Another sign that season is here: Gary Key is back making music on St. Thomas, although only for a month.
The versatile vocalist/guitarist who lived on St. Thomas for a year before Hurricane Marilyn drove him away kicked off his tour Friday night at Polli's Mexican Restaurant to an audience that applauded, whistled and hooted happily after almost every song — from "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" to "Brandy" to "Heartbreak Hotel."
With a voice that ranges from raspy to velvet-soft, Key's track record playing locally for "a month or so" over the last four years served him well in terms of current bookings. He's on island through Dec. 5, and busy five nights a week right to the end, on the following schedule:
Latitude 18 in Vessup Bay — Wednesdays and Saturdays, except Dec. 4, plus Sunday, Dec. 5, the finale that will also be a birthday bash for his wife, Cheryl.
Polli's in Tillett Gardens — Fridays.
The Bar at Paradise Point at the top of the tramway — Sundays.
Shipwreck in Al Cohen's Mall in Havensight — Tuesdays, plus Saturday, Dec. 4.
"If you love James Taylor, Neil Young, CSYN and all the favorites," Key says, you'll like what he has to offer. His repertoire goes 'way beyond that, and he welcomes requests.
For his last two weeks on island, starting with Polli's on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, when the Arts Alive Arts Festival is going on in Tillett Gardens, Key will be joined by bass player Sam Osborne. He and Osborne, who lives in Tampa, "played together for years in Florida," Key says.
The Keys reside in Winter Park, Colo., now. But on St. Thomas, the singer says, "Latitude 18 is still home to me."
