Steven Charles Huston

November 17, 1949 to July 25, 2023

Steven Charles Huston, 73, died unexpectedly on July 25, 2023 at home. Born November 17, 1949, in Centralia, Illinois, to Vada Fay (Hails) Huston and Charles Huston, Steve grew up near Cravat in Jefferson County, Illinois, on his parents' cattle ranch. A 1966 REA essay contest win sparked the chain reaction that led to the founding of the rock band Head East.

Steve studied at Kaskaskia College (AA), Edison State College/Eastern Illinois University (BA), University of London (Postgraduate Diploma – Distance Education), Goddard College (MA).  College was interrupted when A & M Records discovered Head East and signed the band to a recording contract.

Singer, songwriter, vocal arranger and drummer for Head East, Steve Huston was a force of nature . He wrote five of the nine songs on the band's debut album “Flat as a Pancake” which still sells after its release in 1975. His compositions “Ticket Back to Georgia” and “Jefftown Creek” remain crowd favorites at Head East concerts. The 1970's was recordings, nonstop touring, sold out stadiums, and outdoor events like the Texxas Jam in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. 

Steve left Head East in 1980 to work in television and recording production studios in Des Moines, Iowa until 1989, when he moved to Houston to become a partner, chief engineer, and studio manager in a new recording studio. In 1993, a band he had worked with in that studio persuaded The Art Institute to recruit Steve to teach audio production. An Associate Professor, he retired from the Art Institute after more than twenty years' service. In 2018, he wrote and published “Head East: A Labor of Love,” essays about music and his career. He sang with Head East as a guest vocalist, most recently in the Head East 50 year Reunion Tour.

Steve was a member of ASCAP, AAUP, American Federation of Musicians, Record Industry Association of America, Northwest Forest Republican Women, The Sky Club and was the founding member of the Spring Creek Forest Neighborhood Watch. With the current and original members of Head East, Steve was inducted into the Iowa Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Ruth Huston Diel. 

Steve leaves behind wife, Kathleen Slaydon-Huston; stepdaughters, Amelia Mayer and Holly “Jackie” Mayer, extended family, friends, former students, musicians and fans. He is much loved and greatly missed. 

A celebration of Steve Huston's life will be held in Carlyle, Illinois at a later date.

The Third Coast Farewell to Steve Huston will be at 10:30 am, Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Church at Creek's End, 20010 Kuykendahl Road, Spring Texas.  Contributions to Steve's favorite charities, may be made at https://creeksend.org/steve-huston-farewell

His care has been entrusted to Claire Brothers Funeral Home, Houston, Texas 77081.