Tom Luna “Infected by the Key West virus” A southern boy, Tom Luna was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1952. He jokingly says they were a totally homophobic bigoted family. At age seven, he saw the Bolshoi Ballet on the Ed Sullivan Show and told his parents he wanted to be a ballet dancer. He […]
Peter Diamond “The most important thing is always the next song.” Peter Diamond Ilacqua was born in central New York near Syracuse. At age 6, he moved to Key West to live with his father. Peter graduated from Key West High School in 1961. He later went to school in Miami and became […]
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 […]
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 […]
Albert Romano – Looking for answers Originally from a big Italian family in Providence, Rhode Island, Al Romano was the oldest – he had four sisters. His uncle, Tony Tomasso, lived next door. He was big band trumpeter who could have been a big star but did not want to leave home and tour. Uncle […]
Randy Stindt “still delivering it” Born and raised in Fresno, California, Randy had a younger brother, Paul and sister, Ashley but he was the only one in the family with an interest in music. An aunt gave him an acoustic guitar and he began teaching himself songs. Along with other friends, they started a […]
Collette Campbell – she bet on herself and is here to stay Collette Campbell and her two younger sisters Lauren and Katherine are from Rockville Center, Long Island, New York. Her mother Sue and father Joe, encouraged her to sing classical and opera and when she was in middle school, Collette began taking formal voice […]
George Victory “Key West is like Trinidad without the mountains” Born in 1950, George Victory grew up in Five Rivers, a small village near Arouca in Trinidad. He said there was only one river but you had to cross it five times as it snaked its way down Arouca. One of George’s teachers recognized his […]
