| Graduation Year | Class of 1964 |
| Date of Passing | Mar 03, 2006 |
| About | Here's Chuck's LA Times obituary: Chuck Estes, 59; Eclectic Composer of Music for Theater Obituaries April 19, 2006|Mary Rourke, Times Staff Writer Chuck Estes, who wrote music for stage productions at South Coast Repertory Theater, the Grove Shakespeare Festival in Garden Grove, the Court Theatre in West Hollywood and others, died March 26. He was 59. His wife, Nancy Estes, said he died of complications from heart disease at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton. ## That doesn't even scratch the surface of this larger-than-life friend. Chuck was imbued with music and worked in every aspect of it. He must have played in 100 rock bands, dozens of jazz bands, composed symphonies and other pieces, directed and produced musical theater, arranged hundreds of pieces and wrote dozens of songs. He learned to play over one dozen instruments, including tuba which he learned when the SHHS marching band needed a tuba player. Chuck loved to laugh and tell stories in a theatrical voice, finally a deep hipster growl in his final last ten years or so. He could laugh at himself, and he loved jokes, including practical jokes, and satire. He had strong political convictions and he didn't mind telling you exactly what they were. We loved him, and many of us knew Chuck from early grade school on. Chuck could have gone to big cities and become a big media musician, but he loved Fullerton and he often said, "Bloom where you were planted!" At SHHS, Chuck was the leader (and usually bassist) for an early folk group of friends including singer Steve Noonan, multi-instrumentalist Steve Van Gelder, and a young neophyte named Jackson Browne. They'd all set up and entertain us all at breaks and at noon. Chuck was the first one to advise Jackson to buy his own guitar. Chuck was also a kind, friendly man, whose family meant everything to him. He had 4 children and Nancy was the love of his life. The only way to portray Chuck accurately would be to play his music, or rather, listen to him play. At least a dozen of us consider Chuck one of the best friends we've ever had. Through his music and our memories, he will live forever. Goodbye, Maestro. |
