MICA: A music force on Marco

Submitted

JRobert, left, Frank Carroll, Janet Poole.

An upcoming event at the Marco Island Residents’ Beach has our membership abuzz! On March 8, an Island Celebration will begin at 5 p.m.

Some of our area’s finest musicians are joining forces as they have never before! This major musical production will include JRobert, Frank Carroll, Janet Poole, Steve Reynolds, Jamaica Dave Walker, and Tony Pastrana — all in one location, on one stage!

Everyone is familiar with JRobert and his proficiency on a vast array of musical instruments and especially his instrument of choice, the fiddle. But did you know that JRobert has toured the U.S. as an instrumentalist with various country bands and has opened concerts for Bonnie Raitt, Charlie Daniels, Jimmy Buffett, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and folk shows for John McEuen, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Vassar Clements and Billie Dean?

JRobert lives on Marco Island and enjoys his studio, Mangrove Music, where he has produced six different CD’s including “Steel Away,” “Blue Water Christmas,” and “Blue Water Cruise” all of which have Frank, Dave, Janet, and Tony performing on them.

“Jamaica Dave” Walker and his family are Fort Myers residents and originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica. Dave adds authentic Island Hop flavor to JRobert’s Floribbean sound with his collection of keyboards and synthesizers. Dave has also played with Frank Carroll at Quinn’s on the Beach, warm-up concert for “Bahama Boys” and often performs on Fort Myers Beach with the “Reggae All-Stars.”

Born in the Bahamas, part Irish and Arawak Indian, Frank Carroll is called the “Reggae Ambassador.” Frank grew up in New York, as a guitarist who wrote and played rock and blues. In August of 1969, he met the immortalized Jimi Hendrix at the infamous Woodstock Festival. Carroll has traveled to Europe with his music. Carroll was a rocker until he met Bob Marley, playing with him from 1972 to 1976.

Frank has been influenced by enormously talented rockers as well as reggae, blues and country music. Frank Carroll entertains at the Capri Fish House, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and Quinn’s on the Beach on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Native Floridian Janet Poole lives in Naples. Janet has won Miss Collier County, Miss Swamp Buggy and various talent contests and a couple national pageants in her youth and presently performs exclusively with JRobert at shows at Naples Grande Resort, Sanibel Harbor Resort, Bellasera Resort, Marco Island Marriott Resort, Marco Beach Hilton, Ritz Carlton at Key Biscayne and private functions. Janet can sing any type of song and make it sound fantastic!

Latin percussionist Tony Pastrana hails from New York City with Puerto Rican roots. Tony is known as “Tito Puente, Jr.” because Tito was his mentor and guide to performing with many national Latin bands. He has done three “Tito Puento Tribute Shows.” Tony has played with Donna Summers and Mary Wilson from the Supremes and with Bob Snyder on Marco and in Michigan. Tony lives in Bonita Springs and plays on weekends at the Ritz Carlton poolside as well as “The Lobby” every Saturday night.

Steve Reynolds is the “Voice of the Y” at Marco Island YMCA. Steve plays congas and percussion with Crazy Horse of Naples. They play 3rd Street and occasionally at the Marco Island Town Center. Steve is a long time radio personality and is the DJ on the Marco Island Princess.

The repertoire of songs that this amazing group of musicians will play on March 8 will knock your socks off! Be prepared to hear songs ranging from island to country to rock to Latin to reggae and beyond!

The Paradise Grill at Residents’ Beach is offering a special seafood dinner meal to go along with this extra special island celebration. They are bringing back one of last year’s favorites — the fried grouper basket. Included with the grouper are French fries and coleslaw at a cost of $10.50. If you’re not a grouper-type person, Paradise Grill will offer their regular menu as well. However, to give the Grill an idea of how much grouper will be needed, they ask that you pre-purchase the grouper dinner tickets. Be sure to purchase your food ticket prior to March 8 at either the Paradise Grill or the MICA office at 1770 San Marco Road in the Marco Community Bank Building.

If you’re not a Residents’ Beach member and would like to be, please call the MICA office at 239-642-7778.