“Splish Splash (I Was Taking a Bath),” a song performed by Bobby Darin, is one of those tunes that won’t fade from favor as long as bands keep 1950’s music alive.
Steven Christianson, part of the band Sky High, played old rock ’n’ roll, such as Darin hits, and country songs in the 1980s around Snohomish County bars, fairs and festivals. They could be found many Friday and Saturday nights at Sunset Tavern in Monroe or Cedar Stump in Arlington.
The drummer and singer held a day job, too, until health issues changed his life.
Steven Paul Christianson died May 26 in Everett from complications of diabetes. He was born Nov. 21, 1949, and was raised in the Pinehurst neighborhood.
The family included four children, including Dave, Tom and Mona, who, typical of those days, rode bikes with no helmets for miles around. They shopped at C&H Variety, Walt’s Buy Rite and most everyone belonged to Degree of Honor.
His brother, Tom Christianson, also a musician, said their dad, Benjamin, was a carpenter, and their mother, Pauline, was a school cook for many years at several campuses. The family had a cabin at Flowing Lake in Snohomish, where summers were a blast, he said.
The youngsters hung out with friends around the lake. Steve Christianson owned a hydroplane he zoomed from shore to shore. He bought a waterski at Wigwam. The gang caught bullfrogs at night.
Steve Christianson’s first band was called Turncoats, formed in the mid-1960s. They practiced in the basement of the Christianson home.
He still played 1950’s and 1960’s music with adult bands. After playing dates in Everett, Christianson would order sweet-and-sour pork at China Doll. He wore Western shirts and tennis shoes.
His friend, Phil Mitchell, sat in with Sky High when the regular bass player was unavailable.
“Steve was a very talented person,” Mitchell said. “His expertise with the drums was equally matched with his ability to deliver some fine vocals. I thoroughly enjoyed the times I could make music with him.”
The musician was a kind man, said his sister-in-law, Jeanna Christianson. Her brother-in-law used to tell friends and family he planned to move to Nashville to make it big.
“He was a lady’s man when he was younger,” she said. “Steve had a good following.”
Steve Christianson worked by day in the grocery store business, including a job at Tradewell, and was a retail clerk for 25 years. He fell through a roof and hit his head while remodeling a friend’s home near Stanwood, which began a downhill slide of health issues.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Pauline Christianson; his brother, Loren Christianson; and niece, Heather Marsh.
He is survived by his brothers, Dave and his wife, Sue, and Tom Christianson and his wife, Jeanna; his sister, Mona Reed and her husband, Marty; his children, Rob Christianson, Brian Christianson, Brandi Christianson Varnell and Stephanie Christianson; and eleven grandchildren.
His son, Brian Christianson, said his family enjoyed fishing, camping and spending time at Flowing Lake.
Brian Christianson remembers peering through tavern doors to watch his father play in bands. He bragged to a young girl, while his father played at a fair, that the drummer was his dad, but the girl didn’t believe the youngster.
“Then my Dad came down and gave me a hug,” Brian Christianson said. “He was an awesome Dad.”
When they were camping, his father would play tapes of Sky High music.
“I’d get on the tailgate and pretend I was famous,” Brian Christianson said. “I still enjoy listening to him.”
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
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