Fifth Annual Crooks Second Line Set to Party and March Down Duval Street

On Sunday, January 26th, the Bahama Village Music Program presenst the fifth annual Crooks Second Line party and procession, set to celebrate the lives of musicians, community leaders, and friends loved and lost with a three-tiered event that begins with a Hog’s Breath Saloon parking lot party at noon, a parade down Duval led by Grand Marshal Bill Blue at 2:00pm, and a Jazz Jam tribute at The Green Parrot from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.

The Hog’s Breath Saloon party at noon will be emceed by Bahama Village Music Program Board President Larry Baeder, featuring music, a Bloody Mary bar sponsored by Bombora Vodka and Hog’s Breath, a raffle, and parade paraphernalia merchandise for sale. Photo placards for donor participants will be available for pick up and a group photo is set for 1:15pm.

Grand Marshall Bill Blue, Funeral Band leader Skipper Krippitz, and some of the island’s best musicians will rally the Second Line for a 2:00pm parade down Duval Street, arriving at the Green Parrot at approximately 3:00pm. Musician TK will read the names of this year’s honorees during a performance by the Bahama Village Music Program Joyful Voices Choir.  This moving tribute is not to be missed, and the Jazz Jam led by the incomparable Bill Blue follows until 6pm.

Processional participants can have an 18″x24″ photo placard of a loved one made up to carry in the parade and a photo and a bio posted to the Crooks Second Line website (CrooksSecondLineKW.com) for a $100 donation to Bahama Village Music Program, the community’s free music education program now celebrating its twentieth year. Past participants are welcome to bring their placards of loved ones and join in the parade.  Marching in the parade is free and open to all.

The original procession and party honored world-class drummer Richard Crooks, who was sent off in style with a traditional New Orleans second line procession attended by hundreds of family, friends, and fans. The parade and fundraiser is Richard Crooks’ legacy to the Key West community; placard proceeds support the Richard Crooks’ scholarship fund, the Wayne Hammond scholarship fund, and the Nancy R. Robinson scholarship fund, which send two Bahama Village Music Program students to the prestigious Berklee College of Music’s 5-week Summer Performance program.  For more information or to make a donation, call 305.504.7664 or email [email protected].  Celebrating 20 years of free music education. It takes a village.

Caroline Cotton holds up a placard of the late, great arts-champion Connie Gilbert during a previous Crooks Annual Second Line celebration, an annual party and procession to celebrate the lives of musicians, community leaders, and friends loved and lost and a fundraiser for the Bahama Village Music Program. This year’s event takes place on Sunday, January 26th with a Hog’s Breath Saloon parking lot party at noon, parades down Duval at 2:00pm, and a Jazz Jam tribute at The Green Parrot from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.  For more information or to make a donation, call 305.504.7664 or email [email protected]. Photo by Ralph DePalma.

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