All Night Long
Robert Albury All Night Long
Robert Albury and life-long friend and music collaborator Paulie Walterson
Robert Albury, a homegrown Key West talent, grew up on the corner of Amelia and Whitehead Streets in Bahama Village. He enjoyed his older brother George’s singing. George toured with B.B. King for a short time before returning to Key West. In fact, Robert had nine brothers and they all could sing.
Robert Albury and F&B Director at the Sunset Pier Roger Lovering
He grew up behind a nightclub (now Elks Lodge) on Whitehead Street which had an open-air stage located behind the club where the musicians performed. He remembers big name acts performing there in the 1950’s after they finished their performances in the segregated venues. One evening the legendary Louis Armstrong performed at the nightclub and Robert climbed out on the roof of a one-story addition to listen. The ‘budding entrepreneur’ would charge his buddies twenty-five cents to join him on the roof and listen to the musicians.
Later, Robert’s wife’s stepfather, promoter Curtis Brown, brought singers to Key West to perform at the Strand Theater on Duval Street (now Walgreen’s). He booked Otis Redding, Billy Ocean, and the immortal James Brown. A local singer, Willis T. Hagan, sang with James Brown on stage and was offered a chance to tour with him. James Brown returned to Key West several times, influencing Robert’s love of soul music.
In his earlier days, Robert would ride his bike to work and gigs, singing along the way. The first time I heard Robert Albury sing, he was riding his bike down Front Street on his way to sit in with his good friend, the late George Victory at Island Dogs. I followed him in and got to enjoy these two phenomenal performers. I’ve been following Robert around town ever since that night.
According to Robert, the secret is not to try too hard to sing like someone else. He says with soul music the vocals drive the music from within. The music doesn’t drive the vocals and, to Robert, the vocals come from deep down within a special place in your heart. 
He says, “That’s what makes soul music so great.” Robert Albury sings because he has to. He feels he has a gift that he has to share and he leaves everything on stage.
He has been entertaining Key West for six decades. For the past 21 years, Sunset Pier has been home for Robert Albury performances. Robert turned 80 years old on August 1 and we celebrated his birthday this past week-end. The Pier was packed with old friends, new friends, and many people that heard Robert for the first time. After the first song, they were all celebrating this Key West legend.
Robert Albury and fellow conch Paulie Walterson were members of the same high school band, The Wanderers. Paulie was there to celebrate his life-long friend’s birthday and was invited on stage to play a couple of songs.
Robert did not disappoint – plenty of Temptations hits including “My Girl”, Marvin Gay’s “Let’s Get It On”, Ray Charles’ “Unchain My Heart”, and “Georgia On My Mind”, Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me”, Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”. I think I heard some of Sam and Dave and Otis Redding. Almost every song was punctuated by a signature favorite Robert Albury lyric, “All Night Long”. It was also emblazoned in big letters on stage.
Mr & Mrs Robert Albury
His band has been together for a long time and knows the music well. Fritz Sigler on guitar, Francois Gehin on bass, and the cool backup, and sometimes lead vocals, of drummer Ray Spence. They can play any soul tune one could remember. Fritz has also recorded an album of Robert Albury music.
Robert and his Backup Singers
The evening combined the soulful sounds with gentle island breezes and a gorgeous sunset as the boats streamed by the pier. Many thanks to Food and Beverage Director Roger Levering and his staff for this celebration. They have hosted at least three other birthday celebrations for Robert and would like to host a celebration of Robert Albury every year regardless of a birthday.
About seven years ago, I was producing one of five sold out concerts with Coffee Butler and Friends. About 15 minutes before show time, I got a message from the box office, “Robert Albury’s backup singers are out front”. Robert didn’t have any backup singers. I had about 20 things to do before the start of the show so I quickly went to the box office. I saw two lovely ladies “dressed to the nines” smiling at me. The event had been sold out weeks in advance. Okay, I got them inside and told them to just try and find a place to sit.
Almost seven years later, Roberts Albury’s “backup singers” came to his 80th birthday celebration. They were dressed to the nines again. They were all over Robert at first and soon had the whole crowd dancing the electric slide in front of him. To say the audience was having fun would be like saying baby goats have fun.
Retiring Key West Commissioner, first cousin, and fellow Soul Music singer and rhythm guitarist, Clayton Lopez, had a proclamation unanimously approved by Mayor Terri Johnston and all the city commissioners. As I read the words, “We hereby declare August 1st Robert Albury Day”, the crowd went wild. The storm delayed the celebration until the 10th but no one cared.
These very cool t-shirts are still available at the Sunset Pier. 100% of all proceeds are donated to the Sister Season Fund.
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