IT was very sad news to hear that Tony Hargen had passed away on September 2.

Tony was the ultimate soul music fan and collector on Teesside who I had the pleasure to know and share the DJ slots at Mr McCoys in Middlesbrough.

He of course played many venues but was most regarded as the resident DJ at The Kirk most of the time it was open.

He was, as all who knew him, a walking encyclopaedia on soul music surpassed by very few, if any, and always to be seen in town with records tucked under his arm on their way to his fantastic collection. When you visited Alan Fearnley’s music store Tony was always the font of knowledge and advice as to what he had heard or recommended and someone who knew what he was talking about through his constant exploration of the genre.

He was a large part of the scene in Middlesbrough during the mid-sixties into the mid-seventies but unsurprising was a bastion of the resurgence of soul music scene in recent times.

He formed an important part of the bedrock of soul music in this area and will be missed by many today both old and young.

However, every time we play our music along with remembering the great times and the great music we enjoyed we will also think of Tony and his love of the music we still love today.

A great loss to the music scene.

Chris Gallacher, Middlesbrough