Stephen Reed

Obituary

Stephen Keith Reed was born 34 years ago on August 24, 1991 to Dr. Danny Eugene Reed and Dr. Margaret Jean Curry Reed. On Thursday, February 12, 2026, God called Stephen home to be with Him. We take solace in the knowledge that Stephen’s work here on earth had been completed as it was his divine appointed hour to depart. As a devout Christian who served with a compassionate heart, and a man of conviction with a keen moral compass, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Duarte where he was the lead drummer for the praise team, in concert with fellow members of the band XINXIN, for many years, serving alongside Pastor Herrell and more recently Pastor Spicer. We will forever remember the man, who lived a purpose filled life, his music, his work, and his art!

A graphic arts design major at California State University, San Bernardino, and the lead drummer for his band XINXIN, Stephen was truly “one in a million”! We respectfully would call him a “modern day Renaissance man.”

He had many talents that he had perfected over time through dedication and deep interest. He purchased a sewing machine to tailor his clothing to fit his slender frame. He taught himself about cars and how to keep them running. His artwork told many a story about his creative bent.

As he introduced his online portfolio, a collection of his art, music, design, and sound engineering expertise, in his own words Stephen described his passion for graphic arts design and sound:

“Early exposure to obscure and eclectic music spheres, countless hours burning CDs and living life to a soundtrack, the feelings insighted by Graffiti art, indie films, anime, and fashion magazines, all of these things have subtly shaped my sensibilities and love for sound and design. Whether approaching a mix, or developing a visual concept, I draw from experience as an enthusiast first, often embracing unconventional approaches to craft atmosphere and emotion across both sonic and visual spaces. Much of my work involves translating between these realms, finding the visual rhythm in audio or the sonic quality in design, creating cohesive experiences that speak to both senses.”

In his application to USC’s Roski School of Fine Arts, Stephen wrote about his passion for drumming:

“Drumming is hugely important to me. Often, some sort of rhythm, sometimes coupled with a melody, will find its way into my head, and stay there for an inordinate amount of time, like a song stuck in my head. My best defense against this sort of itch is to get it all out of my system by means of drumming. Drumming serves not only as my primary source of exercise, but as a vehicle of expression. I can take a rhythm that has been brewing in my cranium to my drum kit and spend hours developing that rhythm; experimenting with that rhythm, playing with the mood and complexity by accenting a few notes here, adding a little brass there. It is my poetry.”

Stephen was a talented visual, digital, and music artist. He left everything with his special touch and always gave his work his whole heart. He was a passionate illustrator, painter, designer, sound engineer, music producer, and musician. He played drums, keys, bass and recorded, engineered, produced, mixed, and mastered a number of singles, EPs, albums for XINXIN, friends, and his own works. He enjoyed opportunities to tour as a drummer for his band XINXIN… as well as numerous performances with Milk Juice, Maggie Moon, Velvet Penny, Sleep Club, Twin Seas, Dani Offline, and a Led Zeppelin Cover band with his High School friends.

He was privileged to have worked as a sound engineer in Portland, Oregon for the Reser Center Performing Arts; at Yamava Casino, in San Bernardino in a similar capacity. He worked at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton, CA, Rhythm Tech in Colton, CA, and WTS in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. In addition to performing and recording at entertainment venues in several states in the US and Canada with his band, XINXIN with fellow band mates Janize Ablaza (lead singer), Jonah Huang (keyboardist), and Carlos Elias (lead guitar) since 2016. He left an extensive discography.

Stephen touched and enriched many lives while journeying here on earth, making the world a better place. He took pride in mentoring young people who wanted to follow in his footsteps and learn the rhythm and beat of the drum. He possessed an infectious laugh and broad smile both of which expressed his joy for life. He lived with boundless generosity and will continue giving after death as a soft tissue donor. His legacy will endure and will save and heal lives. He leaves to mourn his passing his mother, Dr. Margaret Curry Reed and father, Dr. Danny Eugene Reed; the love of his life, Janize Ablaza; his two older brothers, Lorin Karl Reed and William Conrad Reed; his maternal and paternal aunts and uncles; a host of cousins; his only niece, Teagan Mirielle Reed, and many close friends, music community, parishioners, and his beloved cats, Lyka, Gibbous, and Toby. His maternal and paternal grandparents, several aunts and uncles, and many cousins preceded him in death.

Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, CA.