We would like to thank our dear friend, Ken, who gave his heart and soul to our band. It was an awesome privilege to play with such a talented musician who not only loved the music, but always showed the utmost respect and sincerity to his fellow band mates. "The Stallion" left a legacy in many minds and in many hearts that will never be forgotten, a legacy we all intend to keep alive.
Who could forget watching Ken kick off his shoes, getting ready to do what he loved so much…play his bass guitar--barefoot. What a sight! And when his right shoulder would start bobbing up and down, we all knew that Ken was happy as could be. He would shine that million dollar smile that would light up any room. What a treat for all of us.
It was no surprise with Ken's attitude that some of the
most memorable words that came out of his mouth were, "Awesome"
and "Sweeeeeeeet". He would say these words with this
special intonation that truly made it oh so sweet when others would
hear such encouragement from him.
Of course we shuddered a bit when we heard the phrase, "I have
a thought..." It was never a brief explanation. It
often involved lots of steps that he would explain in detail.
The rest of us didn't always follow the steps like Ken, but it made
perfect sense in his mind. To be honest, we just appreciated the
fact that Ken would try to do anything in his power to make the world
a better, more efficient place. That's our Ken...very refreshing,
always thinking outside the box.
Ken possessed an amazing gift to be very honest with others, even if he
had to tell someone he cared about something they didn't necessarily want
to hear. He was able to do this in a way like no one else, simply because
Ken was comfortable in his own skin. He never tried to put on airs
or be someone he wasn't. Ken was as real as they get
Every person who knew Ken Ranta has been "teary-eyed" since they heard of his passing. It is truly such a loss to all of us, a pill that no one feels comfortable swallowing. Yet somehow, Ken has left a lasting impression on so many souls to be the best they can be. What an amazing gift to leave behind.
Thank you for inspiring so many, Ken. You will be missed more than
you will ever know.
TIME
TO PLAY
