ROUNDMAN’S TRIBUTE TO STANO BUSTOS
By Jimmy Kujala
As most of us by now know we have lost one of Red Lodge’s greatest friends, Stan Bustos. To some of us he was known as Stano or to some O Stan. I find myself writing this article on the eve of his passing and I must tell you it is with heavy heart and a vast amount of tears that I pen this. I don’t need to remind everyone of how many people Stano touched in this community, all the countless hours he spent working on the mountain working on the races, helping kids and anyone else that needed his expertise. Stano knew something about almost anything you could ask him. Everything he did was with a great amount of passion, pride and enthusiasm including his dedication to carpentry work.
What I want to tell you about is the one thing that meant the world to Stano and that was his music. The Hound Dogs From Outer Space have lost a brother. I was lucky enough to have spent several years playing music with Stano. The band had various lineups from time to time which encompassed some of the most accomplished musicians in the northwest including the most recent lineup of Stano, Charlie Brandine, Frank Pirtz, Todd Loughrie and myself but the one thing through the years that has remained a constant was the brotherly love of the original members and brothers Stano Charlie, Levi and myself. With almost sibling harmony it was a joy and a pleasure to share the stage with these guys.
Stano’s passion and commitment to music was that of an enthusiastic 15 year old that had just started playing and had decided to dedicate his life to the love of music, his commitment never wavered. He was the first one to the gig and the last to leave, his fans were many and they all loved him. As I sit here stunned, heart broke and missing him I take comfort in knowing he is in a better place spreading some of his well known Ju Ju. At this point I don’t know what the future holds for the band without our percussionist (they aint no damn bongos) Stano. I personally would find it hard to go on with out him but there will be at least one more gig and that will be the tribute to our friend Stano Bustos. In conversation with Charlie this evening we both agreed that Stano was first and foremost at paying tribute to his friends and when the time and date is set our hope is that all of the people that have been touched by this man we affectionately called Stano will gather from near and far to make it an event fitting a man that gave so much to his friends and the community that he loved and called his home. Stan, Stano Bustos we love you and miss you my friend. Sunday mornings at the Regis will not be the same without you.
Jimmy Kujala