the lord loves the Lazy Tenor
Bubba Lownotes “The Lazy Tenor”
By Ralph De Palma
Bubba’s famous Psychedelic Tuba.
Robert Barton, aka Bubba Lownotes, is a member of the Virginia “musicians’ mafia” located in Key West. He was born in Richmond, Virginia but the family moved to Greensboro and later to Charlotte, North Carolina. In grade school, he played the clarinet, then the tuba, and finally in high school, he started playing bass.
After graduating high school in 1975, Bubba played for two years with Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts, touring the college circuit throughout the Southeast. Then he and his wife formed a duo called Tranquility and played beach music. Around 1983, they started playing clubs in Marathon, working their way to Key West. Like other musicians who had grown weary of touring, they stayed – “Key West had a lot of work and no snow.”
During a time in the 90s, according to Bubba, Key West became the “Bass Players Graveyard.” Bubba subbed for a bass player at Captain Tony’s, and the next day, the player was found dead on his boat. Another bass player passed away on-stage playing “Mustang Sally” (stop, don’t even think it). Bubba subbed for him. Another bass player, who worked at the Pier House, died one morning before a gig. Again, he got a call to sub. He says during this period, he almost hated to answer the phone.
Bubba started playing with the Keys Chorale and was reading music again – “It was like saying hello again to an old friend”. He enjoyed the music and liked hanging with “grownups.” The Chorale vocalists read and knew music as well, if not better, than some musicians. His talents also lead him to perform with the Key West Community Orchestra.
The Blessed Community Gospel Choir of Bahama Village attracted Bubba Lownotes. He enjoys the music and the company of this very talented group. “It’s different. It’s just good, soulful singing.” He loves crooning his deep baritone voice with gospel choirs or hammering out 60s Soul tunes. One of his original compositions is a Gospel and Soul music combo, “The Lazy Tenor”. Full disclosure, Bubba Lownotes helped anchor the rhythm section for the Soul of Key West Band and our five sold out Coffee Butler & Friends concerts at the Key West Theater 2016 -2019 and recorded tracks on Coffee’s album A Mothers Love.
One of firve sold out Coffee Butler & Friends concerts at the Key West Theater in 2018.
Bubba rehearsing a Coffee Butler & Friends gig at Bahama Village Music Program – band room.
Bubba survived most of the COVID pandemic with savings and some Federal assistance. He said, “It was like a hurricane without the hurricane.” However, disaster struck in November 2020 on Friday the 13th. He had sharp pains in his side and was rushed to the hospital with a torn colon, requiring immediate surgery, and was hospitalized for ten days. Bubba was kind enough to text me photos of his stapled incision – he knows I have a weak stomach. After a second surgery and complicated four-month recovery, he returned to regular performing in early 2021.
Bubba Lownotes duo with Paulie Walterson in September 2024, at the Little Room Jazz Club
In February 2020, just before the shutdown, Bubba formed his own band, the Toad Lickers. He took advantage of the shutdown by writing and composing and has about 15 songs, in various stages of production, for his first musical release. Bubba refers to his music as Angelic Rock, a combination of good angels and bad angels, with a positive message. He has a strong lineup of musicians helping with the album and is planning a release titled “Bubba Lownotes, Volume 1” in March of 2025.
Key West has a shortage of drummers and bass players. As one of the best, he is called upon often. Besides Sundays on the Fury, Bubba plays with the Key West Jazz Society, and sometimes with the Cantina Band, and many other groups. He performed his original “The Lazy Tenor” with Channing Lynn at the Key West Theater in 2022. In his spare time, he performs the first Wednesday of each month with the Green Parrot Ukulele Orchestra.
In September, he was called upon for a performance, with Paulie Walterson, on the cahone at the Little Room Jazz Club. 
Bubba played acoustical guitar, flute, and used that signature baritone voice with a touch of tenor. He covered classic songs from the 30s and 40s and many standard jazz tunes from the 60s and 70s. He covered songs his own way including the Righteous Brother’s “Unchained Melody”. The range of music was great and his stellar vocals delighted the audience.
While holding the title of the most colorful performer in Key West, with his psychedelic painted tuba, plus a few well documented musical hijinks, like his cover of Tiny Bubbles using a small bubble making machine. He can rock out with hard rockers as well as smoothing out a complicated jazz solo on his standup bass. He can easily entertain tourists, with cover songs, on the Fury Sunset Cruise with Tom Taylor. Do not underestimate his amazing musical talent.
When Bubba started in music in the Carolinas, he was usually a member of a band, he said “It was like a girlfriend. You didn’t go play with another band.” Today he says, “In Key West, it’s like musical chairs.”
Cliff Sawyer and Coffee Butler were supported by Bubba Lownotes (aka: The Lazy Tenor) Bass.
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