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11/04/2019

Steve Pringle, Portland Blues Radio DJ, passes away from cancer

Steve Pringle, beloved radio jock, passed away on Sunday morning. What was originally a Sunday, November 24th fund raiser at the Crystal Ballroom to help keep him alive will now be a celebration of his life.

On Sunday, Novemeber 3, 2019 Blues radio DJ Steve Pringle passed away from cancer. On the Facebook group Friends of Steve Pringle, they kept it simple and dignified, announcing "We are sad to share that our friend Steve Pringle passed this morning. He was surrounded by friends and family in the comfort of his own home.
We look forward to seeing you all at BluesMania on Nov. 24 as we celebrate Steve’s life, love and laughter."

Be good humans.

They added this morning, "For those inquiring about services planned for Steve, at his request there will be no memorial service. Instead, he asked that friends and family come together at BluesMania later this month.

Join us as we celebrate his life, love and laughter on Sunday, Nov. 24 at the Roseland."

On October 21, OMN's Scott Cunningham wrote:

Steve Pringle, one of Portland's most beloved radio jocks, has announced he has a rare and aggressive form of cancer. As might be expected, the Portland music community has come together to support him and his family in this time of need.

Pringle was diagnosed with stage 4 Solitary Fibrous Sarcoma, which is a terminal illness.

Over the course of his 25-year radio career in Portland, Pringle came to be recognized as one of the area's staunchest supporters of the Portland Blues scene. The Cascade Blues Association honored him with a Muddy Award in 2018 in recognition of his dedication to blues music.

A Facebook group titled Friends of Steve Pringle has been created to keep friends and supporters up to date with all of the latest developments, including information about a GoFundMe account and a special benefit concert held on Pringle's behalf. Bob Ancheta has spearheaded the efforts along with Tracy Turner-Pain and others.

As of this writing, the GoFundMe account has raised $8,010 of a stated goal of $15,000.

The Roseland Theater will be hosting a benefit concert for Pringle on Sunday, Nov. 24, that will feature some of Portland's hottest talent including the Rose City Kings, Norman Sylvester Band, Lloyd Jones Struggle, Karen Lovely Band with Lisa Mann + Ben Rice, Kevin Selfe Big Band, Curtis Salgado & Alan Hager, and a guitar showdown with Too Slim, Peter Dammann, Doug Rowell, Terry Robb, Ben Rice, Ty Curtis, Robbie Laws, and Kevin Selfe.

Tickets for the benefit are on sale now through the Roseland Theater. Please note the 5:00PM start time. A Facebook page has also been created for the event. The event will also feature a silent auction of music memorabilia, gift baskets, art and more.

Earlier today, Pringle posted the following on the GoFundMe page.

Hey y’all, It’s me…Pringle. My heart is swollen with the love of gifts that you are offering here. While reading all of your words, love and thoughts, the memories come flushing back. So many of us coming together through the love of music, others through the path of life itself. Either way, for me, with you…it’s been a helluva path. I want to thank my wife Caryn and our very own “GFM” Guardian Angel Miss Tracy Turner-Pain for helping our family keep the word out.

OHSU Gandolph oncology update #2 with yours truly, the “unicorn.” Your lungs have settled down, so fugettabout’it.

My lower spine continues to cause all the pain which has added to a bit more extended relief morphine tabs with my morning corn flakes. It’s like a Nickleback concert I never have to leave.

…and oh yeah, this new CT scan shows new aggressive growth upon your liver…13cm to 19cm. Congratulations Mr. Pringle, that softball sized tumor has now grown to the size of a cantaloupe…since August.

With this new piece of fruit in me, my new date has been moved up to sometime next spring.

I hear that with spring, love is in the air and I love you all in the most peculiar of ways.

Once again, thank you.

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