It is said that the best part of Florida isn’t at Disney or SeaWorld but in the small places like the front porch of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings house, the view from the Lighthouse as it keeps watch onto the bay in St Augustine. Of course you can’t overlook the amazing view when you se the Everglades for the first time, that is true Florida.

Years ago, amongst the many restaurants and bar gigs I was doing at the time I happen to make my way up to the Will McLean Festival at the Florida Sands Music Ranch outside of Dade City, I made an amazing discovery as I found myself listening to the “Old Timers” sing songs and tell stories of the real Florida, the “Old Florida”. Times have changed and some of the faces have faded but the stories and the songs are still there. I have yearly to renew my passion and to learn and write more songs and listen to stories of this “Land of Flowers”!

Bertha Honore Palmer

“Pistol Pete” Edge

Harriet Bedell

Dynamite Johnny O’Brian

Cracker Cowboys

Oceola

Francis Knight and Charles Curry with children