Honoring Richard "Rich" Simone

Rich Simone loved his island paradise and the local characters who befriended him. Key West Credits as Director and/or Designer: FOLLIES IN CONCERT, GUYS & DOLLS and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAM COAT for the Key West Pops, NO CHILD, THE GRADUATE and DINNER WITH FRIENDS at the Waterfront Playhouse, SHOWTUNE, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and BATBOY: THE MUSICAL at the Red Barn, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA and SOUTH PACIFIC for Island Opera Theatre, . Richs award winning work was recognized on the mainland and included: POPCORN (Carbonell Nomination, Curtain Up Award/Best Scenic Design), THE GOAT (Carbonell Award, Curtain Up Award/Best Scenic Design), JAMES JOYCE’S THE DEAD (Carbonell Award/Best Scenic Design) at GableStage; CRIMES OF THE HEART (Curtain Up Nominations/Best Scenic Design/Best Director of a Play/Best Play, Carbonell Nominations/Best Director of a Play/Best Play), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Curtain Up Awards/Best Ensemble/Best Supporting Actor in a Musical) and BLOOD BROTHERS (Carbonell Nominations/Best Director of a Musical/Best Musical, Curtain Up Awards/Best Director of a Musical/Best Musical), all at the Shores Performing Arts Theatre, which also received the Most Progressive and Innovative Theatre Award from the Curtain Up voters for 2003 during his tenure as Artistic Director. Rich was also named Best South Florida Scenic Designer of 2001 by the Miami New Times, but is most proud to have been named a finalist for the 2003 Artist Impact Award, presented by the Miami Children’s Cultural Coalition for his work in children’s theatre.

Honoring Bill Blue

The Bill Blue Story

Born in Aberdeen, North Carolina, and raised in Yorktown, Virginia, Bill Blue first picked up a guitar when he was in school in Richmond, Virginia. Playing along with records at first, Blue began to develop his unique slide guitar technique.

A chance meeting with Arthur (Big Boy) Crudup --who wrote Elvis Presley’s hit “That’s Alright Mama”-- ignited Bluel’s life-long passion for Blues music.

With the British music invasion of the 60’s and 70’s bringing R&B bands like The Rolling Stones to the USA, interest in Blues music grew and Arthur Crudup who’d been working as a farm hand, asked Blue to put together a live band.

Crudup and Blue toured the USA, most notably opening for Bonnie Raitt on her first American tour.

After Crudup died in 1974, Blue went out on his own and for a decade toured extensively, sharing the stage with BB King, ZZ Top, The Allman Brothers, Albert King, Johnny Winter,  and countless others at Blues festivals across the USA.

Blue made 2 LPs for the Feather label before signing with the prestigious Adelphi record label, one of the best blues labels in the US. Blue made 2 LP’s for Adelphi and the worldwide distribution the label offered gave him the chance to be heard around the world.

In the eighties, tired of the road, Blue stopped touring and moved to Key West.

He continued playing at the legendary Sloppy Joe’s with his band, The Nervous Guys, and  was the first musician to ever play at the famous Green Parrot, now known worldwide as an outstanding live music venue.

Armed with some great songs, his unique style of slide guitar playing, and a gravelly voice that had deepened with age, Blue went into the studio for two live rhythm track sessions with drummer Richard Crooks (a New York player whose credits included playing with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Dr.  John, and Paul Simon), Nashville guitarist Michael McAdam, London guitarist Matt Backer, Key West Drummer Mick Kilgos,and various other members of Blue’s live band.

The resulting LP, “Mojolation,” garnered stellar reviews, worldwide airplay, and reached No.1 on ReverbNation’s Blues chart and on the British Blues Broadcaster’s chart.

“Mojolation” was released on October 13th 2013 at a record release party at The Green Parrot. In honor of Bill’s new record, his charity work, his being the “elder statesman” of the Key West music scene, the City Of Key West declared October 13th to be Bill Blue Day in perpetuity.

A second album, “The King of Crazy Town,” was also released by Conch Town Records.

Honoring Jacki Leahy

JACKI LEAHY 1954-2022
Jacki loved working on the Crooks Crew.  Her support, ingenuity and enthusiasm shaped the early years of the Crooks Annual Second Line.
Jacki was usually found near water.  She was a life guard, scuba instructor and a cruiser on her beloved sailboat, Rainbow Chaser.
She spent her last decade as caretaker of the Melbourne Yacht Club with her husband Jack and her Jack Russell terrier, Jackson.