Sunset Key, near Tarpon Springs, FL, 13 September 2003 ~ Armond Blackwater.

Another Beautiful Day In Paradise -- A fitting description for the scene at Sunset Key as Bertie Higgins and the Band of Pirates prepared to conquer yet another beachhead.
Jederas Blackwater (son) hung on in the passenger seat as I attempted to follow Ron Russell from his place in Temple Terrace (Tampa) at a furious pace through the backwoods toward Tarpon Springs and Sunset Key prompting the question: Does everybody drive like a maniac in this band? Evidence suggests a hearty yes to that question.

This beautiful day in paradise was an historic day for the re-lighting of the Anclote Key Lighthouse was to occur that evening shortly after sunset. A large cast of folks had labored and lobbied long and hard to collect funds and raise awareness of the spiritual need to restore the beautiful lighthouse for the community of greater Tarpon Springs. Ron spoke proudly of playing many benefit gigs to raise funds for the cause.

Bertie Higgins spoke excitedly of the resuscitation of this landmark. His eyes smiled as he proclaimed, "This is only the beginning. We're going to restore the keepers houses and everything out there." Bertie's enormous and unbounded love for the area, his home area where he grew up and learned life's lessons, emanated from him so eloquently that tears came to my eyes. Clearly Jederas and I were in for a magical day.

I am quickly realizing that Ron Russell knows everybody in the music world and that they all love him (with the obvious exception of Mitch Mitchell). As Ron approached the stage folks came running to greet him. And Ron met each with his usual gregarious manner, genuinely glad to see old friends.

In fact, love became the recurring theme of the day. These folks all love each other, they love getting together and making music, entertaining friends and strangers alike, and sharing the fruits of their creativity. It's like a family reunion because the Band of Pirates is a family, an extended family that includes spouses, loved ones, offspring, and good, true friends. Like Jo Anne Reilly, the warm, sweet lady who is president of Bertie's email fan club. This day, Jederas and I had the good fortune to be included in that extended family. Life is great.

However, all was not quite perfect this day in paradise. The sun was scorching and there was no canopy over the stage. Mark Halisky voiced valid concerns about placing his keyboards on the stage, plastic keys, delicate electronics beneath the tropical sun - not good. But like the man said, the show must go on.

Power is always a precious commodity at outdoor gigs. Prior to the show, Bertie and (road manager) Wes King were worrying over a potential for current shortage, a fear that would soon be realized.

The Pinkham Family took the stage first. Three generations of musicians delighted the audience, grandfather Jerald (leftmost above) playing tenor guitar, mother Terry's voice (couldn't find an adjective that isn't tired -- tender, forceful, dynamic, sensual.. her voice is all that and more), father Jeff's energetic acoustic guitar, and young phenom -- Josh (left) on mandolin. The adults are all accomplished musicians whose influence Josh has obviously been absorbing his entire life.

Josh looked scared and nervous standing out in front of all with his mandolin tenderly held in dainty hands. Then, he started picking away at his mandolin demonstrating an alacrity for the instrument that few achieve. He's only 14 years old? Those were 14 musically intense years. Josh was incredible, amazing, and humble.

Where did this VonderKind come from? Oh yeah, the musical Pinkham Family. Josh's fingers danced lightly up and down the fingerboard of his mandolin, totally absorbed in the music engulfing him.

Yes, Josh does have some of the best sidemen he could ever hope for -- father, mother, and grandfather. From that base Josh exploded with well-articulated solos which he stretched with a jazzy feel new to mandolin in my ears.

Is the kid hot? Yes. And, he's a great person, humble, and he's probably a great skateboarder too. While he may look even younger than his 14 years, his playing is mature beyond those years.

Josh has been bathed in music and talent since birth: his grandfather is a great guitarist and musician, his father too, and his mother an enormously gifted singer. Terry Pinkham delivered exquisite renditions of blues and jazz standards, but the star of the show was Josh, an incredible player.

Grandpa Jerald Pinkham has good right to be proud of his family of great entertainers.

And he is also particularly proud of his tenor guitar built by Jerry Thomason that is, according to Jerald, "The best danged guitar I've ever played."

Next up came Wiley Fox, a Country band from Tampa, who opened with a hot original song. I didn't catch the name of the tune, but I did catch the rhythm and feel. The song was beautifully crafted with soaring guitar harmony leads and well-placed vocal harmonies. The song should be a hit.

As they competantly plowed through several cover tunes I kept hoping they would play another original. They didn't, but at least the crowd appreciated hearing familiar radio songs.

Regular band members Jesse Embry (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Brandon Embry (lead guitar and vocals), Rick Stoots (bass guitar and vocals), Terry Ettel (drums) were joined by Eric Embry on harmonies and rhythm toys, Tom O'Neal (steel guitar and lead guitar) who appears in their concert gigs, and Band of Pirates keyboardist and musical director Mark Halisky (piano).

The ensemble created a formidable force as all are top notch players and pickers. Wiley played a sharp set that solicited much applause from the appreciative audience.

After a rousing finish, the band hurriedly broke down their equipment and headed to their second gig of the day at Bourbon Street Bar in Tampa.

That's how it is for working musicians, you gotta keep working, take every good opportunity to showcase your act that comes along. The pay ain't great, the hours are long, but the chance to play music and perform makes it all worth while.

Sunset Key is famous for, well, its beautiful sunsets.

A ceremony was carried out by officials from the State Parks Department, local politicos, and some state representative guy named Bilarakis. Judging from his name I guessed that he was from the local, predominantly Greek, Tarpon Springs area. I don't follow politicians or politics, those cats live in a different dimension from my tribe.

A US Coast Guard color guard marched out with flags in a blatant display of nationalism and patriotism. A pretty lady sang an original song about the lighthouse and then did her best on that dreadful song, The Star Spangled Banner. As a nation, America should cut that song from its set list.

Finally around 8:30 PM Eastern, the Anclote Key lighthouse was relit. The beacon swinging around periodically to the delight of the 5,000+ people in attendance who cheered loudly at each revolution.

The time was at hand for featured act of this event to take the stage. The Band of Pirates gathered beads on their arms and headed into the audience where they distributed them freely to the crowd, Bertie Higgins hometown crowd.

Wes King fired antique pistols filled with black powder. He giggled like a teenager as he returned backstage. "I guess I kind of overloaded them that time," he grinned. He scared the devil out of a bunch of kids in front of the stage.

As Bertie paced nervously backstage, the band mounted the stage and Mark Halisky (playing his second gig of the day) kicked into the opening fanfare that summons the star to the stage.

And then, darkness. The lights and sound system went dim. A breaker had tripped. It was now after sunset, the first time the lights had been pressed into use, and the circuit blew just as Bertie and Wes predicted it would.

Panic and chaos erupted backstage as the sound crew attempted to find and reset breakers in the dark. After several tense minutes, the lights and PA were restored and the fanfare began anew.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sony recording artist, Bertie Higgins," announced Dave Cox. As the crowd roared its approval, Bertie ascended the stage.

More cheers erupted as the Band of Pirates launched into Bertie's trademark song, Key Largo. "Here's looking at you, kid. Look at all the things we did.." The man has a magical voice.

Power continued to be a problem throughout the 100+ minute set, but the band forged on despite the problems. "Oh well, that's show biz," chuckled cherubic backup singer Cathy Macabee. That's the spirit of a trooper.

Cathy is yet another genuinely amazing spirit in this family, love flows from her as freely as an Artesian well.

Fellow backup singer Amy Halisky (left) just kept bouncing and smiling. She motioned to me several times inquiring if I was a grandpa yet. I had confided my thrill at the impending arrival of my first grandchild over in New Orleans to Amy and her mother Cindy (who is also Mark Halisky's patients-of-a-saint wife.)

Guitarist Paul Buzine was positively on fire at this gig. (That's Paul glowing in the stage lights at right) Speaking with Paul backstage before the show I got a glimpse of how versatile a player he is. "Thursday night Cathy (Macabee) and I were playing a dinner club in Tampa, Friday night I played with a symphony orchestra in Orlando behind this really great Italian tenor (opera singer), and tonight I'm with the Band of Pirates. I love it," Paul beamed. I had a great talk with Paul who raved about our efforts at the Cafe' Be At to bring peace to the world by communicating through music. Paul digs it. Thank you, Paul.

That is what feel from all the players in this troop, they all have a deep, devotional love of music and performing.

That love literally spills from every pore of trumpeter and percussionist J. D. Early. "Gettin' together and making music. Man, there's nothing greater." I haven't met many folks as full of energy and love of life as JD. The man is positively charged, ebullient, effervescent, and his enthusiasm is infectious.

Mark Halisky and JD Early (pictured left) teamed up on trumpets during several tunes the most stirring of which was Brazil. Man, these two cats can blow. As cool as it is when Mark blows horn along with the synth horn sounds, Mark and JD together is ten times the cool. Ten times the power. A hundred times the emotional effect.

The family reunion concert ended with an encore performance of Key Largo, which remains in my mind the greatest love song of all time. However, it is no longer my favorite Bertie Higgins song. No, that distinction now goes to the hauntingly beautiful, spiritual, and sexy The Breath of God.

Through it all was the steady, dependable, perfect drumming of Ron Russell, the man whose story I have been apparently destined to write, a course that was probably set at my birth unbeknownst to me.

I gained more material for Ron's biography on this day and had a great time to boot.

JD Early talked with me about his brief encounter with Reverend Jesse Jackson, a man that I can't wait to interview (he plays prominent a role in Ron's association with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), JD spoke with Reverend Jackson on behalf of Ron trying to get the two old friends together for a chat. And what a chat that will be.

What impressed me most was the camaraderie of the family that is Bertie Higgins and the Band of Pirates. Next, was the passionate performance that Bertie render from the depths of his soul that night for the people and place that he loves so deeply.