R.I.P. Tony Hubbard (1955-2023)

I'd like to offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of veteran Sault Michigan rock drummer Tony Hubbard, who passed away on Monday at MyMichigan Medical Center (nee the War Memorial Hospital) at the age of 67. You can read his obituary at this link, and his memorial service took place earlier today at C.S. Mulder Funeral Home with a celebration of life following tonight at The Merchants Bar. In lieu of flowers, the Hubbard family would appreciate donations to the Hospice of the E.U.P.. SMS readers who have followed our Sault Michigan and E.U.P. coverage should be familiar with Tony for his work behind the kit with local hard rock cover bands Splitshot (from 2010-2011) and 415E (from 2014-2017), joining his son Chris to perform with both bands, though Tony didn't return to 415E when they relaunched in 2019. You may also recognize Tony from local bands like Stonewall Creation and as a former bandmate of Tim Hatfield's.

Outside of music, Tony was a skilled craftsman who owned Hubbard Interiors, and he was an avid hockey player, a loving husband and father, and a kind man who loved to tell a joke. Tony is survived by his wife Cami, four children (including Chris), three grandchildren, and four siblings. Having lost a parent myself, I can relate to what Chris and the Hubbard family are going through right now, and while public media of Tony's more recent bands was always surprisingly elusive, he was an accomplished drummer and a familiar face for many who frequented the local concert scene in the E.U.P. into the late 2010s. R.I.P. Tony!