Brian Roberts … I always feels joy when leaving for a gig Brian Roberts is originally from Manahawkin, New Jersey. His parents, Ron and Linda Roberts had a pest control business in New Jersey and owned a winter home on Big Pine Key. During the winter, Brian attended Sugarloaf school and would then return to […]
Luannen – I have a million business cards Luannen was born in Cuba in 1979. Her mother, Luisa Ajuria, worked for Radiocentro CMQ in Havana, as an audio operator running live audio programing. It was a huge ten story complex that included a 1600 seat auditorium for productions. She would bring Luannen to work with […]
Claire Finley: Key West Is A Big Music Sandbox By Ralph De Palma Originally from Devenport, Iowa started classical piano lessons at the age of four. A piano teacher, Barb Davis, lived across the street from her Grandmothers who agreed to give a test lesson to young Claire. Claire continued to study piano from Ms. […]
Bria Ansara – Whatever it takes to get them in the door By Ralph De Palma Bria Ansara was raised in Brookline, New Hampshire and has been singing since she could talk. Her mother would take her to senior centers to sing for retirees, and she would sing “Over the Rainbow” and mostly Disney movie […]
Mary Spear “When all else fails, I play Dead” Mary Spear was raised in Carroll, Iowa. At fourteen, she listened to recordings of Joni Mitchell, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan and started playing the guitar. While in high school, Mary attended summer music programs at the University of Vermont. She lived on Lake Okoboji in […]
Tony Roberts – Four chords and the truth Tony Roberts is a very unique songwriter and performer – so unique that the local blood bank frequently calls him to donate blood. Growing up in Boston, Tony was obsessed with writing and frequently attended writing conferences. He read ferociously and loved Hemingway. He was inspired by […]
Sebrina Alphonso – Key West is still home Born in Key West, Sebrina Alphonso is a 6th generation Conch. She remembers big family parties resulting in instruments coming out, with music, singing, and dancing into the night. She attended Truman Elementary (now the Harvey Building) and joined music programs starting in the first grade. In […]
Paulie Walterson Music is family. Born in 1945, Paulie Walterson is a fifth-generation Key West Conch. His father worked for the Navy, and they lived in a house next to Harris Elementary School. His family originated in Spanish Wells, on the northern end of Eleuthera Island, in the Bahamas. His cousin, Armond Walterson, was married […]
Guitar Buddies – a special gift By Ralph De Palma Three wonderful Key West guitarists had a unique bond through music – George Victory, Yvan Agbo, and Rolando Rojas. Although these accomplished musicians came from very different musical backgrounds, they were drawn together, sometimes for a special gig performance, a new music idea […]
Alfonse Subarsky By Ralph De Palma As a twelve-year old growing up on the Jersey Shore, Alphonse Subarsky watched the Ozzie and Harriet TV show and was mesmerized by the smooth sounds of Ricky Nelson, who would play a song at the end of each show. He committed himself to becoming a guitar player. He […]
