Funeral Details for Blues Musician, Supporter and Dear friend Steve Arredondo (RIP) August 6, 2010

Hello Folks:
We are updating everyone on the passing of Blues musician and a major blues supporter Steve Arredondo (RIP). Information on benefits will follow.

Many of you have come to know Steve as our moderator for our Butterfield Society yahoo group, through his Paul Butterfield Remembrance radio show with "T" at Every Shade of Blues, for his ongoing dedication and as a driving force behind enhancing awareness of Gabriel’s father’s pinnacle role in music history making and for helping to initiate the Paul Butterfield Petition striving to get Paul inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Steve was the Paul Butterfield Fund and Society’s (PBFS’s) Director of Public Awareness and outreach…He was a major blues advocate and gave of himself selflessly. Whatever undertaking he took on he dedicated himself to it and was a driving force…

Steve was a surviving cancer patient enduring ongoing medical hardship and through his own adversities he helped everyone carry the boulder up the mountain and if you were to fall he would pick you up while hobbling himself and carry you and continue to push the boulder up the mountain…

Steve was there with us in spirit in 2006 when Gabriel’s father was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame with the Blues Foundation in Memphis-- . a moment in time when Gabriel’s father came to life again. And Steve shared that moment with us.

Steve was, is and always will be our family and is irreplaceable in our lives…

Last night at the Bradfordville Blues Club outside of Tallahassee Florida the owners (Gary and Kim Anton) garciously called us up to make an announcement about Steve. We said words for Steve and had the audience shout our on the count of three THANK YOU STEVE (for his endless dedication to keeping the Blues Alive, for all his charitable endeavors and for helping to keep Gabriel’s father’s (Paul Butterfield’s) memory alive)

Years before we ever met or knew Steve he was on an ardent mission to get Paul Butterfield recognized and rightfully inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Through Steve’s efforts and vast knowledge of the evolution of Blues he not only helped keep alive the legacy of Paul Butterfield and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band but likewise the legacy of many of the blues forgers…

Steve Arredondo was our founding PBFS staff member-- there with us at the inception of the Paul Butterfield Fund and Society (PBFS) and through PBFS has been over the years a member of The Blues Foundation, of BLUSD, of the Suncoast Blues Society and more. Additionally, he was a recipient of the PBFS Award of Appreciation.

Steve helped with all aspects of the PBFS Gatherings and in the preparation of the PBFS Award of Recognition for Legendary Bluesman Sam Lay. He assisted BLUSD with many events and helped orchestrate with BLUSD various blues tabletop gigs.

He attended and had Blues related booths at many festivals, helped orchestrate many benefits for musicians and people in need. And importantly helped prepare with us the PBFS Care Package for Struggling Artists…and all during his own ongoing bouts with critical illness and health issues.

Steve was a rare breed of passionate, dedicated, giving, selfless, intuitive and ever evolving people that comprise in one’s life that handful of true blue friends…He was a proud man, a man of principle and honor…

In Steve’s own pain and hardship he made others laugh and brought a blanket to warm your soul. Life for us will not be the same without Steve.

Steve Arredondo was a PBFS and Blues "Warrior"…he was a teacher of Blues history and of life itself…

I will continue to say that the world is less of a place without him…

We will continue to honor Steve’s name and memory in all that we do and live to the standards that he emanated on a daily basis.

We love you Steve, you are our family and you will always live on in our hearts…

We call out to each of you right now to step forward and to help Steve’s family in this time of hardship.

Steve’s funeral had been postponed as the family lacks the funds to provide a proper burial…Steve was a private and proud man and did not like to expose his hardships so I hope he will forgive me for making everyone aware of this..

However the Viewing and Services have been set however the funeral home has extended only until mid month the pay for all the expenses so we all need to continue to diligently work to provide support for the Arredondo family.

Viewing and Services:
Viewing 4 to 8 PM
Services 1:00 PM
At:
Allen Brothers Mortuary Inc
315 South Santa Fe Ave
Vista CA 92083
Phone # 760-726-2555

Steve’s family had endured a vast amount of hardships from Steve’s medical costs and now outstanding medical bills, to loss of work, and tending Steve’s mother’s health issues and the list goes on…

There are many expenses that go along with the funeral and burial and the Arredondo family need all of our support…

We had instructed Raymond (Steve’s son) to set up an account so that people can donate funds to help with expenses.
This account was set up today Monday.
The Account number is
0580094295
Union Bank
825 Escondido Ave
Vista CA 92084

Paul Arredondo set up the account and checks should be made
in Paul Arredondo’s name
In the memo line of checks write
"For Our Dad"
The bank phone number is 1-760-726-6000 should you have questions.

We have contacted BLUSD who is working hard on a benefit however this takes time to properly orchestrate such and event and will not happen for several weeks. Likewise other musicians are working to do emergency benefits for Steve's family.

Our area is impacted and devastated by the economy and recent oil spill disaster and we are currently collecting food for those in need so it is difficult to do a benefit for a CA resdient at this time..

However, we are working on a variety of other ideas to help Steve and his family and hope that our efforts and your support will bring help to the Arredondo family right away.

Hohner Harmonica will be donating some Harmonicas and proceeds from sales of these harmoncas will go directly to the family. Harmonicas will be for sale at The Frog and The Hummingbird Co & Butterfield's Roadhouse for info contact butterfieldsociety@yahoo.com

Also Randy Sandoval is working to make and donate some of his custom made harmonicas for the same purpose.

We send our love out and ask that each of you lights a candle in memory of Steve Arredondo and smiles on his memory…

We will keep you posted and please join us in helping Steve’s family.

Here is an address that donations, flowers and cards can be sent to and other information as well…
Raymond and Paul Arredondo
1704 York Drive
Vista CA
92084

Benefits and fundraisers are much needed…and funds should be sent directly to Steve’s sons Raymond and Paul (named after Paul Butterfield)

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us

Our thanks and love,
Salli and Gabriel
butterfieldsociety@yahoo.com
305-304-2226

Copy of letter from CA Blues Musician

OK here we go,
Chet here just off the horn with my pal Tom Warren at Tango Del Rey and he will allow us to utilize his beautiful venue out here in San Diego on the outskirts of Mission Bay.
We need help getting word to everyone so we fill the room and can make a difference. The date is only twelve days away so Please forward information about this important event to everyone on your mailing list today. Thanks for helping we can't do it alone.
*The Steve Arredondo Emergency Family
Fundraiser and Harmonica Tribute. . .
-Sunday August 15,
at Tango del Rey -
3567 Del Rey St.
San Diego.
5:00 - 11:00 pm.

Music by Red Lotus Revue, Cadillac Wreckers, Chet & The Committee and others TBA.
$15.00 donation at door.
Proceeds will all go directly to Steve's Family.
Bring a friend!
Live Music, Great Dance Floor, Free Parking, Friends. . .
a Good Time for a Good Cause.
You may know Steve was an avid fan of harmonica music but especially Paul Butterfield. He performed regularly with The Blues Pharaohs in and around our north county.
peace through music,
Chet BluShouter@aol.com

Additionally, BLUSD is working on another fundraiser and we will keep this site updated.

Official Website: http://www.facebook.com/squitieri.butterfield