Sy Sterritt? —
by Betty Barton taverns in the area, Sy says enthu-
= _ Siastically, "Just before I returned
Sy Sterritt is a carpet layer, a home, I found a connection (to my
singer and songwriter, and a world Irish family history)." |
- traveller. Sterritt has just.returned Sy is hopeful that he can follow up
from a three-month tour of Ireland on some of the leads, both long
and Scotland. distance and on future trips to
In a Ballymena Times interview Ireland to busk’ (an Irish term) or
(ireland), Sy expressed his delight ‘jam’ with his fellow musicians.
with the friends he made over Say says the calibre of Irish
there due to his musical exploits, musicians is high and "country" is |
adding, "Music to me is more of a big. "Some of the guitar players
hobby than anything else. It’s all blow you away!" There is live
about travelling and meeting entertainment in every pub, tavern
people. I do have my carpet and and nightclub. "Every night you
vinyl floor business to look after, play in a different spot. It’s hard
but music is a big part of my life. on the equipment and on the
It opens doors. That whole trip agents.", explains Sy, “but it's a
wouldn’t have happened if not for blast to be a performer.” During
music." his time in Ireland, Sy had Peter
Sy began playing bass guitar in O’Hare, a local music shop owner,
1962 with the first rock band in as his agent and friend. His first
Terrace. All through high school, question after he heard Sy play
he played in a band. It wasn’t until was "Wanna gig?"
1967 that he was given the oppor-
tunity to sing when the band Sy boarded ‘with Ron's mother,
"Invaders" lost their singer for an Mrs. Kennedy, and bought a little
evening. Since then, he has sung in car to get from place to place.
bands and solo, and has made two "Driving was crazy. I doubled my
videos of his own songs for grey hair, driving on the wrong
screening on BCTV. side of the road and dodging traf-
One is a video about longshore- fic." Besides their courage in driv-.
men, produced for Valdy and ing in Ireland, Sy says, "I admire
screened in Nashville. He has also the people’s Strength in dealing
produced numerous videos for with ‘the ever-present threat of
other musical groups and indivi- terrorism by a small minority.".
duals, Sy says, "Video is a com- When Sy first arrived in Northern
plete expression of what you’ve Ireland, he said he was very appre-
got. It’s multi-dimensional. And hensive, but soon realized that if
with music, you lose touch if you other people could carry on with
don’t do anything else. You have their normal lives, he should too.
to know the experiences of your
audiences and be part of the Sy performed whenever a band
people." heeded a singer or guitarist. He
It was partly as a result of work- helped out the Irish group “Ala-
ing on his last video with sound bama" when they were short a
man Ron Kennedy in Prince guitarist, and he played both bass [= awed eee Ee
Rupert that Sy made the decision and lead guitar for them. He Sy Sterritt: You have to know the experiences of your audiences and be part of the people.
to visit Ireland. Ron is Irish and explains that he often had only a -
his mother still lives in Ireland. He few minutes of rehearsal time with
assured Sy that she would love to a new band, but they managed and

have him visit. Sy was having the audiences were most apprecia- ; St Mi tth é et | a]
Surgery in July and knew he tive, "As long as you're givin’ ‘er r a WS S a i OV

wouldn’t be able to work for at your best, they love it!"

i bat gata ante Anpuipn ors iomees tO Start building new church

Sterritt migrated from Scotland to in Ireland was a Broughshane . :

ireland in 1809 before he finally Youth Club Charity event for the | Sometime next year the congre- foot, $160,000 church will be committee says the project was
moved to this ara of northern disabled..Sy would like to do a gation of St, Matthews Anglican constructed west of the old govern- approved by the Anglican Church
B.C. and married a native woman. tape in honour of the group and Church will have a brand new ment building on Lakelse Ave. on the weekend and local building
On his mother’s side, his great send the proceeds to PHAB, the building. The new 3,000 square A spokesman for the church contactor Tom Radek was hired
grandfather Laurie was also of Irish organization for the handi- arena Aaa Degin eying rnd foun-
Irish extraction. The creeks Laurie capped. Here in Terrace, Sy does - buildin g will begin 2 ext spring,
One and Laurie Two near Usk are monthly performances at Tetrace- 4 ; "a:
_hamed after Sy’s great grandfather. view Lodge and likes to Support | Sing your way tions ra style similer to to

Sy spent a total of 11 weeks local causes. . .

Searching out his Irish ancestry, Sy concludes, "I’ve tried quitting to the top of the charts has prove Ban cnreh Mi hen
. travelling through Northern Ireland a few times, but once it’s in your Come out to Karaoke Night and sing along highly successful design Tore
and "doing gigs’ in small pubs and blood, it’s there for good." with " °

the lyrics as they appear on video. will be seating for a congregation
4 . of 160 on the main floor, and as
Welcome Wagon —T  \slasgnu — . 3 on __ the congregation grows seating for

. ® . yg § f another 60 church members can be
WU would like to thank the following oe ws St Fe added to a mezzanine level above

Bridal Party Sponser: Py 1 . Ag ay 4 the main foyer. A partial basement
| t¢ #$ Da sie : will offer Space for washrooms,
Storage and utilities.

Rose N aqson — ) j , ¥ f y “ - , | The. old government building,

which has been the home of St.
} Sundays 8 - 12 midnight & Thursdays 8:30 - 1:30 Matthews since they. sold their

NM ar K | ) . 9 previous Lazelle Ave. church

| ( y y 7 Join the chorus at George’s Pub! ‘building, will still be maintained

| 7 Northern Motor Inn, 3086 Hwy 16 E., [by the church. tt will continue to
Co-ordinate your make-up for the fall season | Terrace phone. 635-6375 be the home of the St. Matthews

, : Anglican Church Sunday School
and your winter wardrobe. _ “Karaoke - available for rent for Xmas partics and provide space for a church

hall.

re