William T. Steck

Here it is over 10 years after Bill's passing and I can't help but be moved by how many lives were positively influenced by Bill. I was a young trumpet player growing up in Long Beach a few years behind Bill so I never had the pleasure of meeting him. I heard about him often because his talents were legendary. I started LB Poly in 1966 and new people that knew him. I relate to many of you such as Joel Montgomery who had a special bond with him through friendship and music. It has been 50...

Bill and I go way back, as others have expressed in his guest book . I just learned of his passing today 7/9/08. I was googling to see if I could find Bill, and to my shock to find out he's no longer with us. We both played trumpet at LB Poly his Senior Year, my Sophomore year 1963, The Band and Wind Ensemble Concert (thru Mr. Dill's efforts of finding a recording studio)was recorded and the tune that Bill played on the recording was " A trumpeters Prayer", this was recorded on a 33 1/3rd...

We all miss you at the pool and at musical events. Keeping playing my friend, must be a group up there somewhere.

I miss you so much Bill, as does
everyone from aqua therapy.
((((( hugs ))))) my friend!

I joined Son’s Long Beach Jr. Concert Band in 1957. I was 14 and Bill was 12. He lived close by and our parents took turns taking us to band practice. He played the trumpet and the piano. Jazz was already rippling off his fingers. I loved to hear him play jazz when he came to my house, but it drove my mother crazy. Bill had an opportunity to buy a concert grand piano, but didn’t have enough money to buy it. He took me to see the piano. It was beautiful! I told him I’d help him buy it, if...

I will miss Bill.

From the time I arrived at Hughes Junior High, Bill had been a friend. We all played together first at Hughes, then in James E. Son's Original Long Beach Junior Concert Band, at Arrowbear Music Camp and again at Long Beach Poly.

At Hughes and at Poly we had two great trumpets, Bill and Warren Gale, Jr. The two of them could play anything, and often did.

Bill had started playing trumpet in the Junior Concert Band while in elementary school, and when...

Our loss is so great that words are difficult to find but I must try.

We will all miss Bill's smile, sparkling eyes, sense of humor, generosity, and of course, his music. Mama and I will never again eat pizza without thinking of him and we'll miss the Christmas bread too!

We first met Bill around 1949 when we lived two doors from him. Later on we became aware of his music. Everyone in the neighborhood knew when he started blowing his horn, but it was years later before we...

I met Bill at Hughes in 1959. He was a good trumpet player, and I was a 'budding' percussionist. Being two years his junior, we weren't 'friends'. The same held true in 1962, when were were again classmates at Poly. Andy Solum was Bill's 'running buddy', and Solum and I definitely were not friends.

In 2002, things changed. I instigated the Pizza Parties at Me-N-Ed's, and Bill became a regular. He admitted he didn't remember me, but we became good friends. My wife, Elaine...

I met Bill approximately 30 years ago. I remember his gentle spirit and take comfort in knowing that his spirit will live on in those who love him.