as sweet as apple pie
Liz O’Connor — as sweet as apple pie
Liz played the first song at the first Key West Musicians Festival in 2011 – “she walked the plank”.
Elizabeth Marie O’Connor (Liz) was born October 14, 1954 while Hurricane Hazel was raging around the hospital in Binghamton, New York. Liz and her two sisters came from a very musical family. All of them starting playing their home piano. Later, Liz started playing guitar very early with a love of folk music.
According to her sister Kathy Muldowney, Liz would entertain the entire family at every family event.
A young and very pretty Liz.
Tom Luna couldn’t wait to give Liz a big hug every time he saw her.
Once she walked in the door, she was always the center of attention, playing lovely music for all. She had such a beautiful voice and would get booked for weddings and other gigs very early in her life.
Liz attended St. Paul’s Catholic School in Binghamton, N.Y. and started playing guitar at mass. Later, Liz attended Seton Catholic Central High School, graduating in 1972. She usually had a regular job but she loved singing and playing music at every chance. Her musical inspiration was Gordon Lightfoot, she loved his music.
She married and had a son, Matthew Barnes. With work and raising her son, it became increasingly difficult to continue her music career but music was always her most enjoyment in life.
Liz visited Key West in 1996 after three divorces (two to the same musician) she left everything she ever knew, for an apartment that she had never seen, dreaming of singing, living and dying in Key West. Liz arrived in Key West in September 1998, three weeks before Hurricane Georges. Her life seems to revolve around these storms.
Her first Key West gig was at Captain Tony’s Saloon. She loved Captain Tony and loved performing in his saloon for ten years. Liz was a prolific songwriter and before she abandoned her life in New York, she wrote “As Far As It Goes”.
Captain Tony hired Liz immediately and she performed there for ten years. Liz Loved Captain Tony.
In 2007, she recorded a live album in Captain Tony’s titled “Songs of Key West”. Everyone, including Captain Tony, loved Liz and were very protective and supportive. Many Key West tourist visitors would return to hear her sing year after year. She also played at the Curry Mansion, Pearl’s Hotel, and was a guest singer at Bobby Nesbitt’s Pier House gig.
Whenever she returned to Binghamton, Liz would always tell stories of performing at Captain Tony’s which was rumored to be haunted. She once told a story of looking into a mirror in the Ladies Room and seeing the strange image of a woman behind her.
Key West singer, songwriter, and musical engineer, Lance Taylor said that Liz was the first musician he met while busking in 1999. He remembers Liz telling him it was her dream to play music and live in Key West. Lance really admired her example of determination and would often stop by Captain Tony’s to hear Liz perform.
A very young Liz O’Connor performing at Mallory Square.
In 2009, Liz began performing at the historic Mallory Square Sunset Celebration. The story behind Mallory Square would consume a full column (maybe a future column). Suffice to say, Mallory Square performers didn’t often get the recognition they deserve. You had to sign up every night to perform at Mallory. Many of the performers had been regulars for three decades including her soon to be good friends, Will Soto and Dale Prichard.
While in Key West, she recorded an album of her best music titled “A Legacy of Love” which included many of her songs. One of her favorites was “From the Heart”, a story about her life, Mallory Square, Sunset celebrations, and good friend Will Soto. Her best friend in Key West was Will’s wife, Amy Meshew-Soto.
One of her best recordings of all original music.
Meghan Barter was a very young high school student that performed at Mallory Square starting at age of 14. Her parents would wait for hours as she performed at Mallory. One day, Liz offered to watch over Meghan and allow her parents to not wait for their daughter. They trusted Liz and became very good friends. Liz mentored Meghan for several years, teaching her how to perform.
Signup was at 3:00 pm and Meghan was in school until 2:30 pm. She often had soccer practice or another school activity and would call Liz to have her sign up and select the lottery space for her. Liz was always ready to help.
Sweet Liz.
Liz “walked the plank” (her term) opening the first Key West Musicians Festival at the Smokin’ Tuna in 2011 playing the very first song “Why I’m Here”. It was recorded live and still available on the Festival CD. She continued to appear at every Key West Musicians Festival produced by her good friend Steve Mellette.
Dale Prichard (sword swallower), Liz, Tom Conger (current parent of Colleen) and Megan Barter at the 2018 Key West Musicians Festival.
When Meghan first performed at the 2018 Key West Musicians Festival, she discovered her guitar battery was dead. Liz immediately loaned her a guitar so she could continue her performance. After graduating from college, Meghan returned to Key West and began performing. Liz attended her first performance at the Southernmost Hotel. Meghan thinks about Liz all the time and will perform a song at her Celebration of Life August 20th at Mallory Square.
Liz retired from Mallory Square shortly after COVID and lived in the Senior Housing Complex in Bahama Village. When hospitalized this past January, her friend Meghan Barter sat by her side to watch over her as Liz had done for Meghan at Mallory Square.
Liz and Colleen.
Her last of many cats, Colleen, was the first question Liz would ask when she was in the hospital was “how’s Colleen doing?” Liz O’Connor passed away on January 27, 2026 over 72 years after Hurricane Hazel. She was always a very delicate and slight person but many considered her a “badass” performer. A close friend Tom Conger, adopted Colleen and loves her.
Liz’s son Matthew Barnes also a musician, passed away three months after Liz. He was 48 years old. A Celebration of Life is planned for Liz on Thursday, August 20, at Mallory Square, at 8 AM.
Liz and her crew at Mallory Square. Everyone loved Liz.
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