Ty Longley was a guitarist in Great White, the band whose pyrotechnics ignited the deadly nightclub fire at The Station.

The 31-year-old joined the band four years ago, long after it reached its heyday.

"Music was his life. He didn't do anything else. I'd watch TV and he'd be playing 24-7," said Mark Zicari, 26, who shared an apartment with Longley in Los Angeles.

Longley's favorite escapes were his family, his girlfriend and playing guitar, according to his Web site.

"He loved being on the road," said band publicist Byron Hontas. "To him, he had a perfect life. He had a girlfriend, a child on the way.

Everything was so smooth to him ... he took care of business and was always willing to do anything and everything. He was one of those people who was fun being around."

He grew up in Brookfield, Ohio, and had a passion for the guitar from an early age, said Max Schang, his former guitar teacher.

He never let his success go to his head and stayed away from drugs and alcohol, Schang said.

"He's the kid I never had," he said.

Longley was working on an album of his own, said his aunt, Judy Longley.

Marc Harrison befriended Longley when Longley joined Happenin' Harry & The Haptones.

"He was one of the only people who could make me laugh," said Harrison, known as Happenin' Harry. "He was one of the only people who could take me out of a stressful or bad moment and put a smile on my face. ... He could sense something was wrong and would go to any lengths to make you laugh until he was satisfied that he made you laugh enough -- and then he'd keep going."

Longley's girlfriend is four months pregnant, Harrison said.