Classic Key West Funk
B.O.’s Fish Wagon – “A little piece of Key West history”
Barry Cuda performing at his favorite music venue BO’s Fishwagon
Born and raised in Key West, Buddy Owens is a true Conch. He grew up on Bahama Street in a house with a cistern and outhouse. Buddy’s claim to fame came early in life when he kicked a forty-yard winning field goal in a very important Key West High School game. He played high school sports with future NFL quarterback George Mira and Boog Powell of the Baltimore Orioles and starred on back-to-back state baseball championships in 1958 and 1959. Buddy is now in his 80s with failing health but still manages his booming voice.
The orignal BO’s Fishwagon corner of Duval and Flemming Streets.
The first B.O.’s Fish Wagon was located on an empty lot across from the La Concha on the corner of Fleming and Duval. The fish wagon was built by Buddy and good friend Dink Bruce in 1979. Later, the Spottswood family had to develop the very valuable empty Duval Street lot and in 1995, helped Buddy relocate to his current location, on city property, on the corner Caroline and Williams Streets.
Barry Cuda met Buddy at an annual Toppino New Year’s Eve party, and they became instant friends. In March 1995, Barry Cuda and the Sharks became one of the first groups to perform at B.O.’s Fish Wagon. Buddy always loved music, and as the old shack evolved into a larger covered area, full of funky items Buddy recovered from the sea, with a roof that always leaked, he started to host music on the weekends.
Buddy paid a little less than other venues but always fed the band great seafood and originally offered them unlimited beer – until Steve Mello and Chief Billy started playing with Cuda, then Buddy had to limit the band to four beers each.
The menu was simple and the fish was always fresh from the local fisherman which attracted a large repeat following. They would serve cracked conch and other standard Bahamian fare. The famous, and not so famous, would frequent the funky little fish wagon for some of the best seafood in town.
Cief Billy, Mick Kilgos, and Jersey Slim perform at funky BO’s Fishwagon
Owens was a member of the Key West Yacht Club and docked his houseboat at the club. He would often entertain visitors, like Shel Silverstein and Pat Daily, on his boat. Usually a few libations and sometimes a little weed was involved. One day, one of his “polo shirt wearing” neighbors complained and Buddy made a reference to his birth heritage and a few other epithets that got Buddy’s membership revoked for “language not becoming a yachtsman”.
Shel Silverstein would often wander by when Cuda was playing and Cuda would coax him into the performance. The two would improvise lyrics, usually rhyming insults and sometimes a little dirtiness that mostly consisted of “I did something with yo Moma”. The two would see who could go on the longest with the most improv. The audience, mostly knew who Shel was, just loved the dueling.
BO’s 49 Chevy pickup truck used for deliveries but now is melting into ground
Shel and Buddy were good friends, and Shel often said he would surprise Buddy with a song about his famous field goal … but the song was never written. Shel did write a song about the 49’ Chevy truck parked in front of the fish wagon. Buddy originally used the truck for deliveries until it wore out. Its lyrics described how they were going to Havana in B.O.’s truck, … “if we can just get it started.” Buddy says the old truck has now “melted into the ground.”
Owens would often deliver steamed clams to Jimmy Buffett’ studio on Lazy Way. The clams led to Jimmy Buffett coaxing Buddy into singing backup vocals on his song, “License to Chill”. He never bragged much about his vocals but Buddy was credited in the album liner notes
Cuda says when performing at B.O.’s, there was a connection to the old mythological Key West with a dash of serious funk. Its location is close to the old Shrimper area that had its own mythology. They were originally in an open parking area with tons of foot traffic and when the music started playing, the place would quickly fill up.
Everyone loved performing at B.O.’s – it’s small, intimate, and the last bastion of old Key West funk. Their beer and wine license was lost about two years ago, and with Buddy’s failing health, can no longer support music. Barry Cuda has moved away but, for the last three years, has returned for extended stays from January to March.
A group of his fans, called the Geezer Groupies, take up a collection every year and enlist Barry to perform one special evening at his favorite Key West venue. The place is overflowing, the fish frying smells fantastic, and the memories of Cuda rolling his 400-pound upright piano into B.O.’s wailing away that old New Orleans boogie woogie is overwhelming. Thank you, Buddy Owens for giving Key West this very special place to enjoy.
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