Tropical Ave brings the sounds of your favorites, in an interactive experience like no other. From Frank Sinatra to PINK, these talented musicians will not only have you up, out of your chair, on the dance floor, but literally in the act! Tropical Ave performs a wide range of musical styles to suit most every audience. They routinely get the audience involved and dancing, playing the tambourines, maracas, even an invite for a guest bongo player or backup vocalist... They love to get everybody in to a festive mood. With them, it’s “Always A Celebration”!
I caught up with Guitar/Vocalist/Trumpet player Jeff Hughes who told me a little about the band and the extensive background of its members. Jeff is a veteran in club circuits having started playing full time in Chicago in 1973. Jeff really gets the crowd going. Jeff plays guitar and handles a lot of the lead vocals, and is also the "token" trumpet player. Wearing a wireless headset and using a wireless guitar system, it's not uncommon for Jeff to be out in the audience creating mischief, or handing out maracas or tambourines.
“We're an Island Band, R & B, Beach, Trop Rock, Latin, Classic & Newer Rock, Top 40, Funk Band, with a few standards thrown in. From Parrot Heads to Bikers, Business Suits to Bathing Suits- we're the one Beach Band everyone can enjoy and dance to!”
”Tropical Ave Band is unique in that we encourage audience participation. We bring extra percussion instruments for people to play along with the band and ask for volunteers on specific songs- to get up and play bongos with us. On occasion, we've had as many as 5 people up on stage with us, doubling the size of the band”. What also sets the band apart is that they take lots of pictures of their audience and post them to Myspace and Facebook. “Again the focus is on our audience- playing tambourines, maracas, bongos, or just having fun on the dance floor”. Whether it's Aretha Franklin, Duffy, Shakira, Pink, Colby Callait, Sarah Bareilles, Beyonce', Whitney Houston, Melissa Ethridge, Santana, Kenny Chesney, The Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffett, The Temptations, Spin Doctors, or Marc Anthony, Tropical Ave will pack the dance floor wherever they perform.
Co-Lead Vocals Najla Bray makes people stop in their tracks when she covers a Whitney Houston, Melissa Ethridge, Duffy or one of the most challenging artists- Aretha Franklin song. Check her out Najla's on Myspace at: www.myspace.com/tropicalave.
Kenny C. - Keyboards, Vocals is a master on the keys-originally from Philly, PA, back in 1975. Kenny has played with many of the greats including The OJ’s, The Spinners, Chubby Checker, and Old Blue Eyes himself! Kenny also recorded and toured with Sister Sledge. “That's Kenny's piano on ‘We Are Family’. Count on Kenny for some great funk breaks using the clav, cool B-3 riffs and melodic piano passages. We're glad he calls SW FL home and that he brings his experience and versatile playing to round the band.”
Bill "6 String" Hill- Bass & Vocals: Bill has been in Southwest Florida for many years and is no stranger to the club scene having played with many different bands at Slip Not, Harpoon Harry's and Sharky's just to name a few. “Bill is one of a few people who can actually make the most out of a 6 string bass. Maybe that's why they call him Wild Bill."
Jay Perry-Drums: has been playing since he was 6 and a professional musician ever since he was 10. He is a graduate of Berkley College of Music. His early influences are David Garibaldi, Steve Gadd, and Stevie Wonder. Jay got his start in the great state of Rhode Island. Jeff says, “He’s the best drummer in the area, PERIOD. Jay's playing makes anyone want to get up and dance!”
Rhonda Brown is the founding Bassist: There is no one more passionate about playing than Rhonda. Our original bassist- Rhonda wants to limit her time playing out and play in their sister group- Trio De Janeiro- so she'll be filling in a few selected dates throughout the year. Look for more from Trio De Janeiro very soon, especially all you TROP ROCKERS, as they are currently working on a new release of all-originals, which is due to be finished at the end of this summer, or early autumn.
You can catch Tropical Ave on Friday evening at Portifiino’s Deck 360 overlooking beautiful Charlotte Harbor, Sports City/ Coral Rock Café’ on US41 in Port Charlotte, Sharky’s on the Pier in Venice Isles, or other fabulous locations throughout the SW Florida. If you’d like to book the band contact Jeff at: (941) 468-8068 or email him at: tropicalave@yahoo.com. You can also find out more about the band on their site at: www.tropicalave.com or visit their Myspace page at: www.myspace.com/tropicalave where there are lots of live videos of the group. So don’t just sit there… Get up, Get out, and Get Down, with Tropical Ave where it’s Always A Celebration!
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