A lot of people are familiar with the restaurant/bar in Card
Sound, Key Largo, Alabama Jack’s. For those who are not, Alabama Jack’s is
twelve miles east of The Last Chance Saloon, which is in Florida City, down
Card Sound Road. Card Sound Road is the alternate route to Key Largo from the
mainland. Here you have a place on a thin strip of land between Card Sound and
Barnes Sound, in the middle of nowhere. Nowhere being the Everglades. It’s a
fabulous, open air Keys bar. I’ll get into Alabama Jack’s in the book I’m
writing “The Absolute Best Bars in the Florida Keys”, which you can follow the
progress on Facebook at this link:
While Alabama Jack’s is a fascinating location, it remains
the backdrop for this particular blog. Today’s blog is focused not on the bar,
but on the band that plays there, The Card Sound Machine. The name of the band
stems from a tongue-in-cheek take off on The Miami Sound Machine, a very
popular Latin/American pop band fronted by Gloria Estafan, who were popular and
from the general area.
If you go to Alabama Jack’s on a Saturday, or Sunday
afternoon, you’ll catch the Card Sound Machine playing. Here’s the interesting
catch: If you went to Alabama Jack’s Saturday or Sunday since 1985, you would
have seen the Card Sound Machine!!!!!
The Card Sound Machine
Yes, The Card Sound Machine has had that gig for thirty one
years, at this writing! They started there in 1985! Truly amazing! As you can
imagine, over the years there have been some changes in the band, however the
drummer, Billy Bob, and the pedal steel player, Jimbo, are charter members.
Here’s a fun one! Jeff, the lead guitarist, is the youngest
member. Jeff replaced his
parents when he joined the band! As I say, he’s the lead guitar player, but
before that he was the bass player and another wonderful guitar player, Tommy
Potter, was on guitar. Tommy left the band and Jeff stepped into the guitar
player shoes. I was floored when this happened because I couldn’t believe what
a great guitar player he was. I had only heard him playing bass before that! His
sister, Salina, also sings with the band as a featured vocalist.
Artie, the bass player, is the new guy in the band and my guess is he’s been
with them ten years, or so, picking up where Jeff left when he moved to lead
guitar. Keith will often accompany them on guitar. Before he passed, Bill “The
Cox that Rocks”Cox would sit in with them as well on harmonica, keyboard, and fiddle.
That was his biggest thrill too!
I recall reading years ago in a music magazine, about a band
in the mid-west who lost their gig after twenty years. Most bands hold a gig for a matter of months, or even weeks. Some, a couple of years. I was amazed they held a
gig that long! On the flip side, here we have The Card Sound Machine playing
Alabama Jack’s for thirty one years and counting! Totally amazing!
These guys are the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet. I’ve
known them for years, since I lived on the mainland in Southern Miami/Dade. I’d
often sit in with them in various combinations of personnel, in a few bars in
the Homestead/Redlands area.
It was funny. When we arrived there doing research for my next book (The Absolute Best Bars InThe Florida Keys), drummer Billy Bob was delayed. Jeff gave me his guitar and hopped on the drum seat and we belted out Kansas City, Girl From The North Country, and You Win Again. What a blast! Thank you guys!
It was funny. When we arrived there doing research for my next book (The Absolute Best Bars InThe Florida Keys), drummer Billy Bob was delayed. Jeff gave me his guitar and hopped on the drum seat and we belted out Kansas City, Girl From The North Country, and You Win Again. What a blast! Thank you guys!
Picture by Dani Hoy
This is a fun, Country based band! There will always be
folks out on the floor dancing
You can catch The Card Sound Machine every Saturday and
Sunday afternoon at Alabama Jack’s, Card Sound Rd. Card Sound, North Key Largo.
It’s a Keys tradition so stop by for an afternoon of fun. Do yourself the favor
and make it happen!
My book
“Bar Stories” is available through Amazon!
To obtain my
music:
My CD is available
on iTunes, CD Baby, CD Universe, Rhapsody, and Beachfront Radio.
Search: Key West
Chris
Thank you everyone!!
