With the death on January 5 of Rodney Harrisford Hilton Tucker, Bermuda bade farewell to another of its well-known and gifted musicians.Born on July 11, 1930, into a musical family both his mother and grandmother were organists, and his uncles were the famed Talbot Brothers Mr Tucker’s destiny seemed preordained, and he went on to become a professional musician, organist and choirmaster.Growing up on Talbot Lane, Smith’s, young Rodney attended Talbot School, and, like his family and ancestors, was a regular worshipper at Marsden Methodist Church, where mother Mearl was the organist. Listening to her rehearse hymns on the family piano, but not able to read music himself, the young teenager played them by ear on the church pedal organ, and filled in for her when necessary.At Berkeley Institute, he studied music with Joseph Richards, the teacher who provided many of Bermuda’s fine musicians with the firm foundation on which they built their careers. In fact, Mr Richards continued to be Mr Tucker’s mentor during the early years of his own career.It was while working at the US Air Force Base, which he joined in 1950 as an apprentice barber, that Mr Tucker was asked to “help out” musically at a chapel Christmas service. Thus began a 20-year career as its organist and choir master. In all, he spent 45 years as an esteemed barber and musician at the base, leaving only when it closed in 1995.During the Base years, Mr Tucker also served as the organist and choir director at both Peace Lutheran Church in Paget, and Marsden Methodist Church a feat managed thanks to their Sunday services being held at different times of the day.In 1970, Mr Tucker became organist and choir director at Wesley Methodist Church in Hamilton, a post he held with distinction for more than 30 years until his retirement, when he became organist emeritus.At the time of his death, he had been the organist at Marsden for 68 years one year shy of the world record.It was not just as a church organist that Mr Tucker flourished, however. He was also an accomplished pianist, singer and accordion player, who got his start as a teenager when, unknown to him, uncle Roy Talbot, of the Talbot Brothers, entered his name in an Island-wide talent contest at the Opera House, the prize for which was a hotel gig. Coming joint first, 17-year-old Rodney fulfilled his first engagement at Harmony Hall, in Paget.Word of his talent soon spread, and he was invited to form a group to play at the Imperial Hotel in Hamilton. Joined by brother Ryan on bass, cousin Manders Talbot on guitar, and cousin Onslow Grant on drums, The Talbot Nephews became a popular group who went on to fulfill a long list of engagements at most of the Island’s hotels and the Lantana Colony Club.In addition to filling in for The Talbot Brothers when the latter were on tour, Mr Tucker played solo piano in the Elbow Beach cocktail lounge. Later, he and Ryan joined the Talbot Brothers for 20 years, of which Rodney was the last surviving member.Mr Tucker received many awards and honours for his services to music, among them the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour in 2007.A devoted family man, he was married to Wynette Lynette Burch for 47 years until her death in 2000. The couple are survived by their two sons, Gil and Craig, and four grandchildren: Alaina, Rodwyn, Allison and Rachel. Mr Tucker is survived by siblings Norma, Roseanne and Loretta.