Rick Steele, blues musician and the patriarch of Perth’s Steele family of musicians, has died aged 77.
The New-Zealand born musician was known best as the leader of Perth group Hot Biscuit Band.
Over his 60-year-long career, Rick toured and performed with bands such as Split Enz, Dragon, and the Little River Band, and even supported his son Luke, who is part of Aussie music duo Empire of the Sun, on tour.
The WA-based musician’s legacy trickled down onto the next generation, with all four of his children going into music.
Before founding Empire of the Sun, Luke was also frontman of alternative rockers The Sleepy Jackson.
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Katy Steele is a singer for the pop group Little Birdy, while her twin brother Jake is an electronic musician, Tobacco Rat.
The oldest son of the family, Jesse, was in the first iteration of The Sleepy Jackson and now works in the US as an environmental scientist.
Luke posted a lengthy tribute to the official Empire of the Sun Instagram account, alongside a photo of his late father and a compilation video of him throughout the years.
He let his fans know that his father passed away on the afternoon of March 10 with his family by his side.
Luke described his father as, “A true legend, a voice and a shepherd for the common man, a story teller, a blues man with a heart of gold.
“He spent his life soothing the souls of so many through his incredible gift of music. His own musical career spanned more than 60 years, a repertoire of thousands of songs. I’d often wonder how he’d remember them all.
“He was an eccentric, an artist with a beautiful flair. He loved his family, garden and his castle, and he sure loved a good song. He always said you only have three minutes to tell the world what you want to say. That always said so much to me.”
Luke added that his dad was a fan of Empire of the Sun and enjoyed interacting with their fans, often fielding questions about what the band was up to.
“The fight he fought in the last few months was a true testament to his strength and warrior spirit. We were all blessed to have had this time with him as a family in his final encore,” the 45-year-old continued.
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“This was a beautiful ending to a wonderful life. We are all so thankful to have been a part of his journey. A legacy filled with many blessings which will continue on through his music.”
Rick was also remembered by the WA Music Hall of Fame, who called him one of Australia’s finest live acts in their own tribute, after inducting him in 2016.
He is survived by his wife Liz, their four children and their partners, and nine grandchildren.
