Mr. Utley on Stage!

Michael Utley. He has been on a musical adventure his entire life.

Early in his career, Utley worked with the house band for Atlantic Records in Miami, Florida's Criteria Studios backing performers such as Aretha Franklin, Jerry Jeff Walker, and the Allman Brothers, and in California producing and playing with Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson. He has produced numerous albums for Marshall Chapman and Todd Snider. I just had that conversation with him a couple of weeks back. One very cool moment is Mike in the now dvd-released video of Roy Orbison's "Black and White night" filmed not too long before Roy died. It is a fabulous piece of work and the stage is filled with super-star musicians from Jackson Browne to Bruce Springsteen.
You can see Mike in the leader position keeping everyone on the same page. He is that well respected by his peers.

I asked Mike about those days in Miami at Criteria Studios several years back in Key West. As I recall it was a very sunny Saturday afternoon and he was waiting to go on stage to perform with another band. Steve Huntington and I were standing next to Mike and we must have talked for an hour. I asked Mike what it was like to do those songs in Miami as the week before I had looked at the inside of my old Duane Allman "Anthology" double album and his name was all over it. He said those were sessions. You would come in and do your part. Sometimes you would even perform alone. My favorite part of the story was the part about Mike playing a song one day and suddenly the door flies open and in walks Jackie Gleason. He was dressed in full formal attire as he usually was for his show. Mike came on the pa and said and "Here's Jackie!" Seems his studio was next door and he was not happy that someone was in "his" studio. What a cool story.

Jerry Jeff Walker recruited Mike to play keyboard instruments on Jimmy Buffett's first major label album, "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean," in 1973. Utley continued to work with other performers in the mid-1970s while appearing on Buffett's subsequent albums until Buffett's 1977 breakout "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" when he joined the Coral Reefer Band full time.

Mr. Utley has title credit on several albums, the first being an instrumental record with fellow Coral Reefer Band member Robert Greenidge titled "Mad Music." There is a long string of those Club Trini cds now. And they are great! I have had the privilege of seeing these guys play for many years and I have lost count of the number of shows and locations. I do know that I am approaching show number 80 for Jimmy Buffett shows and the count is pretty high for Club Trini. I never tire of watching great musicians perform.

Utley has gone on to produce or co-produce a number of Buffett albums beginning with "One Particular Harbour" in 1983. He has toured with the Coral Reefers ever since and is well known as the band leader.

During the song "Volcano," Utley's name is mentioned. Right before the first solo, Jimmy Buffet says "Mr. Utley." This leads into the solo.

http://www.margaritaville.com/michael_utley.html

A Volcano Video:

Josh Leo on guitar. Sam Clayton on congas. Yeah this was a great show!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxuaUaS4rU0

See I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow

"Hey Mr. Utley."

No time to count what I'm worth
Hey I just left the planet earth
But a' where I go I hope there's rum
Not to worry, more soon come

Robert on the Pans.

Robert Greenidge.

I think he is probably the best pan player on the planet right now. Most people say that.
He is some kind of a musician. We were hanging out late one night in Key West and talking about all kinds of things. I brought my iPhone out and showed him the Peterson tuner on my phone. He said 'let's test it." I smiled and said "ok." I fired up the app and pointed at his face. He said I am going to show you a 'G." He starting humming a note. For a millisecond the display went F# then G steadily. There were a couple of other people standing there. We all went 'Damn." You are good. Yeah. He is great.

http://www.petersontuners.com/

Mac on Stage.

Mac McAnally on stage with Club Trini. Other than Roger Guth the entire Coral Reefer Band is on this stage. They sound great!

Mike Utley, Robert Greenidge and me.

Backstage just before the Club Trini set. We were having too much fun after 24 hours of crazy air travel for my Coral Reefer buddies. They both flew in from the west coast and the weather had been brutal. They finally got in the morning of the show and they were still smiling. Me? I was sunburn from letting my tan fade and not having time to go get some sun screen..I corrected that pretty quickly the next day. I brought out the hat collection!

Mike finished producing of Marshall Chapman's new cd earlier this year and it was just released the day I left for Key West. He does stellar work in the studio. What a talent and a super nice guy!

I want to plug my pal Robert's new Christmas cd. It is great! You can buy it from the link below or even from amazon.com.

http://www.clubtrini.com/

http://www.robertgreenidge.com/

http://www.margaritaville.com/michael_utley.html

There is nothing like a tropical rainbow!

After the storm there is always a bonus!

John Patti!

http://www.johnpatti.com/

John playing the steel drums on stage with Tall Paul. His new album is very good and you should go buy it right now. As his web site says you can hear it on Radiomargaritaville.

http://www.radiomargaritaville.com/listen_now.htm

Tall Paul at the Casa Marina.

http://www.tallpaul.com/

Tall Paul on stage with Ramajay Intercoastal. I always enjoy his music. He is a great player and always entertains the crowd.
The heavy rain put a damper on the opening of his set but the crowd stood through the rain to watch him perform. Finally the rain stopped and the show really amped up. Great stuff!

http://www.ramajayintercoastal.com/about.php

Here is a link to a video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvZd-Jgty2E

Special Guest Mac McAnally!

Mac McAnally played several songs with the band. I really enjoy watching him play as his guitar work is top-notch. I guess that is why he is multiple year winner of the CMA Musician of the Year award. The cool thing about this show is the intamacy of the venue and the fact you are there with people who really love the music.

http://www.macmcanally.com/

Here is a song Mac played on this night. It is a real favorite of mine. "Little Martha" by the Allman Brothers Band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1PiHsS8LP8

Peter and Jim Mayer

Picture ©2010 Andrew Talbert

The Mayer brothers sailing through a setlist at the Key West Studios. This was the second show and the house was again sold out.
The rain was pounding outside and the music just kept on coming. I was here the year before for the "Goodbye Hello" cd release.
This show had a mixture of those tracks and some of the older PM tracks. These guys are amazing musicians who back Jimmy Buffett on his albums and tours while working with all kinds of other artists in their spare time. One of my favorites is Jim playing bass with J.D. Souther on his last release. That cd is outstanding. I could ramble on but I think you probably know the details.

http://www.petermayer.com/

http://www.unclejimrocks.com/

http://www.jdsouther.net/index.htm

Ilo Ferreira on the stage.

http://www.iloferreira.com/

Ilo is in key West and playing his music just before Club Trini take the stage. I asked him where is Jimmy Buffett signature Martin guitar was and he told me the airlines had damaged it. It was in the shop. You just have to love airline travel these days.

The Sound Board for the Peter Mayer Show.

This is the view at the Peter Mayer show which is being held for the second year at the Studios of Key West. http://www.tskw.org/ Hey Will Kimbrough is there December 12th!

Chad was running the sound and he is always the best at what he does! My buddy from New Orleans, now living in Key West Glenn is using his equipment. And it sounds great!
http://www.stewartsound.net/


The short story...I was at the airport trying to retrieve a couple of key members of the Coral Reefer band. The weather was terrible. it was raining so hard the planes could not land. I stayed there until 10:00 and then drove down the center lane of a four lane road back to this show. It was raining very hard and the roads were flooded. All I could see was a yellow line. It was like this for hours...The Coral Reefer guys would land in the morning. I was ready for some music after a busy day of credential delivery. At least I got Doyle and Debbie in from the airport after four trips. Weather. You just have to deal with it. Life is ok. Hell I am in paradise.

The stage is up!

Out back at the Casa Marina. http://www.casamarinaresort.com/ It is the early next morning after a night having some Cuban food and hanging out with friends. The big stage is up and we are moving towards yet another series of shows. It is year 19 of this event. I have been here so many years and there are so many memories. I really have this place in my blood. Let the fun begin!

Dog Beach. Key West.

Dog Beach. Right beside Louie's Backyard. I haven't been on the island very long but I really like this place. The sunset is always rocking and the night life is even better here. And yes I have watched the sunset come up here on four hours of sleep in two days. "If I die right now I have lived. And lived well." That's my song line and I am sticking to it. 'Nuff said.

Key West.

I never tire of the "tourista moment" at the airport. There really is nothing like the Conch Republic. It is sort of like a Porsche. There is no substitute!

Miami...on the way to Key West.

I never tire of seeing a southern scene from the air. I am on my way to Key West as I pass over Miami. It is early in the day and key West is only a few minutes away by air. Oh yeah. It is warm and sunny, Life is good.