Arthur Ronald Sutton, 64, of North Hollywood, California, passed away September 7 at his home after a brief illness. He is predeceased by his parents Arthur and Elsie and brother Warren.
Ronnie Sutton grew up in the Krumville area, learning to play the Dobro at age 5. At 12 years, his family formed a band called the Bluegrass Cutups, becoming pioneers in the bluegrass folk surge of the 1960’s in the Catskill area. They opened for many headliners including Minnie Pearl and Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, and were heard on local radio. He had the privilege to play on stage with Johnny Cash.
Locally, Ronnie played with many bands of the 1970s and early 80s…groups like Wildcat Creek, with Skip Arthur and Jerry Oland; The Woodstock Mountains Review; Honeywagon, with Brian and Fran Hollander; and always with the Suttons, with his father Art on the banjo and brother Warren on guitar. He loaned his clear beautiful Dobro tone and masterful strokes to many other artists in the area and was much in demand, before moving to California, where he played in Los Angeles bluegrass bands, singing, songwriting. There he added the pedal steel guitar to his bag of music.
Not only was he a talented musician his entire life, both on the East and West coast, but he was a masterful electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11 Union. The Los Angeles subway, Directors Guild, DWP Power Plants, and Universal City were a few of the projects he was a part of.
His good nature, humor and talents will be missed by many.
He was a loved and loving husband, survived by his wife, Nancy; a devoted father of 5 children — Bonnie Clouse, Jill Underwood, Mitzi Medina, Arthur and Harley Sutton, and adored by 8 grandchildren, sister Lori Thompson, and brother, Alan.
A memorial is being planned for a later date. Thoughts can also be expressed at www.markbshawmortuary.com obituary site.
