Mick Kilgos “Music Is The Glue That Holds This Town Together.”

 

By Ralph DePalma

Mick was raised forty five miles south of Chicago in Kankakee, Illinois.  The train “The City of New Orleans” starts in Kankakee and ends in New Orleans.  The song, written by Steve Goodman and made famous by Arlo Guthrie, is a great rendition of what the old Blues players like Muddy Waters used to experience on the trip from New Orleans to Chicago. Mick started playing drums at fourteen.  He came down to Key West to take a break from being out on the road.

Several months after he arrived in 1984, Mick had a regular gig with Bill Blue and the Nervous Guys.   The Full Moon Saloon, across from the bank on Simonton, where Camille’s is now located, and the Green Parrot would switch bands between the Nervous Guys and the Survivors almost every week. In the 80’s Sloppy Joe’s was the only bar in town that could afford to bring in touring bands.

When asked about the impact of Jimmy Buffett on Key West Music, Mick was quick to say Buffett is a great songwriter and he helped put Key West on the map.  He took the Key West lifestyle and he brought it to the masses in Ohio, Illinois, Arizona, and all over the country.

Key West is a great place for live music.  There is no were in the world you can hear this much live music in such a concentrated area. Music and musicians are appreciated and respected here in Key West.  To Mick there is much more original music is in Key West today than when he arrived. The One Human Family is alive and well in the Key West music scene.  According to Mick,  “…music is the glue that holds this town together.” Mick played every Friday for eight years at BO’s Fish Wagon with Barry Cuda. The gig with the band Barry Cuda and the Sharks was always the most fun for him.

Mick returned to Key West in 2005, after a hiatus of several years living and playing on the West Coast. He plays frequently with Bill Blue and Barry Cuda, as well as with other Key West musicians.

One his favorite musicians and friends in Key West recently passed away after a long illness – fellow drummer Richard Crooks. Mick loved sitting in with Richard. When Richards health began to fail last year Mick and Barry Cuda invited Richard to sit in for a couple of songs at on his 72nd Birthday. It was a very special night with several hundred crowded into the Green Parrot. Crooks was clearly having difficulty getting on the small stage but once set and the first song began, he played effortlessly. After 5 songs, it looked like poor Mick was never going to get his seat back. It was one of the last public performances for his friend and mentor. Richard Crooks passed away in December 2014.

Mick Kilgos helped organize a celebration of Life for Richard Crooks that took place this past Sunday January 25. It started at the Hogsbreath Saloon with Bloody Mary’s. A 20 piece New Orleans style funeral band then marched down Duval Street with a second line of friends and family estimated at 300. The Celebration ended with 3 hours of great music at the Green Parrot. Many in attendance said this was the best day of music in Key West – ever. It’s hard to say that with certainty but one thing certain is Mick’s friend Richard would have loved it.

More photos of Mick and the Celebration of Life for Richard Crooks are available at my website: http://www.rwdepalma.com/richard_crooks

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