R.I.P Incredibly Talented Vancouver Musician “Quest Poetics” Found Dead Last Night

VANCOUVER — Vancouver police reported that the body of Yaletown musician Bruce Randall “Randy” Ponzio was discovered in a Downtown Eastside rooming house on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Ponzio, 35, was reported missing after he was last seen on Tuesday November 15.

The police statement says that police received a call on Saturday November 19, shortly before 5 pm reporting the discovery of a body in a room of the Balmoral Hotel in the 100 block East Hastings. There were no visible signs of trauma, but police are treating the death as suspicious.

Vancouver police are asking for anyone that might have seen Ponzio in the days or hours leading up to the discovery of his body to contact Major Crime investigators at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 .

Ponzio’s death came as a shock to well-known Vancouver guitarist Don Alder, who said he was surprised to hear Ponzio was found dead in a DTES rooming house.

He said he never knew Ponzio to have any addiction problems and wondered if something might have happened in his personal life that led him to be in a room at the Balmoral Hotel.

“Being an artist, he’s sensitive, so I wonder if something happened at home,” said Alder, adding he knew Ponzio had a girlfriend and a young daughter whom he was devoted to.

“He passionately loved his daughter,” said Alder.

“Every time I’ve seen him he was positive. He was very much a cheerer. He would get people [other musicians] together and be really positive.”

Alder described Ponzio as a “working man’s artist” who also enjoyed street busking besides playing open mikes at various clubs in Vancouver.

“He had the potential to be something great, and because of the win he had, he was starting to get larger exposure,” said Alder, referring to Ponzio’s winning Shore FM’s song-search contest in August for his song For the People.

Alder said he first met Ponzio five years ago at the Anza Club, where both were performing.

“I fell in love with his voice. He could [have been] a back-up singer for Sting. He’s such a sweetheart of a guy. Very supportive of everyone. Not afraid to acknowledge other people’s talents,” he said.

“It’s a sad, sad thing.”

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