Chapter 2:12
"Tribute to Herald Sutton"
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| Ron Daniel |
The death of the late Herald Sutton took us all by surprise. However this article is not to speak of his death but celebrate the propitious life he lived. His time with us on this earth was short but what he was able to accomplish, in such a short time, astounds me to this day. This article will speak of "Sutton" as one of God's finest creations and one of Nevis' bests sons. In Sutton you had a man who went beyond denominational politics to bless others with his music; a man who went beyond the level expected by local musicians to set new standards of musical excellence and a man who went beyond the usual level of kindness for the good of others.
I never thought that Sutton was that old but it sill surprises me that he was so young when he died. Sutton in his short 40 years on this earth had been leading school choirs, church choirs and other bands for more than twenty years. Sutton was a devoted Seventh Day Adventist Christian and led so many choirs for the Seven Day Adventist Church locally, regionally and internationally. However Sutton had also either initiated and or led a variety of choirs in other churches such as the Combined Wesleyan Youth Choir, the Jessups New Testament Church of God Choir, the Eden Brown Church of God Choir inter alia. One person commented how five days after his death at a Methodist Church in Sandy Point, St Kitts a minute of silence was observed during a concert they were having in honour of Sutton and the work he did with their choir. At times, I wonder if he frequented the most churches in the island because he would attend his Seventh Day Adventist Church on Saturday then attend other churches on Sundays where he would play for them. In his short life, he has the distinction of having played at the most churches in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis. This does not only speak to concerts but regular morning services whether they be on a Saturday or Sunday. In so doing, he transcended the politics of denominations that exists in our churches and was simply a servant of the King wherever the Lord asked him to serve.
Sutton's love and passion for music could only be juxtaposed to his love and compassion for people. I got to know "Sutton" as he asked us to call him like so many others did; through my days in a school choir. As children, we always knew when our teachers knew what they were talking about and when they didn't. When it came to music, there was no doubting his genius and to this day, I have never heard anyone question his opinion on anything regarding music. With Sutton, when it came to music, it was as if he always knew what he was doing, all the time. Sutton just always knew best even though he was so humble about it. He would never say, "I am a musical maestro and you will do what I' say but his humble opinion on music always seemed indubitable. The fact that he cared about his music enough to pursue a degree overseas in music is testament to his determination to be a special musician. When he was performing, there was no musician like him. He made music come alive and he played at a level that hitherto had never been expected from a local musician. Whether he was playing at a church, a concert or a hotel, the way he played always exceeded the expectations. With Sutton it was not merely that there was no musical genre that he couldn't play; it was that there was no muscle genre that he didn't perfect. He was that great but he was even more humble about his accomplishment.
For one to say that Sutton loved people is a grave understatement. I think Sutton's only enemy must have been Satan himself. His house and his heart was always open to all and he would have it no other way. Sutton would have taken many young musicians under his wings and made them better because of it. Sutton was a pianist but one of Nevis' best bass guitarists commented that everything he knows about music, Sutton taught him. He was not one that kept knowledge to himself but was quick to teach whoever was willing to learn. The story is told of how Sutton used to go shopping with some of the younger members of the church and all they had to do was throw in what they wanted in the shopping basket and Sutton would buy it for them with no questions asked. He didn't merely speak, kindness; he epitomized kindness. Arrogance, selfishness and stubbornness were eschewed for the values of humility, compassion and generosity. In so doing Sutton transcended the crab in a barrel mentality and always put others above himself.
Sutton's passing has obviously left a serious void. These voids will be felt in the churches he ministered, the places he played, the choirs he choir mastered, the musical programs he was in charge of and his many friends and family. His life and his legacy though will live on. In many ways he was a trailblazer in this our Queen City and we should never forget it. His life was one that we can all pattern. He has fought the good fight; he has finished the race; he have kept the faith. Now there is in store for him the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to him on that day. May his soul rest in peace.
