Nick Strutt

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Nick Strutt (8 October 1946 – 29 September 2009) was a British folk and country musician, best known for playing the mandolin. He could also play banjo, guitar, autoharp and bass.

He grew up in England, started banjo at 15, and later learned guitar, autoharp, mandolin and bass. In 1965 he moved to Leeds and graduated from Leeds University in 1970.

From 1966 to 1969 he performed in a duo with Roger Knowles, appearing regularly on radio, including BBC’s Country Meets Folk. They sometimes played as a four-piece with Brian Golbey and Pete Stanley. The pair supported stars like Hank Snow and Willie Nelson on UK tours and moved toward country rock.

Between 1969 and 1971 Strutt and Knowles worked with Natchez Trace. In 1972 they split; Knowles stayed with traditional music, while Strutt pursued a more contemporary sound. Strutt had already joined Bob Pegg and Carole Pegg in the folk‑rock band Mr. Fox, and after Mr. Fox ended he recorded two duo albums with Bob Pegg.

As folk rock declined, Strutt returned to country music in the northern club scene. In the late 1970s he did production work and session musicianship for the Look label, working with Mel Hague and producing albums for Alex Campbell and Tommy Collins. In the early 1980s he focused more on old‑time music and often collaborated with Brian Golbey.

In the mid‑1980s he played with various groups part‑time, including a swing quartet, but returned to full‑time music in 1990. He taught guitar, mandolin and bass, and performed regularly with Hague’s band. He also played old‑time music with banjoist Tim Howard of the Muldoon Brothers.

In 1994 Strutt joined a trio called Finnegan’s Wake. He said his influences included Bill Monroe and John Duffey, though he preferred creating his own licks. He ran jam sessions in Leeds that drew many musicians.

In 2003 he found a temporary home at the Shoulder Of Mutton in Castleford for three years, where he was loved for his music and friendships grew. He formed a band called Steal Away with Nick Strutt on mandolin and backing vocals, Stevie Mac on guitar, Graham Hall on fiddle, and Steve Parker on bass and backing vocals. After three years he moved to Caistor and Hemsby.

Nick Strutt died on 29 September 2009 at his home in Great Yarmouth from liver failure. He had lived much of his life in Leeds, where he married Sue and had three children. His funeral took place in Leeds on 16 October, with a service at St John’s Church in Wortley and cremation at Lawnswood.