The Independent has chosen not to run obituaries, arrests, and traffic accidents as a general operating procedure. For the past 20 years, The Independent has been the area’s premier source for arts, music, entertainment, and culture in part by not focusing on these other areas. We have dedicated our content to sharing information and news that celebrates life, stimulates dialogue, and provides entertainment.
During this same period of time, Tim Cretsinger, founder of Groovefest and owner of Groovacious, has done the same. Sometimes an individual shares so much of themselves with a community that they become a limb people rely on for stability and balance. When that individual is taken from us, we can feel that everything has been thrown off balance. Their influence is still with us while they are not. Like a phantom limb, we sense their presence, only to turn and see that they are not there. As the community of Southern Utah deals with this loss, all of us at The Independent feel we would be remiss if we didn’t go against our operating procedure by both sharing the news of Tim Cretsinger’s passing and celebrating the life that he lived.
We are all born, and it is inevitable that we all shall pass. What we do with the time we have on earth has the potential to impact our community greatly. The contributions we make to others and in building community can live on well past our lifetime. It is not that all life is not important. It is not even that many do not have some significant impact. But some people are the epitome of reaching beyond themselves and influencing an entire community.
Tim’s impact on the community, the music scene, and countless lives is, quite literally, seen and felt all over Southern Utah and beyond. Tim and Lisa Cretsinger gave birth to Groovefest in Oregon in 1993. Upon moving to Cedar City in 2000, they brought their “child” with them and shared it with the community. Many within the village contributed along the way to help nurture and raise Groovefest through its teenage years. The event blossomed and developed through adolescence and into adulthood right before our eyes and ears.
Bringing a community of volunteers together, musicians from all across the nation, and presenting something that offered attendees to feel connected demonstrates the type of influence and commitment the Cretsingers have for Groovefest and both the community it is a part of and the one it has created.
Dennis Gregz, founder and producer of Artiste Sanctuary Concert Series, captured Tim’s influence well: “Tim made an indelible impact fostering Southern Utah’s music culture not only by orchestrating Groovefest but by his ardent nurturing of young emerging talent. It was in his DNA. Many a young artist gained both self-assurance and confidence by performing on the open mic stage at Groovacious. Music appreciation, and especially for the live performance were things Tim taught us to treasure and for this we are forever beholden.”
Many of the artists who came into contact with Tim through Groovefest carried his positive influence with them. As Courtney Andrews said, “Tim was a warm, caring, humble soul. Playing Groovacious on tour felt like coming home. Tim cared so much for the musicians, and offered nothing but positive and encouraging words to us all. The music community was so lucky to have him. I’ll always cherish my time with him, talking about music and life, playing Groovefest and Groovacious, and staying up late at Steve and Jolene’s. What a true blue human we have lost.”
Tim’s influence went beyond the stages of Groovefest. Just walking into Groovacious, you could feel his personality and passion for music. As Steven Lee McLaughlin remembered, “My take on Tim was just how unbiased he truly was, music was music and he supported everyone in whichever route they decided to take. I remember shopping for some vinyl albums and told him how badly I was in search of Pantera records, so he ordered in all of them and even made sure the far beyond driven album had the explicit cover on it ha ha! I know that seems cheesy but too me it meant the world.”
While so many people in our community felt Tim’s influence, it is those who were closest to him who felt his impact the most. Charles “Chuck” Triplett, a close friend of Tim’s, beautifully summed things up: “[It] was a very hard day as someone I consider a great friend, mentor, and family member lost his battle with cancer after fighting like hell. I will love and miss that man until my last day on this earth. I wouldn’t be who I am today without his love, support, and guidance. He made you want to be a better musician, father, or whatever you are. Yesterday was a day music skipped a beat, and my world will never be the same. I’m better for every having known him.” He went on to say, “Tim and Lisa have done a ton for the area. So much music has its start with their open mic. They have been able to build Groovefest to bring 45,000 people to Cedar City. Not many people get a day named after them, Tim has one. He was my mentor and my best friend. I could talk to him about anything.”
Although Tim has taken his last breath, his influence remains in what he has created and the countless lives he has touched. There can be no doubt that Tim’s touch will weave into future generations and that people will continue to feel his influence through eternity.
To show appreciation and love for the Cretsingers, the community is holding a Hope & Repair support show for the Cretsinger family April 2 at Mike’s Tavern in Cedar City at 7 p.m. Funds raised by the show will go to help cover medical expenses and funeral costs. For more on the event, including a lineup of artists, go to facebook.com/events/936062749806141/?active_tab=highlights.
If you are from out of town and want to donate to the cause a bank account has been set up at Mountain America Credit Union. Here is how you can donate to Lisa Rumel Cretsinger to help pay Tim’s medical and funeral expenses.
Go into any Mountain America Credit Union and ask to donate to the Tim Cretsinger Memorial Fund, simple as that.
If you are from out of town, call 1 (800) 748-4302. When prompted, go to customer service and ask to donate to the Tim Cretsinger Memorial Fund, and they will let you pay with credit card or debit card.
One hundred percent of all money goes to Lisa Rumel Cretsinger.
