Key West Music And Happenings: November 2023

This week Dani and I went to the San Carlos Institute to see a movie that was in the Key West Film Festival. Every time I go into the San Carlos, the memories come back of recording my first album's rhythm section there featuring Richard Crooks on drums and Bubba Lownotes on electric upright bass, and Sousaphone (tuba). Dan Simpson was the engineer/producer, and Gary Ek took pictures.

The rhythm section is the first to be recorded when making a record, with everything else (vocals, guitars, keyboards...) added later. The rhythm is the foundation everything else is built off of. Having the best players is always essential and it pays dividends as time goes on.

The songs were all written in different root genres.

The Beach - Afro/Cuban with a Motown bridge,

Beautiful Day Down Paradise Way - Jazz,

My Little Island Town - Southern Rock

Raise My Glass To The Upper 48 - Brazilian,

Dildo Key - Blues,

Key West Blues - Bahamian,

The South - Country,

Sailing - South Seas

Cajun's Got A Coconut - Funk

Mile Zero - Rock

For me it was a great honor to have such a talented group of musicians and to offer such a platform which allowed all of them to shine!

Additionally, we were the second to record there. Barry Cuda was the first

To this day I have people, both fans and artists, tell my they think "Shanghai'd and Marooned In Key West (things could be worse)" is the best Trop Rock Album ever made. Additionally, others tell me they put the album on when driving to Key West through the Keys! what a nice complement.

I stopped and thought about it. I'm still hearing this twelve years after it was released.

I guess we did something right!😊 Thank you!

I have all who helped me to thank for that. Thanks everyone! And a special thanks to The San Carlos Institute. Barry Cuda recorded there just a few weeks before us. We were the second band to use it as a recording studio!

The San Carlos Institute

Dan Simpson grabbing lunch

Bubba Lownotes

I was doing what's known in recording as "Scratch Guitar" and "Scratch Vocals". This was to help keep everyone in line with the arrangement. The tracks I played and sang here would be discarded and I would play and record them later in the studio.

Richard Crooks was regarded as the best musician on the island. Richard had been a session musician in New York before retiring to Key West and had played with Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Dr. John, the list goes on and on. What an honor having him play on my recording! Fun too! Richard was a riot to work with. However, when he had a suggestion for a song, everyone fell silent and paid astute attention.

Here's more on Richard :

https://keywestmusic.blogspot.com/2014/12/richard-crooks-aka-father-time.html

Bubba Lownotes and his tuba!

Gary Ek and his cameras

I don't know exactly how high the ceilings are in the San Carlos Institute are, but in the 1870's with no A/C they built them high (maybe 16' - 18' ) as heat rises.

Bubba Lownotes getting ready for one of two songs he did on his upright.

Bubba Lownotes and me

Mr. Richard Crooks

Richard with charts

Gary Ek up in the balcony

San Simpson was the pilot!

Richard suggested that Bubba bring in his tuba for "Dildo Key". Richard was right of course! It just added to the ridiculousness of the song!

I name all of my guitars. The blond ash finish on my Ibanez guitar that so many told me was the most beautiful guitar in Key West, inspired it's name:

"The Blond Bombshell With The Great Ash"

another shot of Bubba and me, here is a better picture of my guitar