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John Tilden Locke

1943 - 2006

BORN

1943

DIED

2006

John Locke Obituary

John Tilden Locke passed away Aug. 4, 2006.

John was born Sept. 25, 1943, to Charles Edward and Marty Locke. John was classically trained as a pianist by his mother, Marty, and carried that love of music for his entire life. As an original member of the 1960s group Spirit, John loved playing and recording music with his many friends and musicians he met over the course of his days.

John frequented the Ojai Roasting Co. almost daily, enjoying coffee and morning conversations with his friends. John had an infectious smile that would make us all smile. His presence will be missed tremendously by all who crossed his path and all of those who loved him.

He is survived by his mother, Marty, and son, Alex.

Memorial services are pending.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Ventura County Star from Aug. 11 to Aug. 14, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for John Locke

28 Entries

Bree Blackburn

July 1, 2025

John was like a father to me and I think of him anytime I listen to live music. He taught me so much a a kid and am so thankful to have known him. He always said I was the daughter he never had and I wish we had more time to enjoy his musical talents.

Zoud Danko

August 5, 2022

Hard to believe that it has been 16 years since your passing. Your music still plays in my heart.

Suzy Gastrein

September 9, 2006

John, we had magnificent times in the glowing sun of the divine island of Montserrat some 23 years ago.

Thank you for the music and thank you for your cosmic smile.Thank you for being a fantastic dad to our Alex. You've taught us much, you stood by us and you've been truely great.

Good night John, and have sweet dreams.

On behalf of Martha and Alex (mother and grandson) thank you to all for the kind words and the support.

Jim Otterstrom

September 5, 2006

John and I were close friends in Topanga Canyon, during the 1960s and early 1970s, once sharing a 460 acre ranch off the Santa Maria Road above the old Topanga Corral.

I met John at the first Spirit's Rebellious Sunday Jazz event, at the Corral, before the band shortened their name to Spirit.

John was a really good guy and I remember so many great times in his company over the years. I loved listening to him practice on the grand piano he had at the old ranch house, and I remember once during a break in Spirit's touring helped me do a roofing job on a garage in Old Topanga. John was a rock star at the time but worked under the hot sun with me for $2.50 an hour enjoying every minute of it.

John was friendly with everyone he met never letting his success with Spirit go to his head and his jazzy compositions were often my favorite tracks on the Spirit records.

I spoke with John just days before he died and he told me he had leukemia. But he sounded so good on the phone, that when I called back a few weeks later to see how he was doing, I was stunned to learn that he had passed away within a few days of our last conversation.

I am deeply saddened at the loss of my old friend.

John Woodward

September 1, 2006

I'm very saddened to here about the passing of John Locke. I knew John from the Topanga Canyon days. He was my brother-in-law for eight years. And he was truely my big brother. I have many fond memories of John from those days. Alex, your dad was a great guy. I would love to get in contact with you and tell you all about it. I live in Hawaii too. (Honolulu)

And I now have a hole in my heart. And it's hard for me to say good-bye. But I know it's something that I have to do.

So with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes I want to say good-bye, John. You will be missed.

John Woodward

Linda Willey

September 1, 2006

My sincerest sympathy to John's family.

I will never forget the day I met John in Topanga Canyon during the summer of 1967 and the wonderful years that followed in knowing him.

He was a great person with incredible talent who impacted my life in the best of ways. And though I lost contact with him over the years as our lives moved in different directions, he always held a special place in my heart.

I know he will be missed by many.

Mike Hurle

August 27, 2006

I met John for the first time in May of this year, I knew he was a wonderful musician and it was great to talk with him and hear some of his Spirit stories and I am greatful I had the opportunity to tell him how special Spirit's music was to me. I was so sad to hear of his untimely death. My thoughts are with your family at this sad time. God bless John

Bill Wasserzieher

August 23, 2006

I knew John only as a musician whose playing I admired and envied. The first time I saw him perform with Spirit I remember wishing that I had half his talent. Later I would have settled for a quarter. But only a few are blessed with such a talent. I am grateful that John shared his. My condolences to his family.

Todd Smallwood

August 22, 2006

John,

I'll never forget our first meeting at the home of Mark Andes in Ojai when Mark and Matt and I were starting our new band "Little Brother". You felt like a familiar and close friend instantly, and I remember telling you that you were a huge influence on my keyboard playing, just as Randy, Jay, Mark and Cass opened my heart and mind to some of the best music ever created. You just smiled. I still always think of you when I look over at the vintage tan Wurlitzer in my studio - just like the one you played.

I know you won't be coming over now to guest on my new CD as planned, so I will try to play those keyboard parts in the SPIRIT that you touched my heart with, remembering you always.

God Bless you, John . . . you will be missed by us all.

Matt Andes

August 22, 2006

Alexander, I was the witness at your parents marriage in downtown L.A. back in 1988. We went to Olivera Street to celebrate. Your Dad and I sure had a lot of fun together in bands, playing all over the globe. I spent a couple of months on Montserrat helping with work on his house. Do you remember when we sailed rc sailboats at the marina? I spoke to him the day before he died and he brought me up to date about you going to Maui to start college and your surfing. Some of the best adventures in my life were shared with your Dad. Maybe someday we will get together to share more fond memories. Love Matt Andes

Dennis Kelley

August 21, 2006

My deepest sympathies to the family of John Locke.

Although I knew of his great talent from his membership in SPIRIT, I only got to meet him once.

Sadly, that was at the memorial for my friend Randy California, at his sister Marla's house in Ventura.

John was very outgoing, and in our conversation we looked forward to getting together at a future date.

It shall be. It shall be.

Goodbye John, I will miss you, and your great talent, but take comfort in knowing that you are now with Randy, and I will see you again.

Until then,rest in peace.

Dennis Kelley

Las Vegas,NV.

Rich Bradford

August 19, 2006

As a London UK based fan from the early days of Spirit I wish to add my thanks for John's contribution to the music world and my sincere condolences to his family & close friends.

brad davis

August 18, 2006

I only knew John through this crucial contributions to the musical magic of Spirit. Thanks for enriching the lives of myself and music lovers around the world - your legacy shines on.

Gary Marker

August 16, 2006

Condolences to John Locke's mother and his son. John's departure was far too early and came as an unpleasant shock. I had no idea he was ill.

I met John in high school, way back in the late '50s. I was a young jazz musician and he was learning piano. I was impressed with his knowledge of jazz history and his dedication to his instrument. We became friends. We'd jam with other young musicians and slowly learned our craft. (None of us were really accomplished musicians at that point; we were just kids.) At some point, around the mid-'60s, John moved in with me, my wife and singer Taj Mahal. He was going to college then, if memory serves. But he spent every spare moment practicing piano; day and night he would play and play--and got better and better. Woodshedding, working on his chops.

Soon he joined up with my old cohort from the New Jazz Trio and the Rising Sons, drummer Ed Cassidy. Along with Randy California and those two blond kids from The Valley, they formed Spirit. And John keep improving on his instrument and composing more and more complex musical pieces; the evidence ranges over a couple decades of recordings, just listen them--again.

But beyond John's musical abilities and intellectual curiosity, what I remember most about him was his wicked sense of humor. He loved to laugh and enjoyed seeing others having a good time--and he was pretty damn funny himself. John always managed to put an ironic spin on just about every situation.

Sadly, I hadn't seen John in well over a decade when I got the bad news. Every now and then I'd think: I wonder what John Locke is up to these days? I ought to look him up and see if we can get together.

That will never be possible now; I dawdled and procrastinated too long. And there's a lesson about life here as well: Keep in touch with old friends, because unforeseen situations and events may intervene and make it an impossibility.

Aloha, John. Maybe someday we'll run across each other again in that great rehearsal hall in the sky.

Merrell Fankhauser

August 14, 2006

John was a very talented and gifted musician. Randy C. introduced me to him once. I played music with both Randy and Cass , but never with John. Cass and I recorded two albums together and I often remarked how Spirit reminded me of my 60s band MU. Part of that undefineable feeling in music that we all shared is gone with the passing of Randy and now John. Warmest Aloha to your spirits',

God Bless,

Merrell Fankhauser

Rick Williams

August 14, 2006

I too, knew John primarily through

his membership in SPIRIT; much more

than the remarkable musician he

most certainly was, John unfailingly

struck me as a gentleman and an all

around class act, always ready to

step up and be of assistance in any

way he could. Condolences to his family;

John will live on always in his music, and

will be remembered for who he was, not

just for his musical abilities, by many

whose lives he touched.

janet wolfe

August 13, 2006

Dearest Family of John.........

I am so sad once again........being that I lost my brother randy nine and a half yrs ago..John was to Randy his big brother on the road all those years... I knew from a very early age when i first met him that he was a sweet soul........my love and sympathies........Janet Wolfe

August 13, 2006

As a Spirit fan I enjoyed your contributions to Spirit's music very much.

You have left this world but your music will live on.

-Johan Bengtsson, a Spirit fan in Sweden.

LARRY "Fuzzy" KNIGHT

August 12, 2006

To the family of John Locke,

I was extremely sad to learn of John's passing. We did a few tours together during my time with SPIRIT and it was always a joyous, musical experience playing with him.

He was a great musician but better than that, he was a great guy. His

presence will be missed.

Bluesfully,

Larry "Fuzzy" Knight

Jeff Cook

August 12, 2006

Though I only knew John for a short time, he was very close to my neighbor and good friend, Rick Del Toro. He was friendly and caring to the end. He loved his music, family and friends. He will be dearly missed. God bless, John...

Ed Cassidy

August 11, 2006

Dear John;

My best wishes will always be

with you. And your family. You are loved. And will be missed. We go back a lot of years.

Cass

Zoud Danko

August 11, 2006

John and I met in 1962. He and I spent the years since then as brothers. We have enjoyed very many adventures together and continued to do so right up to the end. Yes, he will be greatly missed and yes, there is a void. It is too hard to believe that I will not hear him play some new rift he has worked out on the piano. He was a man of many talents not the least of which was his sense of musicality. You can recogize John's playing immediately. His sound and approach were uniquely his own. Since we were together only 3 weeks ago, I'm not sure that even he realized just how ill he was. But he was in such great spirits and so proud of Alexander making it through high-school and so excited about him going to Hawaii to college and to continue his championship surfing. Yes, I miss my brother...

Laura Lemp

August 11, 2006

John- It was great working with you the past 6 years. You are going to be greatly missed here at Ojai ford and the Ojai Valley. Alex and Family our prayers are with you during this time.

Thanks Ricky and Cindy for taking such good care of John in his last 10 days. He couldn't had asked for a better friends.

Love Always,

Leigh Crutchfield

August 11, 2006

I'm sorry that I didn't get to talk to and know John much better, but I am very happy for the contact that we did have. He was a great guy and I really liked him, and my prayers are with him and his family.

Marlene , Dan, & Leigh Shannon

August 11, 2006

My husband, Dan Shannon, has been friends with John since the Spirit days of the '60's. Not only was he an exceptionally gifted musician, he was a wonderful human being. He always had a great sense of humor; Dan had a great many stories of good natured crazy fun on the road with the band.

He truly became whole with the birth of his son, Alex. I've had a photo on my kitchen wall for 17 yrs. of John with baby Alex in his arms. He looks so happy and at peace. His passing leaves a void in the hearts of a great many people. I don't think John realized how many lives he touched, through his music, as well as throughout his life. We will miss him.

Ric LuBell

August 11, 2006

I did not know John... only his music. He and Spirit were a tremendous inspiration to me in my early musical career back in the late '60s. I often find his haunting playing from the song "Ice" running through my mind. I am truly sad for his passing, and will miss his music very much. My heartfelt condolences to his family.

Rod Ensminger

August 11, 2006

Aloha John,

Thanks for being a good freind and sharing so many great stories.

You had such a sweet nature,you even made work fun!

I'll miss the music, and tales of your adventures, but most of all, your smile.

Mahalo,

Rodney

Bruce Pates

August 11, 2006

I knew John from his connection to SPIRIT. He was a great guy and an incredible talent. I will fondly remember the times I was able to get together with him to talk about SPIRIT, and to watch him perform. My deepest sympathy to the Locke family. John will be greatly missed.

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