Meet "Mr. & Mrs. Margaritaville"!

Since I started this blog, I have written about beaches... Spotlighted some bars... And interviewed a number of bands. But, I have never combined all three into one article. Until now... Chris Hambrook is one of the main drink slingers at Margaritaville in Key West. Having been a patron of Margaritaville Key West many times, I thought it would be great to spend a few minutes with Chris and find out what it’s like to be a BAR tender...that sees some great BANDS... in a BEACH town!
 

 

 

Nice to meet you, Chris! How long have you been bartending – and where did you get started?

I have been bartending for over 20 years now. I started at a place called Armadillos on the city dock in Annapolis MD.

 

What made you want to get into bartending?  

I have been in the restaurant business since I could reach a sink or a stove - worn every hat from bottom to the top. I got into bartending because it's the most fun position in the house. I love being the master of ceremonies. I also love trying to wow my guests and, for me, the bar is the most fun place to do that from.

What brought you to Key West?

I moved to Key West 20 years ago, two weeks after seeing my first Jimmy Buffett concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion. The island life call to me so I took the leap and moved here with $300 bucks in my pocket. I was a commercial fisherman for the first year. Then drove a cab here for 7 years. Then I worked at Turtle Kraal and, later, I managed Bagatelle restaurant. I have been at Margaritaville for 6 years now.

 

I would think working at Margaritaville would be a much sought after gig. How did you land the job?

I filled out the application and went through the hiring process, just like anyone else. I did know Lou Gammel, the bar manager, for many years prior to my working there but nobody got past the general manager, Ray Massiero, without going through the process. I also had to wait two weeks for them to think it over because my wife had just started there a month earlier.

Let's talk about that....Your wife, Patricija, also works there...how did you guys meet?

My wife and I met at the Stick and Stein bar here in Key West where she was bartending – I came in to watch Monday Night Football. We went out on a date on a Wednesday night and were married in Key West courthouse that Friday afternoon. 19 years later, here we are proudly taking care of Jimmy's guests and enjoying this great Key West life. All because I was inspired to come here after seeing one Jimmy Buffett concert!

How many days/nights a week do you work?

I work Wednesday though Sunday. Patricija works Thursday through Monday night. Tuesday is our one day off a week together.

So, what it is like working in a place like Margaritaville with your wife?

A typical work day for my wife and I is treating everyday Jimmy Buffett fan and every guest that comes through that door like the gold they are. We like to wow them every chance we get. We like to share stories of our life on the island here with them – but not bragging, in a humble, grateful way. We never take any guest, or any of this, for granted. We know we have this whole great life because of what Jimmy Buffett created and it's all his fans old and new that keep this thing going. For Parrotheads, Margaritaville Key West is their church because it's the original. For us it's the Vatican and we are the Popes – and that's why we wear the funny hats!

What do you and your wife like to do when you’re not working?

When were not working we like to support our other local bartenders. I play drums. My wife works on art projects.

I have heard it’s very expensive for the average working person to live in Key West – is that true? You live in Stock Island, right? 

Yes it is very expensive to live here in the Keys, but that's like winning the lottery and bitching about the taxes. You gotta stay focused and be frugal and keep your nose to the grindstone to keep the dream going. Yes we do live on the tourist mecca known as Stock Island!

What’s the best thing about living in the Keys and working in Key West?

The best thing about living in the keys for me is that for the most part everyone gets along down here. The Keys has a “do what you want to do. Be what you want to be. Don't mess with me and I won't mess with you” attitude and I am definitely with that. Also, you can't beat the great weather and beautiful views year round.

And on the flipside, what’s the WORST thing about living in the Keys and working in Key West?

The worst thing about living in the Keys is seeing on television restaurants that you know you can't get to without driving 150 miles! Also, when testosterone ridden, angry, mean people visit the island here and spread a mean vibe…

 

As long as we’re doing “Best and Worst”, what are the best and worst things about working with your wife?

The best thing about working with my wife is I get to work and be with my best friend all the time. For me, that is a dream come true. We both come from families that worked and operated restaurants together all their lives also. So it's in our DNA. The worst thing about working with my wife is she's better than me.

Do you have a favorite drink to make, a specialty?

I do have a signature drink that I love to make. I call it Liquid Sunshine. For me it represents the island when it's a crystal clear, beautiful sunny day and then it rains just a little bit.

Cruzan banana rum
Cruzan raspberry rum
Cruzan mango rum
Cruzan citrus rum
Orange juice and pineapple juice

Shake vigorously and pour into glass over ice
Squeeze and drop a lime wedge to represent the island.
Smack a mint leaf to break out the flavor and place in glass to represent the palm trees.
Place an orange and cherry garnish to represent the sunsets.
Then float with 151 rum to represent the power of the Sunshine!!

What’s your personal favorite thing on the menu at Margaritaville?

I have several favorites. The seafood mac and cheese entree. Lava Lava shrimp and also the Jamaica You Make a Mistakea wings apps.

Working at Margaritaville, I bet you guys get to see lots of fun and crazy things.. Tell me some of the wildest/funniest/craziest.... You said Capt. Tony renewed your wedding vows at Margaritaville?

Yes! The greatest thing ever to happen to us at Margaritaville was “Captain Tony” Terracino renewing our wedding vows at table 1 on the floor of the the original Margaritaville.

One of the wildest things we saw was during a fantasy fest about 6 years ago. A cruise ship full of nudists came into the restaurant and packed the dance floor. A bunch of old naked dancing happy people. That kind of thing still happens from time to time.. it’s known to get pretty wild on the island here during Fantasy Fest! It is also wild to see all the different Jimmy Buffett inspired tattoos people put on their bodies. I have a manatee and dolphin on my left arm and I have sharks on my right arm. So yes, I have fins to the left and fins to the right.


You also get to see lots of great music... Who are some of your favorite bands that have played at Margaritaville?

Some of my favorite bands that play Margaritaville are The Boat Drunks, the Baja Brothers, Michael Armstrong and the Key West Band, The Nace Brothers, the Niki Barr Band , Scott Kirby and Country Dave Edmundson, The Sauce Boss, John Patti and John Frinzy, Parrot Beach, Jonathan Birchfield, and my own band SPUNJWURTHI. Then, of course, you get the big boys doing special guest appearances or even entire shows.My all time favorite was seeing Jimmy Buffet there three years ago when he premiered the song “We Got a Lot to Drink About”. We even got to see Jimmy Buffet do an entire show in 1998 with the band Iko Iko. Which, by the way, was the first time we got to meet Jimmy Buffet. Kenny Chesney and Mac MacAnally did an entire show just over a month ago here at Margaritavile. Peter Mayer has given us a whole show as well. Nadira Shakoor sits in with The Boat Drunks from time to time. Doyle Grisham has played the stage. Ilo Ferriera has played a few times. So many great performances.

You said earlier you play the drums. Do you get to play much at Margaritaville?

Yes, I do play drums. Margaritaville and the bands often allow me to sit in with them, which is truly - from the bottom of my heart - an honor to be able to do. I love when I'm bartending and the bands invite me to the stage and I come from behind the bar and get behind the drum set and rock the house and then come back behind the bar. What an amazing feeling knowing I too get to play that world famous stage.

What else would you like people to know about you and your wife, Margaritaville or Key West…any "Tips for Tourists"?  

I would like everyone to know that we wear the moniker of “Mr. and Mrs. Margaritaville” with pride and all the love in our hearts. When you come in we will strive to give each and every one of you a once in a lifetime experience here at Jimmy Buffets original Margaritaville in Key West Florida. My tips for the tourists: Go out and see all these wonderful musicians, buy their CDs, support the music and let's keep this thing rolling!

 

Thanks for the time, Chris…I’ll see you soon in Key West!

Jimmy Parrish: From Choir Boy to Opening for Kenny Chesney

Back in 2000 - in the days before the internet, Craig's List, and Facebook - if you wanted to buy or sell an item, the best way to get the word out was to post fliers in appropriate spots around town. Had a car to sell? Hang a picture and description in the auto parts store. Looking to get rid of some old golf clubs? A sporting goods shop would probably be the best place. But what if you were looking to start a band?  For Trop Rocker Jimmy Parrish, the answer was found at a local music store in his home town of Jacksonville, Florida. He walked in and told the guys behind the counter he was interested in putting a band together. But, not just any band, one that played "Boat Rock", as he called it - Jimmy Buffett, and songs that spoke to the lifestyle on and around the North Florida waterways where he had grown up. Of fishing, sailing, and the beach. As luck would have it, Jimmy and the two clerks turned out to have similar musical tastes. They played him some of their favorite songs - including "Under The Boardwalk" by The Drifters. The Ocean Waves Band was born. But, getting to that point took almost twenty years.



Where was the first place you ever played?

"I taught myself how to play guitar around age 12, had been singing in church choir. I liked singing, thought I had a talent and wanted to showcase it, but really just for me. The first place I played in front of people was in 1981. I entered a talent show at South Georgia College, where I was going to school. Me and two other guys played 'Long Haired Country Boy' by Charlie Daniels. When people clapped, I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever done!"


Did that inspire you to start playing out more?

Yes. I started playing wherever I could get booked, first around the college and, later, back home around Jacksonville and Amelia Island, Florida. 


Were you playing Buffet and Trop Rock then?

No, more country covers - Willie and Waylon. But then I started hearing this guy Jimmy Buffett and really liked it. Nobody told me, 'you need to play more Buffett!' And I never thought that it would work, that I'd get more gigs because of it. In fact, there weren't really any 'Trop Rock' venues around. I just discovered him on my own."  


When did you decide you wanted to form a band to play Trop rock?

It was 2000. I had spent the last five years playing guitar in a classic rock band called Cool Deluxe. It was a good band, but they wouldn't play any Buffett or Van Morrison, which I wanted to do. Plus, I also wanted to write my own material. So, I started interviewing musicians in the Jacksonville area. But, I couldn't find anyone who knew more than 'Margaritaville' or, maybe, some Bob Marley." That is, until I walked in to put the flier up in the music store." 


You named the band the "Ocean Waves Band" - after the sunglass company. How did that come about?

"I had been taking part in fishing competitions, Kingfish tournaments, for years. One of the sponsors of those tournaments was Ocean Waves sunglasses. I knew the owner, Kevin, pretty well. So, once I found my guys, I went to him and asked if he'd like to partner up with us - and he said not just yes but 'hell yes! We've been together eleven years now."


You have three cds out..

"The first was in 2003, called 'For The Buffett Fans'. It's all Buffett covers. In 2007 we put out 'Let's Go Fishing', our first cd of original material. Then, late last year, we released 'Act Of Piracy'."


Let's Go Fishing has a great song called "Where's the Tequila?", that is full of references to that particular liquor. When I saw you guys play here in Atlanta, for an Atlanta Parrot Head Club party, there were lots of folk saying "Here's the tequila!" and buying you shots. Parrot Heads being Parrot Heads, is that ever a problem - the audience wanting to drink with you while you're trying to work?

"Hah. That was a fun night. We love it. The audience is just showing their appreciation - it's a kind gesture, you can't turn it down. But, I also want to be professional and do our job, do a great show. So, it's a fine line you have to walk. Luckily, I don't have an addictive personality so I can usually maintain. But, it's tough some times. Somebody's got to remember the lyrics!"


Let's go back to the new album...

"We recorded it at a studio in Jacksonville Beach with A1A Productions, the same team that did 'Let's Go Fishin''. Each song on the cd has a different theme, rhythm, or story. One has an Eagles type feel, another has some hot sauce on it. There's hillbilly country, Southern Rock, a ballad and, of course, Trop Rock. I wanted to take the listener on a journey. Plus, I figured having some different sounds upped the chances of something good happening - country people might hear something they like, Jimmy Buffett's people."


How did Parrish Heads in Paradise, your annual trip to Abacos, get started?

"My connection goes back to when I'd play on cruise ships and would go back and forth to the Bahamas. Then, in 2007, I had an offer to play at a club in the Abacos, at Marsh Harbor. I was living there, staying on a friend's boat. I'd fish and dive during the day, then a taxi would come pick me and my PA up and I'd play at night. It was great. I fell in love with the place. In 2009 I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if I could take some people - maybe who were familiar with places like the Conch House in St. Augustine or the Nav-A-Gator (in Arcadia, Florida - Fred), but had never been to the 'real' Bahamas - down there?' So, I put together this cruise. It's for people who love Trop Rock and the lifestyle and they get to see the Abacos like a local. I have lots of connections with restaurants, hotels - we do excursions. I'm really excited to share it with people."


The Ocean Waves band opened for Kenny Chesney one night. How did you land that gig?

"Yeah, we were rock stars for a night! Kenny ran this contest called 'Next Big Star' for his 2008 tour. At each stop a 'local' band would get to open the show. We won the Jacksonville contest and got to play in front of 15,000 people."


Any other big acts you have opened for?

"Well, we were playing at the Margaritaville Cafe the night Jimmy did the Gulf Shores concert. They asked us to stop playing at one point so they could televise the concert. So, we like to say we 'opened' for Jimmy! Seriously, though, the Kenny Chesney experience was a great one. We'd love to open for another band some time."


Big shows or little, you guys play out alot. Any events you're looking forward to?

"We're very lucky to be on the road alot, do about 200 shows a year. This weekend we're going down to Tampa, Florida to play a Pre-Buffett show party for the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club. We're also playing 'The Yard' (a bi-weekly house concert in the Tampa area - Fred). We're going to Lake Charles. Louisiana in June for the Pelican Coast Daze show, then on July 2nd we'll be in Naples, Florida for the 'Red, White & Tunes' event, benefiting the troops. On August 12 we're flying the whole band up to Branson, Missouri for 'Phlock at the Rock'. We're definitely looking forward to that."


You were saying you wish you had started playing Meeting Of The Minds (the annual Parrot Head gathering in Key West) earlier?

"I didn't grasp Meeting Of The Minds for years, the importance of it. I was late getting to the party. My calendar kept filling up around the Jacksonville area, just could never get away. Then, finally, in 2008 I went down with my guitar - no gigs booked - and had a great time. It was the best thing I ever did. Now I have a regular house gig at Willie T's. I encourage any musician who plays Trop Rock to go down there during MOTM (November 3-November 6 this year - Fred). Bring your guitar, soak it in - good things will happen."


Got any favorite local spots you want to share with people?

"In Jax Beach our favorite place is Billy's Boathouse (http://billysboathousegrill.com/). This will be the fifth year we'll be doing 'Flip Flops Sundays' the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. And a new place named Nippers is getting ready to open soon that's going to be great (http://www.nippersbeachgrille.com/). It's modeled after a place in the Abacos. Also, Hurricane Patty's down the road in St. Augustine (http://hurricanepattys.net/)."

http://jimmyparrishonline.com/

http://www.oceanwaves.com/

http://conch-house.com/

http://www.nav-a-gator.com

http://williets.com/

http://pages.suddenlink.net/pelicancoastdaze/index.html

http://redwhiteandtunes.com/

http://www.omphclub.com/Phlock_at_the_Rock.html

http://www.phip.com/MOTM.asp

http://www.go-abacos.com/theabs/marsh.html

See Key West Like a Local

Key West. Cayo Hueso, the Southernmost Point. Closer to Cuba than mainland Florida and Mecca for the Parrot Head nation. This little island is home to about 30,000 residents but hosts millions of visitors a year. If you haven't been, you need to add it to your bucket list. If you have, then chances are you already have your favorite places to go and things to do. Charter a fishing boat for some Yellowtail, then take your catch to the Half Shell Oyster Bar and let them cook it up for you. Turtle races at Turtle Kraal's. A tour of Hemingway's House to see the five toed cats. Strolling down Duval or quenching your thirst at one of the many famous (and infamous) watering holes and restaurants: Sloppy Joe's, Captain Tony's, Blue Heaven, The Bull, Hogs Breath, Margaritaville. And, of course, closing the day at Mallory Square, watching the Cat Man and the other performers as the sun sinks into the ocean.

My wife, Georgia, and I never get tired of visiting Key West - would probably live there if we could, and we have our own favorite spots, too (Like the Afterdeck at Louie's Backyard http://www.louiesbackyard.com/). But, as I mentioned in an earlier post, whenever possible I want to offer an "insiders view" to the beaches and bars I cover. So, I asked a local where he goes.


Chris Rehm is a singer/songwriter who has lived in Key West for three years. His debut cd, "Shanghai'd & Marooned in Key West (Things Could Be Worse)", a collection of songs about life in and around the Conch Republic, is in final production and expected to be released just in time for the Key West Songwriters' Convention at the end of April. I called Chris one afternoon and asked him to give me the 411 on some of his favorite places to go on the island.  https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/ChrisRehm09.

"Lately, I've been spending alot of time on Stock Island, which is about five miles from Key West. That's where I've been working on my cd. There's a place right on the docks there called The Hogfish Bar and Grille. A little out of the way but worth the trip." http://hogfishbar.com/  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2y-2eenMEs&feature=player_embedded


Another place I like, just a short drive from Key West, at Mile Marker 10, is Geiger Key. They have a small campground and marina with a tiki bar. Definitely 'old school Keys.'" http://www.geigerkeymarina.com/   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0IjvPuSDcM&feature=player_embedded


Back in Key West, I definitely have some favorite spots. If you're on Duvall, check out Bogart's. It's an Irish pub and alot of fun".  http://keywest.citysearch.com/profile/33373233/key_west_fl/bogarts_key_west.html


"The Porch, on the corner of Duval and Caroline Street - right across from the Bull - specializes in Craft Beers, which I love. It's an old house with, as the name implies, a huge porch that overlooks the street." http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-porch-key-west


"The Green Parrot alot of people know about, but it's also one of my hang outs. It's a bar only. They have some great bartenders there - Beaver, Chicken, Ken, and Jeff. One of the reasons I like it is that's it's only four blocks from my house. An easy walk - or crawl - home!" http://greenparrot.com/


Schooner Wharf is another place that people who have visited Key West will know about, but it's always a great stop. Michael McCloud plays most days and they have some good Microbrews. If I'm there, I'll be sitting at the bar, talking to bartenders Vicky or Debbie." http://www.schoonerwharf.com/


"At the end of the night, you want to head to Finnegan's Wake on Grinnell Street. It's also an Irish pub, with a phenomenal selection of beers. But, the main reason people end up there is because they keep the latest kitchen hours in Key West - until 1am. That's where all the service industry people go when they get off work." http://www.bestonkeywest.com/restaurants/finnegan's-wake.html


"One suggestion I have if you've never been to Key West: Ditch your car. Plan to walk or grab a bike at any of the rental spots, like The Bike Shop on Truman, near White Street." http://www.thebikeshopkeywest.com/


I also had a chance to speak to another Key West resident, Scott Kirby, recently (his interview was also posted this week) and he mentioned a couple of his favorite spots to
eat: "If I go out for lunch, I love the fish sandwich at Pepe's Cafe on Caroline Street."  http://pepescafe.net/  "La Creperie is an authentic French Bistro, run by a couple of sisters". http://lacreperiekeywest.com/  "I don't go out much after gigs, but when I do it's usually to the Afterdeck at Louie's"....


That's it for this "insider's look" at Key West. Of course, as I said, anybody who has been has their own favorite spots - to eat, drink, or just sight see - on Cayo Hueso. Feel free to add yours as a comment. And, if you've never been to Key West, waddya waitin' for??!!

Trop Rockin: Steven Youngblood gets Trop Rock on the air in PCB, John Friday escapes, Homemade Wine wins awards, & Robert Daniels sells some cereal.

Late 2009/early 2010 was a tumultuous time for Panama City, Florida singer/songwriter Steven Youngblood.  “Born with one foot in the water”, as he says in the title track to his “Guitars & Fishing Poles” cd, Youngblood was raised around sail boats and fishing. He picked up his first guitar at the age of eight and never looked back.  With the sand and sea of his coastal home as a back drop and musical inspiration from the likes of Jimmy Buffett and Eric Stone, Steven eventually found himself writing about subjects that were naturally near and dear to his heart - from laid back tracks like “Island Time” and “Cross On The Reef” to more upbeat tunes like “Picture Perfect Sunset” and the tongue-in-cheek “Hope My Ship Comes In”, all found on his debut disc. As he was wrapping up and getting ready to release that album in late 2009, doctors discovered a problem that would require some surgery. "I thought my voice was just getting kind of raspy from all the bar gigs I was playing." he says, "Turned out I had a lump in my throat that was pushing on my vocal cords!" The hospital stay took him off the road and it was several months before he could perform a full show again. At almost the same time, Youngblood, a radio engineer by trade, approached a floundering local AM station about the idea of putting Trop Rock on the air there. The owner agreed and Trop Rock 1290 was born (http://www.troprock1290.com/troprock%20home.html). Jimmy Buffett is a staple of the station, but most of the playlist is made up of Independent Trop Rock artists from across the country, mixed in with a variety of Island music and even North Carolina Shag tunes. The perfect accompaniment to a day at the Panama City Beaches. He continues to add new songs to the station all the time and plans to have an FM signal this Summer.  On the recording front, Steven has a new single he's working on called "Tan Lines", written by his good friend, Charlie Black, a Nashville songwriter with dozens of Number Ones to his credit. He hopes to follow that with another full cd some time next year. In the meanwhile, you can catch Steven (often with his wife Sandra on Steel Drums) playing watering holes all along the Redneck Riviera, from Joey's Oyster Bar, and Margaritaville in PCB to Fuddpuckers in Destin.  He's also a regular fixture at events for both the Panama City and Emerald City Parrot Head Clubs. www.stevenyoungblood.com or more info and upcoming dates (artists can also submit songs for Trop Rock 1290 there)

John Friday is a self–described "Tropical Balladeer and Displaced Pirate" who originally hails from Maryland.  The singer/songwriter's eclectic background includes a stint as a crabber on the Chesapeake Bay, as well as assorted attempts at college, studying subjects from biology to business.  After an injury ended his thirteen year Army career, Friday settled in the Naples area of Florida and started writing songs and performing in the local bars.  In 2009, he released his first full length cd, "Coastal Dreamin'", which included the rollicking ditties “Ain’t Missing a Thing” and “Rita’s Going Wild”, as well as a cover of the Little Feat classic, “Willin’”… "The last two to three years have been kind of a blur", says Friday - referring to all the increased activity in his busy schedule. In 2010, he was part of the talent line up for the "Puerto Los Somewhere" cruise to Cozumel - one of the first of what is now a plethora of Trop Rock cruises, and played a number of Parrot Head friendly festivals - including the Six String Music Songwriters Invitational in New Orleans (http://sixstringmusicnola.com/) and the patriotic Red, White & Tunes Festival in Southwest Florida (http://redwhiteandtunes.com/). He also made a trip to Hawaii to play for the Pau Hana Parrot Head Club and finished fourth (out of over 400) in the Landshark Lager Battle of the Bands in Nashville. Friday finished the year by releasing another full length cd, "Tropicalized".  In addition to the title track, which can be heard on Trop Rock music outlets like BeachFront Radio, the disc includes "Tennessee Whiskey/Jamaican Rum", co-written by well known Parrot Head songwriter, William Melton . He plans to expand his activities even further in 2011 with more House Concerts and festival gigs, both solo and with his band The Caribbean Connection. Asked where he thinks Trop Rock is going, John says "I want to honor the roots, which is Jimmy Buffett, but there's also more to it", adding, "I write about escapism - whether it's about escaping the snow or a bad relationship". He'll be heading up to New Jersey for the third annual Spring Fling (http://www.springphling.com/) in May, with stops along the way - including a House Concert for the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance. http://www.johnfriday.com/

Formed around brothers Tod and Ryan Sheley, Homemade Wine began booking gigs as an acoustic act around their hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, back in 2008.  Older brother and percussionist Tod has a serious Trop Rock pedigree, as a founding member of  St. Somewhere (www.myspace.com/stsforever), as well as having played with well known Tennessee Trop Rock acts Tall Paul (http://www.tallpaul.com/) and Jake & The Half Conched Band (http://www.lifeonthegulf.com/ ).  Three years later, they are an award winning band with six members, a cd, and a touring van they spend ALOT of time in. "It's been a blast! We just got back from 27 days on the road", said the younger Sheley sibling at the time of this writing. "Mostly around North Florida and the Georgia/SC coast. We played for about 12,000 people at the Taste of Charleston and headlined St. Patty's in Savannah. But we also did some great gigs in places like Greensboro NC and Columbia, SC." The cd in question is "Music For A Salty Soul", which came out in the Summer of 2010 and includes some songs that had been floating around the Trop Rock universe in demo form (including my Ipod) for some time - the catchy country/caribbean "Take Me Down To The Tropics", New Orleans flavored "Sweet Adele", and the melancholy "Seeking Harbor". The cd also included "Her Kiss", the Number One Trop Rock Song of 2010 on BeachFront Radio's Top 40 (the cd also won "Album of the Year", Ryan won "Best New Male Trocker", and the group took home "Top New Trop Rock Band"). After a stop at the New Jersey Spring Phling the end of this month, Homemade Wine will head to Washington, DC to begin recording their second cd, which they hope to have finished by the end of Summer "I want to be done and home in time for football season!" says Sheley. http://www.homemadewinemusic.com/

Last but not least, what do commercial jingles, TV voiceovers, and Trop Rock have in common? Robert Daniels! Daniels is a professional songwriter (member of the Nashville Songwriters Association), and voice-over talent who splits his time between New York City and the sleepy southern coastal town of Murrells Inlet, SC.  When he’s not pimping breakfast cereal or taking you to the next commercial break, he and his acoustic guitar can be found performing Country, Blues, and Rock covers in cafes and nightclubs around the Big Apple. Two of his original compositions, "You Don't Have To Be In Mexico" and "Gotta Love a Girl Like That", have received airplay on numerous Trop Rock radio stations.   www.myspace.com/robertdanielsmusic