Mesquite, Texas – Leopold Alexander Cantu (also known as Octy, Blackie, Tumblebug, Gut) passed away on Oct 11, 2024 after his battle with esophageal cancer. He was born in San Antonio, Texas on Feb 13, 1954. Blackie was an excellent guitar player and singer who, as a key member of many bands over many decades (such as the Infection Heads, E.M. Cecil Band, Hot Spank Band, Onions, Eastside Troubadours), shared his passion for music with many! He was deeply loved and will be forever remembered by family and friends who enjoyed his humor and his musical talents. A private family service will be held at a later date.
3 Responses
A graduate of the Dallas Academy for the Practice of Unlicensed Medicine, Founder of the Foundation for the Living Dead and Chairman and CEO of Blackie’s Bubble Bursting Services, Blackie was indisputably one of a kind! I was, and will always be, proud to claim him as my little brother.
Now that he has been called to perform at that great “gig in the sky,” I pray that his creator not give Blackie any guff about sticking to his preferred diet of Hostess Twinkies, fried pies and Mountain Dew instead of eating his vegetables.
Blackie and I hadn’t been in touch , but we used to be very close friends and I thought about him often. I have two books by him “published” by Choke to Death publications, a division of Sublimation Ltd. The Saga of Bad Blackie and Blackie and Papa.
He was so talented and witty and kind. He would bring his guitar to my house and we would sing “Rawhide”. He was definitely one of a kind. I was pretty much of the opinion that he never really ate any food. He just tore it all into pieces. But food was always a big topic for him. He would call me and say “what’d you eat today?” Then,” did it have salt? pepper?” He made me laugh .
I will miss him and I am truly very sorry for your loss.
RIP Blackie.