Your TRMA Academy Members

Academy Member: Beth Travers

www.bethtravers.com   Beth Travers was born to adventurers and sailors—she was sailing Nantucket Sound before she could run— Her first instrument was a baritone ukelele …She immediately buried it in the sand and stole her mother’s guitar… As a kid on sailing trips, Beth listened to Harry Belafonte and steel drum bands from the West…

Academy Member: TJ Walsh

TJ Walsh, Dubbed Music Ambassador by the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club, has been in the business of entertaining audiences for his entire life. Starting with a Regional Rock Band in the 60’s then to a 30 year career in broadcasting from morning show DJ to Stints on the Matlock TV Series and the final…

Academy Member: Joe Downing

www.joedowning.com https://www.facebook.com/joe.downing.56 Middletown, Ohio born and Nashville, Tennessee bred, Joe Downing is a Tropical Americana Recording Artist and Songwriter that knows how to Rock & Roll. Downing has released 3 EP’s over the last decade and has over 7 singles circulating on over a dozen Trop Rock radio stations. Joe plays all over the country:…

Academy Member: Fred Quistgard (Musician)

Freddy Quistgard is a percussionist in the “tropics of Maine”. A musical childhood filled with piano and guitar lessons took a back seat to a long professional ice hockey coaching career. He began his trop rock adventure as guest percussionist for Maine’s Corona Brothers Band in the early 2000s. Freddy then became an integral part…

Academy Member: Johnny Russler & The Beach Bum Band

Johnny Russler has been Trop-Rocking with the Beach Bum Band since 2001.  Along the way Johnny Russler & The Beach Bum Band have been throwing beach parties to enthusiastic crowds to venues from Nebraska to Rhode Island, from Minnesota to Key West, from community festivals to college campuses to Parrothead gatherings and even at Alpine…

Academy Member: Jeff Brewer

I grew up in Atlanta and played in bands since early high school. After doing the corporate ladder thing, marriage, and kids, I started playing solo again in the late 90’s.  When I was laid off from my job after 9/11, that kicked me in the butt a little and had a role in building…

Academy Member: Flip Flop Dave

Originally from the Tampa Bay Area, Dave grew up a 20-minute bicycle ride from St. Pete Beach.  Southern rock had an early influence, but the sound and style of Jimmy Buffett really spoke to him. Growing up in a musical household, Dave originally started singing for just for his own enjoyment but soon discovered that…

Academy Member: COPA Reefers

The COPA Reefers consists mainly of members of COPA (the Central Oklahoma Parrothead Association). The COPA Reefers play Trop Rock, Classic Rock, Blues, Pop, Country & their own Trop Rock Originals. In the summer of 2012, a group of individuals decided to pursue their passion and follow their dream of making music with their friends.…

Academy Member: Scott Kirby

www.scottkirby.com Singer, songwriter, guitarist, storyteller, sailor and road warrior are all words that aptly describe Scott Kirby. Writing songs for a new CD, performing 150 live shows a year throughout the US and Canada, and holding down the stage at his own club—Key West’s Smokin’ Tuna Saloon—keep the barnacles off this modern-day troubadour. A creative…

Academy Member: Paul Overstreet

www.pauloverstreet.com Paul Overstreet is a Grammy Award winning, country music singer-songwriter. Not only writing hits for himself, Paul has also penned songs for fellow country acts, including Randy Travis, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney and Keith Whitley. In 2018, Paul released his latest album, Somewhere in the Caribbean. As a songwriter, Overstreet has written and co-written…

Academy Member: Tall Paul (Paul Bobal)

www.TallPaul.com Tall Paul (Paul Bobal) was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Virginia Beach, VA, where he played keyboards in “garage bands” from the age of 11. After seeing Doc & Merle Watson perform for freshman orientation at Appalachian State University, he taught himself to play acoustic guitar and started playing the college circuit…

Academy Member: Todd Trusty

www.ToddTrustyMusic.com As a long-time Parrot Head, Todd has been influenced by the tropical laid back styles of Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and Trop Rock artists such as Kelly McGuire, John Frinzi and Jim Morris. Performing for people, however, was not exactly something Todd dreamed of doing since his teen years and it never seemed like…

Academy Member: Tim Campbell

www.tropicallatitudesband.com Born and raised in Virginia he embraces the Margaritaville lifestyle and loves to perform trop rock music every chance he gets. A singer/songwriter, his songs “Island Time” and “Welcome to Paradise” are currently playing on several trop rock radio stations.

Academy Member: Randy Moore

www.RandyCMoore.com “Mister Roy (Acuff) had one of the finest bands I’ve ever played with. We did a goosed-up version of my record, ‘Mountain Dew’ and it was just so much fun. An amazing experience for a kid of 18.” He made the move to Nashville to attend Belmont University to learn the modern recording arts…

Academy Member: Jonas Lorence

www.JonasLorence.com The Jonas Lorence Band is a party band that specializes in Texas Trop Rock with a blues edge but we also cover lots of fun classic rock and original tunes. The goal for our show is fun, we love audience participation and to keep the party going. If you enjoy jamming to Jimmy Buffett…

Academy Member: Tiki Thom Starkey

www.ThomStarkey.com From Key West to Waikiki Thom (Tiki Thom as known by his fans) has entertained audiences across the country. A favorite at Parrothead Festivals, Tiki Bars, Corporate Events, Campgrounds and Local Watering Holes. His unique blend of original hits, classic favorites and downeast humor is guaranteed to leave you smiling. Thom’s original songs have…

Academy Member: Danny Rosado

www.DannyRosado.com Born and raised in the heart of the Tennessee Valley, Danny Rosado is a Trop Rock, Sandgrass, and Americana singer / songwriter from Huntsville, AL. Danny released his debut solo album, “Beach Boy Coming Home,” in May 2017, and currently performs as one half of the Trop Rock duo, Danny Lowers the Boom. As…

Academy Member (Musician): Quincy Yeates

www.RamajayIntercoastal.com A naturally gifted songwriter born on the Caribbean Island of Tobago, his journey into music began at age 10 where he started playing Clarinet, then promoted to Oboe for the Tobago Youth Orchestra helmed by the great Newman Alexander. With the push of his Grandmother, Hermia Yeates, a retired Elementary/Primary School Principal, lessons in…

Academy Member: John Frinzi

www.JohnFrinzi.com A gifted singer and songwriter, skillful on both guitar and piano, John Frinzi has built an audience through craft and originality. An early demo caught the ear of legendary steel guitarist and long time Coral Reefer Band member Doyle Grisham, and their working relationship led to John’s first CD, “Into The Dawn.” His second…

Academy Member: Erica Sunshine Lee

www.EricaSunshineLee.com Erica Sunshine Lee is “The hardest working woman in country music.” Sunshine is a prolific songwriter and Nashville Recording Artist and International touring ‘Georgia Gypsy.’ Sunshine just released her 8th original album titled “Buried Treasure,” penning all 12 brand new songs. Since 2007, Sunshine has been a full-time road warrior, performing around 300 shows…