PHOENIX — Friends gathered Thursday in downtown Phoenix to remember the radio icon who was a familiar voice on the Valley's airwaves for decades.
DJ Super Snake passed away on Dec. 30 at the age of 61. The people who knew him dressed in vibrant colors to recall their favorite memories of the radio host at a memorial service held at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church.
"It's a sad day," said former Phoenix Suns player Cedric Ceballos. "Snake was a pillar of this community."
Ceballos said Super Snake was one of the first people who interviewed him when he arrived in the Valley to play for the Suns in the early 1990s.
It didn't take long for Snake to become the type of friend who was quick to offer mentorship and advice to the NBA player.
"He had his finger on the pulse of Phoenix," Ceballos said.
Ceballos said Snake later got the athlete into the radio business and offered valuable tips on how to navigate the industry.
"He was always trying to teach you something," said Alex Santa Maria, who was a friend of Snake's for decades.
Santa Maria said Snake was known for his generous spirit and infectious laugh -- characteristics that made him a beloved figure in the Valley.
"I was amazed at how he was able to capture everyone with that charisma he had," Santa Maria added.
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