For five days last November, s friends and family searched the Downtown Eastside for the beloved 35-year-old musician and father of three. After vanishing Nov. 15, he was found dead Nov. 19 in a room at the Balmoral Hotel.
Now, four months later, fellow musicians will unite to pay tribute to Ponzios message togetherness, community, love and the legacy he leaves behind in his three children, Shae, Jalen and Kairah.
David Morin, who is performing at the star-studded fundraiser concert alongside the likes of , , and WEs , was one of Ponzios best friends. The two met four years ago when Morin moved to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and began performing at the ANZA Club where Ponzio was a regular. Ponzio, an established pillar of the citys independent music scene, quickly took Morin under his wing and the two became fast friends and collaborators.
When I first played there, he came up to me afterwards and told me how great it was and how he wanted to work with me and jam, Morin says. Thats how I got to know him. He would have me over to his place and we jammed out and did some recording and he just validated what I was doing. I really needed to hear that at the time.
By all accounts, this was the role Ponzio played for many of the citys emerging and established musicians. He bridged musical genres and cliques, and brought together musicians who may have otherwise never crossed paths. He had been playing and performing for years, and had recently gained exposure by winning Shore FMs song search competition with his rousing single, For the People. He was a good man finally getting what he deserved: recognition. Now, its up to Ponzios wide circle of friends to carry on.
His world extended pretty far, Morin says. People I didnt even know he knew he knew. It was really hard and tough and sad. But I mean, the biggest thing is out of that people became much more inspired and I think his message was amplified. He was in the process of finishing his record and the lyrical content in his songs; its always been for the people, loving each other, promoting community. And not only was it in his music, but he lived it. With his loss, it puts the focus on what his message was.
Its a message made all the more poignant by the unsettling circumstances that still surround Ponzios death, chief among them: what really happened? The VPD say the investigation is closed and that his death has been deemed not suspicious, but there have been rumours circulating for months that Ponzio may have met with foul play. At press time, the Coroners Service had not yet replied to requests for comment. Morin says he doesnt really know what happened, and frankly he doesnt really care to know.
Whats done is done, he says. It cant be changed... I know who he was and I know what role he played in my life.
Friend, mentor, inspiration. These are the roles Ponzio played in his community and in Morins life. These characteristics are what bring people together to create a show like the one at the Commodore this Friday night.
He has three beautiful kids and he exceeded every expectation about providing for his family, and he did that through music? Morin says. Thats so incredible to me. He created a huge network of people, brought a whole lot of people together, and I want that to be the message that gets passed on to his children, his family, everyone. I cant wait to honour him.
happens Feb. 17 at the Commodore, 8pm. $25 at Ticketmaster and the door.
