Obituary

Stephen Joseph Hardin was born in Santa Monica, California on October 27, 1946 and passed from this life on June 28, 2015 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was educated in Bartlesville, Oklahoma graduating from College High School in 1964. While attending the University of Tulsa Steve began playing keyboards on the local club circuit. His love for music and live performance drove his decision to leave college and pursue what turned out to be a remarkable music career. He played venues in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Dallas before following the advice of other performers who encouraged him to go to California. As soon as he did, he found himself in the mainstream of the music business. Steve remained in music until his retirement in 2009. He performed with some of the biggest names in entertainment including Point Blank, Steppenwolf, his former wife, Caroline Blankenship, aka Gus Hardin, Glen Campbell, for whom Steve served as music director, keyboardist and harmonica soloist. Over the years he performed with Delaney Bramlett, Percy Sledge, Tanya Tucker, Lonnie Mack, Willie Nelson and a host of other music legends. He was instrumental in launching the career of country star, Gretchen Wilson. He was also an accomplished song-writer with several top 40 tunes to his credit. He wrote for Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, Tanya Tucker, Point Blank, Doug Kershaw and many others. He is survived by his parents, Joe and Betty Hardin of Bartlesville, one sister, Suzie Hardin Chelsea of Tulsa, a son Brian Joseph Hardin, Brian’s wife Marsha Hardin and two grandchildren, David Grayson Hardin and Allison Paige Hardin of Dallas. Services will be held for family, close friends and musician friends at Rose Hill Cemetery, 4161 E. Admiral Boulevard, Tulsa, OK at 10:00 AM, Friday, July 3rd. In lieu of flowers the family has suggested donations be made to the ‘Zoot’ Freeman Music Scholarship, C/O College High Alumni Assn, PO Box 2552, Bartlesville, OK, 74005.