ultimatum to get help and he wouldn't. So I moved to Scottsdale to take care of my grandmother. We almost got back together 3 times, but the drugs were still in the picture. Unfortunately Kevin was doing coke with friends the day he had a massive heart attack and a stroke.
My Dad, a Neurologist, loved Kevin. My entire family did. They were upset when we got divorced. My Dad called Kevin every day at his hospital, when he had his heart attack in SEA; we all did, he wouldn't let us come see him....Not for years after. I am not sure where you got your information from , but my family LOVED him, and never thought they were better than him. I can't believe he would think that, so please if you can correct that piece of info. Way off base.
I'm not sure that you knew that Kevin was a huge classical music and country fan as well. He and my Dad shared the love of Classical music, and Kevin would find rare pieces of music and send them on to my Dad, and my Dad supplied some of the Classical music with Classical stations in Montreal, Burlington, and Toronto. My Dad was always in touch w him... My entire family always has been in touch w Kevin. Me as well. We talked regularly, and most recently he was upset that everyone around him was dying.... Childhood friends, record /radio friends. He was sometimes in a dark place some of the time and didn't want to talk.
We had annual Christmas parties where we started with a blank tree, and everyone had to bring an ornament, we had great food, fun people and great music and times. He rescued ourt cat ENA out of the garbage can. Named ENO until we found out it was a girl (hee hee).
We had mostly great times and I am very sad in finding out this news. I was the first person they called from the coroner's office. I am deeply saddened. He had great jokes, did a church lady impression and always had us rolling in laughter telling jokes. My family is very sad, and I just want you to have the facts straight... He was a great husband. We are very sad.
Glynis Sutter
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