The 71-year-old musician died unexpectedly at his Belen home last Saturday. While he is gone, he won't be forgotten.

"He will never be forgotten, but he will be missed," said Benavidez's son-in-law David Arabadschi.

Christina Arabadshi, Benavidez's second to youngest child, said her father had been in good health until just before his death.

"He hadn't been sick, so this was such a shock," Christina said.

On Monday, Feb. 22, Christina said her father suffered a mild heart attack. After visiting with his doctor a few days after, he was advised to "take it easy."

Christina and David say that wasn't in his nature, as Benavidez continued chopping wood and working at his Belen home. On Saturday, Benavidez had a massive heart attack and died.

"He is in a much better place," David said. "He will play again."

And proving what a small state New Mexico is, by mid-morning, just hours after his passing, radio stations were playing songs dedicated to Benavidez.

Benavidez began Eddie Benavidez Y Los Jesters in 1960. He learned to play from his father, Antonio Benavidez, who used to play with the legendary Silva Brothers and several other local bands.

Benavidez played his first gig in 1954 with his father at the dance hall at Main and Aragon.

"From there, I never stopped," he said during a 2007 interview. "I love music. It's just in me."

After the death of Benavidez's cousin and the band's lead guitarist, Johnny Benavidez, in 2007, the band brought its touring career to an end, but continued to play close to home. Due to Benavidez's love of music and performing, he was preparing to go back into the studio this month to begin recording a new CD.

One of his biggest hits, "Mi Ultima Parranda," which he wrote and recorded in 1962, went all the way to No. 1. It was the song most often requested by Los Jesters, and has been covered by many other musical greats, such as Al Hurricane. Nearly every song Benavidez wrote over his career made it into the Top 10 in New Mexico.

As a child, Christina said she didn't realize how popular her father was as a musician.

"He would play at family get-togethers," she said. "He was Dad."

Benavidez lived in California while Christina was growing up, and she remembers his frequent visits to New Mexico well.

"When he would come home, he would just sing. He always had his guitar with him," she said. "Other family members would show up and everybody just had a good time. It turned into a house full of singing."

When he wasn't singing and performing, Benavidez had a passion for growing green chile and gardening, his daughter said.

"Every year, he said this garden was his last one, but the next year it was always bigger," Christina laughed.

Another gardening tradition was Benadidez's watermelon parties. Every year, he held a barbecue just to cut open one of his homegrown watermelons.

"We couldn't just eat it," Christina said. "We always had to have a party, and it was worth it."

David remembers his father-in-law combining his love of music with his love of giving to others.

"After he died, we found out he was going to play a fundraiser for a local child recently diagnosed with leukemia," David said. "He never stopped giving."

While he and Christina were gathering up the necessary paperwork to take care of Benavidez's final business, David came across evidence of his continuing giving.

"We found envelopes for donations to St. Jude's and other charities," David said. "I wish I had gotten to know him better. He was always there go give me advice."

Christina said he put so many others before himself, calling him a kind, generous, loving man.

She remembers a man who was always willing to help his fellow man, and didn't know the word "no." A few years ago, he called her asking to borrow a sleeping bag.

"I asked him what he needed it for. I guess there was a man passing through town looking for work. Dad had him do some work for food," she said.

While not comfortable letting the stranger sleep in his house, Christina said her dad let him spend the night in the back of his pick-up, hence the need for the sleeping bag.

"That was more than most people would have done," she said.

Benavidez's unexpected passing also took one local church by surprise as well, the couple said. For years Benavidez made crosses for the Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

"When we were there this week, they had him as No. 2 to call on their to-do list, because they needed more crosses," Christina said.

Benavidez was a former member of Our Lady of Belen Spanish Choir, and most recently, a member of the San Clemente Spanish Choir in Los Lunas.

He played at fundraisers for the church fiestas, and collected food every year for Christmas baskets. In 2000, he collected enough to make 33 baskets. He also raised money for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and helped raise money for the new Belen Parish Hall.

"Everything you do doubles back on you. You get paid, maybe not in money, but in health," Benavidez said in a 2001 interview. "God will help you if you help yourself. You've got to do your part. I've been blessed with my health and my talent. I just like to put it to good use."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made at any branch of the Bank of Albuquerque to the Edwin Benavidez Contribution Account.