Kristen McNamara “In Key West, there’s room for all of us.” Kristen McNamara was born in San Louis Obispo, California and raised in the natural beauty of the serene Napa Valley on scenic Howell Mountain. Her grandmother Shirley McNamara sold guitars and pianos and inspired her to sing. When she was very young, her family […]
Jonathan Skiffington aka Jon Skiff Jon says that his “genetic disposition for music came from both mom and dad.” Music runs deep in the family. A grandfather was said to be a traveling musician in the 19th century. He sang and played bass (just like Jon) and traveled between venues with his band on trains like groups did back […]
Rich “In Spirit” McKay – Keys, Counterculture, and an American Hippie Rich McKay grew up in City Island in the Bronx in New York City. His family discouraged music study but Rich and his brother insisted. He graduated from Mount Saint Michael’s High School in 1962. McKay started playing guitar while attending Marist College in […]
Mick Kilgos: ” …music is the glue that holds Key West together.” 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 that legendary […]
Dave Hoffman “The saga of Crazy Dave” When I began the interview, Dave Hoffman told me to fasten my seat belt – it was good advice. Dave was an orphan and was adopted along with another ‘brother’, living most of his life near Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York area. He couldn’t recall when he […]
Meghan Barter “A musical product of Key West” Meghan Barter is a Conch – born and raised in Key West. No wonder she’s a musician. Her family includes parents Mark (another Conch) and Mary Beth Barter, brother Eric, and twins Christopher and Coleen who are seniors at Key West High School. Music has always been […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
