In the summer of 1998, the staff at Modern Times Urban Truck Stop (54th and College) began calling Steve Downton 'Guitar' Steve. There were a lot of Steves that came into the diner, but 'Guitar' Steve clearly fit Steve Downton. His guitar went everywhere with him. He played inside the diner, outside the diner, on the strip and all points in between.

Steve would often tap his guitar and use it for percussion as he played. His lyrics were stretched out and repeated. His vocal inflections were haunting.

Despite great psychic pain, Steve was known to concentrate a great deal of compassion to those in emotional need. To me, it was like a ray which permeated quickly, then uplifted my spirit. Jan Martinez called him 'a wounded healer'.

Below is a poem which Kyle Andrews wrote for Steve's funeral: