Every time I think about Thom Shepherd, I think of times in which I’ve boasted in telling friends know that I know the composer of “Red Neck Yacht Club.” Or, I punch in a cd in my car and I’m reminded about how crazy Texas frontage roads can be….. it’s all because when I play a recording by Thom Shepherd,…
Category: Trop Rock
HUGO DUARTE MAKES THE SONG A STORY
I like to think that someone who starts writing poetry on his own at age six is destined for something big. This describes Hugo Duarte, who did indeed become a poet at a very early age. At age fourteen, a friend loaned him an old guitar and before long, Hugo had taught himself how to play. Having grown up in…
JOHN RENO – “A MAN FOR ALL SEASIDES”
Can you imagine growing up in a record store located in a city known for music? What a way to start for John Reno! John’s father owned a record store on Canal Street in New Orleans and so naturally, there was music going all the time. Citing Al Hirt and Jim Croce as major musical influences, John took up the…
THE BRIGHT WORLD OF SUNNY JIM WHITE
It was Fall of 2003, I think, when I had my first encounter with Trop Rock music and had no idea that was what the genre was called. We were in Las Vegas for the Buffett concert and attended a local party at Tommy Rocker’s hosted by the Las Vegas Parrothead Club. I met a bunch of great folks and…
JOHN FRINZI FRENZY!
What does a fellow who grew up in a musical family often become? A musician, of course, but John Frinzi has special memories of his musical upbringing. Born in New Jersey, he grew up on the music of the 60s and 70s. On Saturday mornings, he and his brothers perused used record stores and it’s no surprise that John was…
KELLY McGUIRE – NOT JUST BACKGROUND MUSIC
How does a singer/ songwriter go from singing five nights a week at pizza parlors to winning Songwriter of the Year at the 2012 Trop Rock Music Awards? Well, there was a span of many years, but when you live in a coastal environment like Kelly McGuire does, there seems to be more tropical inspiration. So after twenty-five years of…
JIM MORRIS, THE FISH HEAD MAN
I was so thrilled when Jim Morris agreed to meet me for an interview during Pardi Gras in New Orleans. He graciously allowed two of my friends who were big fans to sit in on the chat, one of which is now my husband. But on to what I learned about this mega Trop Rock star. Jim grew up in…
JAMMIN’ JOE BENNETT
Joe and I have been acquainted for a few years now, but just recently were able to sit down and chat for an interview. This took place in a bar across the street from Margaritaville in New Orleans, where Joe plays at least a couple of times a week. It was great to chat with the singer/ songwriter of “Beach…
OH, TO BE ERIC STONE!!
As I anticipate my afternoon on a 25 foot Catalina sailboat that’s coming in about ten days, I’m thinking about Eric Stone. If you’re a lover of sailing, of the sea, and of extremely tropical locales, you’ve got to admire Eric Stone. This soft-spoken Texas native (from Beaumont) has a lifestyle to envy, no doubt. Eric started playing guitar when…
DEAR MATT HOGGATT!
I had the pleasure to talk to a Trop Rock musician with one of the most diverse backgrounds of all the musicians I’ve interviewed. This would be Matt Hoggatt, who has held military positions, been on the local police force and is now a celebrated singer/ songwriter. Matt told me that his parents had two cassette tapes they loved: a…