Erica Sunshine Lee – and her signature chunky dunk Erica is a Georgia native from a small town named Elberton. She sang in the church choir early in life and loved the piano, although her family could not afford lessons. In 2001, Erica worked her way through college, near San Francisco Bay area, graduating from […]
Cayman Smith-Martin – a Buffett roots music festival Cayman Smith-Martin had another special Labor Day weekend celebrating the passing of Jimmy Buffett at the Just A Few Friends Festival. Cayman warned his audience “You’re not going to hear Margaritaville tonight – you’ll hear it all over town but tonight we’re going to play Buffett roots […]
George Victory “Key West is like “Trinidad without the mountains” George Victory was born February 7, 1950 and grew up in Five Rivers, a small village in the Arouca area of Trinidad. There was only one river but it curved around so much through this that you had to cross it five times. George’s mother […]
Jack Fivecoate Jack Fivecoate was raised in Traverse City, Michigan. Growing up in a large family with brothers and sisters, he was the only musician. He started singing in choirs when he was very young and continued a love of music. At age of thirteen, Jack learned the percussion then quickly moved to guitar and […]
Lonnie Jacobson – a musician’s musician One of three brothers, Lonnie Jacobson grew up in New Hope, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. His father was a mailman and his mother, Norma, was just a sweetheart to everyone. He loved playing music and, in 1973, graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Musical Arts. Jacobson had a […]
Turner & Rochi Harrison – languages helped connect them Turner Harrison was born in Nashville, TN in 1984 to Jim and Connie Harrison, a country music family that play in some famous country bands. His parents did not try to encourage him or his brother, Miller to learn or play music. However, listening to a […]
Chief Billy – one of two Harpo’s William Ochoa Jr. (aka Chief Billy) was born just outside of Pasadena, California and is of Mexican and Native American heritage. At age 9, he received a snare drum for Christmas but by December 28, it was taken away because he was rehearsing too much. His parents replaced […]
Little Room Jazz Club – thanks for the memories In June 2015, I received a call from my friend Denis Hyland inviting me to lunch at the Half Shell Raw Bar. He said that had he something important to talk about. After drinks were ordered, Denis said, “I’m going to need your help. Wayne (Smith) […]
PAPA …lived half his life in Key West and Havana Born July 21, 1899, Ernest Hemingway is recognized as one of the greatest writers of our era. He was an admirer of the characteristics and cultures of Key West and Havana for over three decades. He lived in Paris, Madrid, and at the end, Ketchum, […]
Charles Daniel Knowles Sr., aka Captain Hornblower by Ralph DePalma The heyday of Key West’s jazz scene was from the late 1960s through the late 1980s. In 1977, Danny Knowles opened Captain Hornblower’s, a terrific jazz club in a setting right out of a Humphrey Bogart movie. It was located upstairs in what was then […]
