After serving time in jail for a drug conviction a few years ago, Scott Griffith turned his life around and devoted it to his 13-year-old daughter, Kacie. Griffith, a musician, had spent two decades playing guitar and writing songs for Southern California bands.

"If anything funny was going to happen to someone on stage, it was going to happen to him," said Griffith's former band manager, James Costa. "Anybody and everybody that knew Scott knew a story that put a smile on their face when they told it."

Griffith, 41, completed drug rehabilitation, cut his hair and began taking computer classes. He eventually received his degree and landed a job at a computer security company. He is from Mission Viejo, Calif., but last summer, his company gave him a promotion and relocated him to Rhode Island.

He took the offer to give Kacie a better life, said Costa. Griffith knew Great White's vocalist, Jack Russell, and got five tickets to the concert. He took four co-workers. Three made it out alive, Costa said.

Griffith's most prized possession was a custom-made white Gibson Les Paul guitar, which he joked that he wanted to be buried with. Now, Costa says, the guitar may go to his daughter.