Planetjr.com, the official website for Great White’s lead vocalist Jack Russell posted the following this afternoon:

“We  have learned that Ty Longley has been identified as one of the poeple that passed away in West Warwick.” 

Ty was born in Sharon, Pa on September 4th 1971 and grew up there and in Brookfield, Ohio before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music.  He joined Great White three years ago. He also played guitar in CC DeVille’s band Samantha 7 and toured with former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza’s group. 

Friends say that Ty lived for music, he was constantly playing guitar and lists Billy Joel and The Eagles among his favorite artists. Ty’s roommate Mark Zicari says, "He was always practicing and working. The music scene's a struggle, but he had a comfortable thing going. He's just a very friendly, easy-to-like guy. I've never met an enemy of Ty's."

On his official website he list “making people laugh” as one of his hobbies and antiMUSIC editor Keavin Wiggins confirms this from his few encounters with Ty. “He is one the nicest and funniest guys I have ever meet. He would have us rolling as he cut up on the sidelines at Harry’s shows doing his imitation of CC Deville, ‘Play some Slaughter! I want some Cherry Pie,’ he would yell in his mock CC voice, knowing full well the band would never play those songs. ” 

Ty was a regular performer in Happenin’ Harry and the Haptones, a allstar jam band who performed rock covers every Sunday night at the Cat Club in Hollywood. 

"He thought he was Bart Simpson," says Ty’s friend Denise Marciano. "He was always doing these funny voices and making light of everything. He was someone you always wanted to be around."

Keavin adds, “He really was one of the nicest guys I have ever meet. I know people always say this but it is genuinely true about Ty. It’s just really sad. I only meet him a few times but he is the type of person you meet and you feel like you have known him for years.” 

Great White's manager Paul Woolnough says that Ty, "lived for the road." And Ty posted enthusiastic messages on his online journal about the current tour, "The economy is collapsing, World War III may be near, and I'm so happy on the road!!!" 

"It's such a gift to have the opportunity to step outside of our own little confined familiar lives and get to take in the rest of the world and experience new places," he wrote.

Ty was also looking forward to returning home and starting a family with his pregnant girlfriend Heidi. 

“You can look at the news and get upset but when you have meet someone involved it just hits that much harder. I really feel bad for his girlfriend and their unborn baby. He or she will grow up never having a chance to know Ty,” adds Keavin. 

There was no word at press time about when or where a memorial service would be held. 

Ty’s friend and Hollywood concert promoter, Happenin’ Harry, plans to hold at memorial show for Ty’s L.A. friends next Sunday night (March 2nd) at the Cat Club in Hollywood. 

All of us at antiMUSIC would like to offer our condolences to Ty’s family and friends and to the families and friends of all who passed away during this tragedy. 
 
 

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