Key West Music Memories
After interviewing over 190 Key West musicians, I’ve heard some great stories. I haven’t been able to squeeze many of the short stories into a musicians’ biography or the weekly music column, so I thought I would share a few stories with you this week.
Mick’s Caribe Beans
Often introduced by Ericson Holt as ‘the pride of Kankakee’, Mick Kilgos was born in Kankakee, Illinois, a small town 45 miles south of Chicago. When he was 14 years old, Mick starting playing music. His life mirrors the story of a train ride from Kankakee to New Orleans as told by Steve Goodman in his song, “The City of New Orleans” and made famous by Arlo Guthrie.
Mick was fortunate enough to work with Bill Blue and the Nervous Guys for many years. He also worked with Barry Cuda for decades, and is now performing with Ericson Holt. These are three of the best in Key West.
Mick was performing with Bill Blue on July 19, 1993, the night the famous Full Moon Saloon closed. That night, the saloon (located on Simonton Street) was so full that drinks were being served through the side window on Catherine Street. The saloon was usually loud, and the band was often asked to lower the volume. However, on this night, you could hardly hear Bill Blue and the Nervous Guys for all the crowd noise.
Dennis Wally, one of the Full Moon’s bartenders, served spicy pickled string beans in drinks at the Full Moon. When it was closing, drummer and part-time Louie’s Back Yard chef. Mick Kilgos asked what would happen to those wonderful pickled beans. Dennis said, “We’re closing. You should start making these and sell them.” Mick quickly acquired the recipe and the now famous spicy Mick’s Caribe Beans were born at the Full Moon Saloon on closing night. They continue to be served with Bloody Mary’s and other drinks at the Green Parrot and many other locations. They can also be ordered by the jar, contact Mick Kilgos direct.
Green Parrot NOLA Connection
Time in New Orleans (NOLA) is measured before and after Hurricane Katrina. Many of the NOLA musicians lost their homes and their gigs. In some cases, the clubs were closed for years. The post-Katrina connection was born of necessity and unthinkable circumstances. Harry Hardin, fiddle player for Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, evacuated with his family to Key West, staying in the Green Parrot band room for a week after Katrina.
Many of the performers have become more than business associates with the Green Parrot and the staff. They became friends and developed special relationships. General Manager, John Vagnoni says, “The most prized currency these virtually nomadic bands were paid in, came not from the till or the tip jar, but from inspired response of our patrons, the calls for encores, as well as the many unsolicited post-show compliments and the hospitality these touring musicians received from locals. Whether on the street or in the local coffee shops and restaurants the next day, these NOLA groups were recognized and celebrated, some often offered boat trips… even some home-cooked meals.”
The Key West NOLA connection really works well. The Green Parrot was built for that “swamp funk” music. The NOLA groups liked it because the Parrot reminded them of some of their French Quarter venues. The Parrot is kind of funky – it’s a bar not a nightclub, just comfortable and authentic. The NOLA connection with the Green Parrot continues today.
Coffee Butler Renaissance
After a suggestion by cousin Clayton Lopez, I asked Coffee Butler to headline the release of my second book about Key West musicians, the Soul of Key West, Volume II on December 19, 2015. It was sold out a month in advance. Old Conchs that would never come downtown, let alone buy a ticket to listen to music, filled the audience. It was a magical night by singular talent of Lofton Ambrose Butler. We continued about every six months to sell out five additional concerts.
Coffee loved every one of those concerts. He seemed to get more energy year after year even into his late 80s. His famous song “Who Put the Pepper in the Vaseline” seemed to get a little longer, and every musician in what came to be known as the Soul of Key West Band, made every note better at every concert. I caught Key West businessman Ed Swift up and dancing “his feet off “during the second set at one of the concerts.
The most fun for me was before every concert when I would meet with Coffee Butler and Cliff Sawyer, his life Iong friend. I would bring three cafés con leche and the three of us would sit on Coffee’s front porch and decide what songs they would sing for the next concert. It would go like this – Cliff would ask Coffee about a particular song. One would start to sing a verse, then the other would jump in. I had my own private concert sitting in between these two amazing entertainers on Coffee Butler’s front porch. I can still hear those two homegrown Key West talents harmonizing, then breaking into a laugh enjoying those special music moments.
Coffee once told me a story of how back in the early 70s, this new folk singer in town came into Howie’s Lounge one night. He asked Coffee if he could play a few songs for tips during Coffee’s breaks. Coffee had met him earlier and liked the young man. He agreed to let him play. The new folks singer in town was Jimmy Buffett.
These Key West music memories and about a million more are the main reason I do what I do.
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