Outpouring of tributes after death of local music icon Tony Voglino

There has been an outpouring of tributes for popular Tassie rocker Tony Voglino, who is being remembered for his impact on the state’s music scene.

Tony Voglino

Beloved Tassie pub rocker Tony Voglino is being remembered as an icon of the local music scene.

News of the guitarist and singer-songwriter’s death from cancer emerged on Sunday, which swiftly prompted an outpouring of tributes from long-time friends and fans on social media.

Sarah O’Keefe, manager of Elwick Hotel where Mr Voglino occasionally performed gigs, said he was a “great northern suburbs entertainer”.

“He had a really big following. People used to go to pub to pub wherever he was playing to listen,” Ms O’Keefe said, adding she first encountered him performing at the Claremont Hotel, her former workplace.

Tony Voglino

“On the circuit … we all had similar customers. When he played he always drew in the crowds.”

Mr Voglino was a regular performer at the Paddy Wagon, the Queens Head Hotel, and formerly, the Glenorchy RSL.

He also regularly performed on Sundays at the Richmond Arms Hotel and made appearances at the Festa Italia.

Organiser Michael Pace said there was an outpouring of emotion among stallholders and organisers after hearing news of his death.

“Tony had performed at a couple of festivals for us in the past and it’s very sad to hear of his passing,” Mr Pace said.

L-R Styne Ashton, Steve Miller, Tony Voglino, Paul Cooney. Fundraising gig at The Republic

“He had an imprint on a lot of people that knew him. It’s impacted us for sure.”

Mr Voglino was born in Tasmania but moved to Sydney at 19 where he wrote and recorded the song Turnaround, which featured on the gold-selling soundtrack for 1982 film Starstruck.

He returned from the mainland in the early 1990s and started working the Hobart music circuit in 2000, developing a cult following through averaging three gigs a week at pubs, clubs and weddings across the city.

In his long career he was a member of the band Oz Lingo, and as a soloist supported acts the likes of Status Quo, Suzi Quatro and the Bay City Rollers.

He also made TV appearances on beloved shows including Countdown and Hey Hey It’s Saturday, and had three original singles reach the national music charts.

In 2018, The Mercury covered the release of his CD, It Is What It Is.

Originally published as Outpouring of tributes after death of local music icon Tony Voglino