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 […]
Taylor Tarn has found a passion for singing Taylor Tarn is from the military town, Virginia Beach, Va. She never really studied music and had no vocal training but says her older sister was an inspiration. Taylor says her musicality comes from rhythm and dancing. Her mother was a disco dance queen. Taylor studied ballet […]
Sam Carlson – pouring love into his music Sam Carlson is from Pottstown Pennsylvania, located about 60 miles from Philadelphia. His mother played piano and taught him to sing in the church choir. Both parents loved music. They live near the home of the Philadelphia Folk Festival and would often travel to concerts. Sam started […]
Dottie Martin “…a legendary Key West classic.” Dottie was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. At age 17, she fell in love with a 4ft. 10in. jockey. They were married, traveled around the country, and soon later, divorced. Dottie started singing and performing at the age of 20. In 1949, while visiting friends in New […]
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 […]
A product of Central Massachusetts, Richie Hennessy says music was just part of his life. Both his parents were musicians. His father Richard played in several groups and his mother Margaret played in local orchestras. Richie was in the 4th grade when he studied his first musical instrument which was the cello. In high school, […]
Keith Ricks – Island groove master Keith Ricks was born in Bermuda, living there off and on for most of his childhood. His father was in the military, and the family moved around a bit. His grandparents lived in Bermuda so Keith would spend a lot of time with them. He graduated from high school […]
