Frank's feelgood tunes strike a chord during lockdown
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A CAITHNESS accordionist has been hailed as an unsung hero after starting a musical slot on social media during the coronavirus lockdown.
Frank Sutherland, who lives in Dunbeath with his wife Margaret, has struck a chord with audiences all over the world since launching the venture two months ago.
He agreed to do one tune on Facebook in April as "a bit of fun" following a request from a friend but it proved so popular he has been kept busy ever since. Frank, a former member of the Dynamos band, has now played around 70 tunes which are enjoyed by people in the UK, other parts of Europe, Canada, America, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and India.
The response has left him "speechless".
He said: "It was just meant to be a tune for one night but I kept getting messages asking for another tune and it has just never stopped."
Frank plays a mixture of Scottish, Irish, country and western and folk music as well as calypso, big band and hits from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.
"I try to do something a bit different every night but am starting to run out of tunes and am having to learn some new ones," he said. "Once the lockdown is over I will stop, although I might do a Friday or Saturday night for a while after that."
Frank (70) was an original member of the Dynamos and features on their CD, 50 Years and More. He was with the band from 1966 until 1974, including a spell as a professional, playing the accordion and bass and singing, but left when he moved to Aberdeen to work.
His nightly slot has done much for the wellbeing of people who have been in lockdown for over three months.
Frank continued with his music in the Granite City and came back to Caithness in 2010 when he retired. He is from Tannach but now lives in Dunbeath.
His social media endeavours have been much appreciated and resulted in him being presented with an engraved whisky barrel stave from KW1 Craic for his contribution to music during lockdown.
Fans are also delighted. Shirley Mackay from Portskerra has been listening since coming across the site in May.
"He brings a lot of joy to a lot of people in these strange times we are living through," she said. "He is really good.
"We recognise the NHS and van drivers for what they do but there are unsung heroes as well, and Frank is one. He gives up his time night after night and creates a real feelgood factor in these difficult times.
"His music lifts your spirits and gives pleasure to his many fans. His nightly slot has done much for the wellbeing of people who have been in lockdown for over three months. Frank's music is a welcome distraction during these troubled times."
