Steven D. Strayhorn (1954 – 2010)
Steve Strayhorn
Steven D. "Steve" Strayhorn, of Columbia, Ill., born Jan. 25, 1954, in East St. Louis, Ill., died on Friday, April 30, 2010, in Lebanon, Ill.
Steve lived every day with a passion for life, family, friends and most importantly music. He graduated from St. Phillip Catholic Grade School and Assumption High School in East St. Louis, Ill. He was a prominent St. Louis area musician whose most notable bands were Full Moon Consort, which went on to achieve great success with an album, radio and TV spots, performances at the Ambassador and Fox Theater and many other venues throughout the country; and Street Corner Symphony, which also had a huge following. Other bands he played with included: Mountain Spirit, Justice, Griffin, Fury, Arrow Memphis, The Ralph Butler Band, Brian Clarke and the St. Louis Browns, Russ Bono & Looker, Rhythm Rockers, Second Wind, Uncle Albert, Planet Boogie and most recently the Choosy Mutherz. Steve also recorded a lot of studio work for various artists, taught drums at SIU-E and co-owned his own drum store, Steve Strayhorn’s Drum Room, with his wife and friends, Barb and John Olack. When not on stage, Steve could be found with his family and friends. He loved camping trips with Diney and his children, hiking, biking, barbecuing and especially cycling on century rides. He lived every moment to the fullest and will continue to inspire everyone that knew him.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy, nee Schlattweiler, Strayhorn; paternal grandparents, Frank and Esther, nee Johnson, Strayhorn; and maternal grandparents, Harry and Elizabeth, nee Bresnahan, Schlattweiler.
Surviving are his wife, Diney, nee Thompson, Strayhorn, whom he married on April 8, 1978, at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Belleville, Ill.; children, Matthew A. Strayhorn of Belleville, Ill., and Kelly N. (James) Kirk of Manchester, Mo.; brother, James L. Strayhorn of St. Louis, Mo.; and sister, Judith A. (James) Lemansky of Lebanon, Ill.
Memorials may be made to the
American Cancer Society or Family Hospice.
Funeral: A family gathering to celebrate Steve’s life will be held at a later date.
YOUNG
FUNERAL HOME,
Greenville, Ill.
SkyReport 
I just got the news about my good friend Steve. I first encountered him at first street alley where i washed dishes and eveery now and then i would join them on stage playing the guitar as they sang the beetles “i saw her standing there”and we have been friends every since. I used to come visit him when he had the Drum Room. He and my brother used to jam for hours. Steve will be truly missed by me and all the other musicians who have had the great honor of being in his presence. god Bless the family.