His funeral was on the 6th but I though I would post the story, over 1000 attended, and fans gathered at the gates. He was buried in Phoenix. .. thank you to the reader who sent it in.
A tuba puffed notes, drums kept time and the unmistakable sound of an accordion — the instrument that helped make Phoenix native Tomas Tovar Rascon a rising star in banda music — serenaded a sold-out crowd that waited in the sweltering heat to say goodbye.
On Tuesday evening, family, friends and fans of Tito Torbellino — Rascon's stage name — gathered at a public memorial service held at Celebrity Theatre for the slain musician.
He was murdered Thursday in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora when two gunmen entered a restaurant and shot Rascon at close range several times.
Rascon's casket was featured prominently Tuesday on the Phoenix venue's stage, surrounded by floral arrangements, accordions and photos.
Leslie Antunez,24, a self described "Dreamer," said she stood in a line that, at one point, stretched almost completely around the building because Rascon supported Dreamers on social media.
"He was always telling us to never give up," she said. "I came here to show him how much we care."
Ana Hernandez, 18, said she was came to the memorial service because Rascon was her idol.
"I never got to meet him, so I want to say my final goodbye," Hernandez said."I like the songs he sings, how he went from poor to rich so fast."
Rosa Castillo, 35, went to North High School where she said she and Torbellino were in the same Spanish class one year. Rascon was quiet, she said, and didn't seem like he wanted to be in school.
"He was always singing and playing (the accordion) outside the school," she said in Spanish.
Martin Ortega, a drummer in the 17-member band La Llegadora, said he knew Rascon for the about 10 years. His band played some of the same venues as Rascon and he planned keep Rascon's memory alive by continuing to play his music.
"He was a good musician." he said in Spanish. "He was dedicated."
