Before pursuing his passion for music, Tony Barela served in the U.S. Army Rangers’ 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry for three years beginning at the age of 20, his brother said. A graduate of La Quinta High School in Westminster, Barela took some classes at Santiago Canyon College and dedicated nearly 20 years working for Santa Ana as a maintenance worker, often trimming trees and beautifying the city.
SPC Tony Barela from Santa Ana, California
SPC Barela served with: B Company Weapons Platoon 1st Ranger Battalion
Born in 1960, Ranger Barela was 55 years old at the time of his death in 2016.
Complete biography is below the photo gallery
SPC Tony Barela 's Biography
Before pursuing his passion for music, Tony Barela served in the U.S. Army Rangers’ 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry for three years beginning at the age of 20, his brother said. A graduate of La Quinta High School in Westminster, Barela took some classes at Santiago Canyon College and dedicated nearly 20 years working for Santa Ana as a maintenance worker, often trimming trees and beautifying the city.
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Tony Barela, founder of local R&B band Barela! dies at 55
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/barela-704017-brother-band.html
Feb. 12, 2016 Updated Feb. 13, 2016 12:33 p.m.
By JESSICA KWONG / STAFF WRITER - Orange County Register
Tony Barela’s R&B and funk band formed a la Tower of Power brought the bygone music back into the hearts of fans in Orange County and Southern California for 25 years.
He died Feb. 4 at the Veterans Administration Long Beach Healthcare System hospital just over a week after he was diagnosed with cancer. He was 55.
Barela grew up in Santa Ana with his brother listening to Tower of Power and, in 1990, the two started their own music group, Barela!, vowing to one day open for the band whose songs they played across Orange, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and San Diego counties.
“Through his music, I think he brought a lot of life. I think he brought people back to those happy days, the days when you were young and got to just enjoy your life and just brought life back to people our age,” said his sister, Terry Quintana, 51.
Barela’s dream of opening for Tower of Power came true in June 2011, when his 12-man band got to share the stage at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula. But Barela, who played guitar, also wrote “a lot” of songs, his brother and drummer Richard Barela, 53, said, leading the group to create their own CD, “Can You Ever Think,” in 2006.
Before pursuing his passion for music, Tony Barela served in the U.S. Army Rangers’ 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry for three years beginning at the age of 20, his brother said. A graduate of La Quinta High School in Westminster, Barela took some classes at Santiago Canyon College and dedicated nearly 20 years working for Santa Ana as a maintenance worker, often trimming trees and beautifying the city.
He had a “huge heart” and was always helping others, Richard Barela said.
“He’d give the shirt off his back,” his brother said.
Tony Barela, who lived in Tustin, was a “family man” and “protector,” his sister said, never wanting his loved ones to worry about him. Barela! played most recently in mid-December.
Richard Barela said he has not thought about what will become of Barela!
“It was me and him who started the band, and we always said, ‘If one of us goes, the both of us go,’” Richard Barela said. “Eventually, down the road, I’d like to do a concert in memory of my brother.”
A viewing and memorial service for Tony Barela will be held 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. A mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Tustin with the burial immediately after at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.
In addition to his brother and sister, Tony Barela is survived by his father Andy Barela, 75; mother Annie Barela, 73; daughter Tonya Barela Lopez, 32; son Anthony Barela Jr., 29; son Ryan Barela, 27; three step children; three grandchildren; and seven step grandchildren.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7762, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on Twitter: @JessicaGKwong
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Anthony Barela
June 28, 1960 - February 04, 2016
Anthony Barela
Visitation Wednesday, February 17, 2016 from 5-9 pm, at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge, 212 Elk Lane, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Funeral Mass Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 10 am at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Tustin
Burial to follow at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, Orange
Funeral details for Ranger Tony Barela, an old scroll 1st Battalion Ranger, who passed last week of cancer.
The viewing for Ranger Tony will be held at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge in Santa Ana on Feb. 17th from 5PM to 9PM. Address: 212 S. Elk Ln. Santa Ana, Ca. 92701.
The Mass will be held Thursday the 18th at St.Cecilia Catholic Church in Tustin at 10AM. Address for church: 1301 Sycamore Ave. Tustin, Ca. 92780.
Following the mass we'll be heading to the cemetery directions will be provided at church.
PM Alex Argumedo if you have questions.
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This is a permanent online memorial to our Airborne Rangers in the Sky.
I put this biograpy together from what little I found online.
I encourage Ranger Barela's Ranger brothers, family and friends and fans to add your memories as comments.
And please use the contact form to contact me if you have photos to add. - Morrison - ARITS Webmaster
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