Refusing to let the party fade

Hey there, fellow Trop Rocker,

With Florida celebrating Jimmy Buffett’s legacy this week, it’s hard not to look back and smile at the massive impact his music has made on all of us.

Reflecting on his influence always reminds me of just how powerful this community is, and it brings me back to the exact moment my own Trop Rock journey unexpectedly began.

It actually started with a brutal winter blues diagnosis...

From the Steel City to the Space Coast of Florida: How a winter beach party changed everything 🏖️

In January 1994, I was dealing with a severe case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) during a freezing winter in Pittsburgh, PA.

Drained of energy and my passion for music, I decided to pitch a "winter beach party" to a local venue where I regularly performed, learning songs by Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, and UB40 for the event.

The owners agreed and advertised it as a "Parrot Head Party" for January 28, 1994 (see the attached ad).

It turned out to be the biggest night in the venue's 50-year history, not only rejuvenating my spirit but permanently shifting my musical direction and launching my career as a Trop Rocker.

By that spring, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette even named me "Pittsburgh’s Jimmy Buffett" (see the attached newspaper clip).

"Keep the Party Going!"

At its heart, Trop Rock is all about escaping the gravity of life and finding a little collective joy. That doesn't happen without the dedicated fans, house concert hosts, festival organizers, and radio DJs who champion independent songwriters like me. 

Thank you for anchoring this genre and keeping our shared musical paradise alive. 

Refusing to let the party fade,

John McDonald