New Original Song Out!
My new original song “Hello, Maker Of The Sun” is released by my Music Distributor CD Baby! It will be available for purchase or streaming in the first weeks of May 2026 at all the major sites including Apple, Amazon and Spotify! The music video is available to see on YouTube (Richie Val Studio), Facebook (Richie Val) and Instagram.
Steve, I looked for you today. I visited your FaceBook page and I see family and friends miss you. We still think of you. You are loved!
I remember the day you said you were going to see a band called Nirvana. You invited me to go to the show in Seattle, but I declined to go. I regret that for a couple of reasons. One, because it would have been a great time to hang out with you and also because you met Kurt. This was before "Nevermind" was released."Bleach" was released and you told me about this great band you were going to see and did I want to go with you and your friend. Your friend knew the drummer in the band, and after the show he came over to talk to him and you met him. Then Kurt came over and he introduced Kurt to you and his friend. You told me about that show and we also talked about it years later in detail.
I remember the time you sold me your Rickenbaker guitar. I kept it for awhile but then traded it in a music shop in Seattle. I remember I traded it with a little cash and got a Crate 100 watt amp, A new Black Fender acoustic electric cutaway guitar and some other stuff. You loved music. I gave you my Beatles guitar chords and lyrics songbook. It had pictures in it and you liked it, you wanted to learn some songs. I told you you could have it and you were really thankful.
We talked about music a lot. You and your friends loved The Smiths. I had yet to come to appreciate them. Love them now and solo Morrissey.
The last time I talked to you was on the phone. We talked for over an hour. You told me about the time when someone tried to rob you in Seattle. You stood up to him and he got nothing because he didn't want fight you. You were not a push over and he was going to have a time robbing you. You said you "circled each other, sizing each other up". But he decided you were going to be a handful, so he made his retreat and you went on your way.
We talked on the phone and we talked about trying to get together, maybe you would come for a visit down to Florida to see me. "It would be great" we said. I said "Love you Brother" and you said "Love you" as we got ready to end our conversation and hang up. I spoke with you via Facebook after that. Then came the terrible news that you had died. It was a shock! It was hard to believe that you were gone and we didn't quite know the details about what happened. But you died and your family and friends mourned you.
I know the truth, and I know that I will see you again one day. I hope so! I think of you from time to time. You are not forgotten by many. You were a special man. You are missed! We love you Steve! I write this for myself, somehow it is a comfort. Maybe some of your family and friends will see it and want to post a comment about their thoughts about you. I hope so! I truly hope so!
