Introduction
Ty Christopher Longley (September 4, 1971 – February 20, 2003) was an American guitarist. He was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Brookfield High School in Brookfield, Ohio. He joined the band Great White in 2000, played in Samantha 7, The Bullet Boys, and played in Nick Menza's solo project. Longley also did session work for many artists, including Nancy Sinatra and performed uncredited on many works of music.
Death
Longley died in The Station nightclub fire on February 20, 2003, which claimed a total of 100 lives, he is reported to have aided with at least 3 survivors. Rumors of Longley exiting and returning to retrieve his guitar have been proven untrue. In photographs and video footage Ty Longley never leaves his guitar or exits with his band mates. Longley instead exits the stage and moves through the crowd with his guitar that he used to break out windows and help concert goers out of the building. When the fire started, Longley was performing with the band Great White; he was the only band member to lose his life in the fire. Ty Longley is survived by Heidi Longley, who was three months pregnant with Ty’s only child. Their son AceyTy Christopher Longley was born in the summer of 2003. Acey is also a musician, and runs a charity called B.E.A.T.S. (Bringing Everyone A Tremendous Smile) for children in his father's memory. Acey is also an American Red Cross Of Chicagoland Youth Good Samaritan Hero and one of The Chicago Tribune’s most inspiring stories of that same year.(2013)