Performer Bios

Ericson Holt

Ericson Holt

Conch Town Music label recording artist, Ericson Holt, is the 3rd son of a heralded
western novelist, A.H. Holt(“Silver Creek”, “Kendrick”). Holt is a uniquely talented piano player and vocalist, and an insightful songwriter, as well.

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Big Daddy Rich

Big Daddy Rich

From NY to Key West, East Coast to West no one leaves a Big Daddy Rich show without smiles on their faces and wanting more.

Big Daddy Rich has been a professional musician his entire life.

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Jonathan Williams

Jonathan Williams

Jonathan Williams, a Philadelphia native, has been a professional musician for almost 15 years. Along the way, he found himself in nearly every musical scenario imaginable…

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Drew Gunning

Drew Gunning

I was born and raised in Columbia, SC for 18 years before moving to Orlando where I studied at Full Sail University, graduating with a bachelor’s in recording arts. Shortly after school, my cousin and local musician, Tim Hollohan, invited me down to Key West to play drums with him

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The Shanty Hounds

The Shanty Hounds

The Shanty Hounds are an acoustic duo from Key West, Florida. Composed of two singer songwriters, Dani Hoy and Key West Chris, The Shanty Hounds can be seen and heard several times a week in Key West, the lower Keys and beyond. A “dynamic duo,”

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James T. Slater

James T. Slater

JAMES T. SLATER…BMG Music Publishing…Singer/Songwriter…

James Slater is a two time, grammy nominated, piano-playing, bilingual singer-songwriter of Bolivian American descent . …

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Bobby Enloe

Bobby Enloe

My name is Bobby Enloe. I was born in 1967 in Wilmington, Delaware. I grew up listening to my neighbors band practice in their basement, I knew I wanted to play guitar.

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RB Tolar

RB Tolar

Arriving in Key West in 1980, RB Tolar has performed with and for some of the finest entertainers on the planet.

From Eric Clapton to George Harrison…

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Alfonse

Alfonse

Alfonse originally hailing from the Jersey Shore, has called Key West home since a weekend visit in the Fall of ‘99. As he often mentions during his gigs, “It’s been a hell of a weekend”!

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Kim Jade Fry

Kim Jade Fry

I have been playing bass and singing professionally for most of my adult life. Started out in Florida in the Rock Club Circuit, then moved to L.A. to play in an Original rock band, played all the Sunset Strip clubs, etc…

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Andrew Gordon

Andrew Gordon

I was born and raised here in key west in 1994. My father was a chef at the rooftop cafe and my mother was a very prominent jazz singer.

Throughout the years  ….

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Myles Mancuso

Myles Mancuso

Myles Mancuso is a multi-instrumentalist who spreads his musical talents across Guitar, Keyboards, Drums and Bass, most commonly fronting “The Myles Mancuso Band”, where he sings and plays the Guitar and Keyboards.

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Joel Nelson

Joel Nelson

I started playing music in Virginia in a garage band when I was in the seventh grade. My first solo gigs were in Virginia Beach in the early 70s. …

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Big Daddy Rich

From NY to Key West, East Coast to West no one leaves a Big Daddy Rich show without smiles on their faces and wanting more.

Big Daddy Rich has been a professional musician his entire life. Starting in his early teens playing drums in many high-profile musical outfits in western N.Y.

He quickly moved onto playing guitar, bass, piano and many other instruments. Rich also owned one of the greatest independent music stores in the U.S. that has taught
musicians who make their home and careers in Nashville, Boston, N.Y. and Key West.

Music is his life and he would love to share it with you

Ericson Holt

Conch Town Music label recording artist, Ericson Holt, is the 3rd son of heralded western novelist, A.H. Holt(“Silver Creek”, “Kendrick”). Holt is a uniquely talented piano player and vocalist, and an insightful songwriter, as well. Well traveled as solo artist and bandleader, he has also been a celebrated Nashville based sideman.

Playing and/or recording with The Mavericks, Mike Farris, Allison Moorer, Jim Lauderdale, Delbert McClinton and many others. Appearing everywhere from Bonnaroo and The Tonight Show to The Royal Albert Hall and Red Rocks.

He has even been fortunate enough to play a few tunes with greats like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Dave Mathews, Gary U.S. Bonds, and Rodney Crowell, to name a few … His latest recording, the 10 song collection, “99 Degrees”, released in August 2021, includes his joyful ode to New Orleans, “Walkin’ On Bourbon Street, the rocker, “Walkin’ In Our Sleep”, and the rousing, gospel soul influenced title track. 3 full production videos featuring New Orleans, The Florida Keys and Nashville have been released for the album, so far …

Ericson is well known for his story telling, and playful, high energy shows. He’s the real deal and you don’t want to miss him at Two Friends!

Drew Gunning

I was born and raised in Columbia, SC for 18 years before moving to Orlando where I studied at Full Sail Univeristy, graduating with a bachelor’s in recording arts. Shortly after school, my cousin and local musician, Tim Hollohan, invited me down to Key West to play drums with him just for a week. When I arrived, we realized we had a great chemistry with me along side of him on guitar instead and we quickly started performing several times a week together. I was also recruited to operate a high quality recording studio out of the newly renovated Key West Theater shortly after arriving here and have since recorded many tracks and albums of various Key West Musicians.

James T. Slater

BMG Music Publishing…Singer/Songwriter…

James Slater is a two time, grammy nominated, piano-playing, bilingual singer-songwriter of Bolivian American descent signed to BMG Music Publishing in Nashville, Tennessee. Born in Durham, North Carolina, and raised in the tropics of the Panama Canal Zone in Central America.

Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Enrique Iglesias, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Kenny Chesney, Kelly Pickler, Alabama, Reba McEntire, Gloriana, Martina McBride, Chris Brown, Chris Young and a host of others have all recorded his songs. His Grammy nominations include Jamey Johnson’s “The High Cost of Living”, country song of the year, and Martina’s “In My Daughter’s Eyes”, which has become a modern day standard.

James lived in Zurich Switzerland for six years touring, recording and writing with Belgian super group Vaya Con Dios and has traveled the world from Panama to Dublin, from Spain to Havana.

James’ “Key West Address” is a love letter to the island, so much so that the mayor of Key West has awarded James the “keys to the city” and proclaimed the song “Key West Address” the island’s official theme.

James’ latest release is “Mexicoma”, which is available on Spotify and I Tunes….featuring 15 new songs including the raucous Mexicoma which Tim McGraw recorded.

Jonathan Williams

Jonathan Williams, a Philadelphia native, has been a professional musician for almost 15 years. Along the way, he found himself in nearly every musical scenario imaginable…as a supporting musician with a blues band, performing for-hire work for TV and film, engineering a recording session, playing some relaxing music by a hotel pool, or even knocking out classic rock covers in a neighborhood dive bar. All of these experiences define his approach to performing: thoughtful song selections that cover over 50 years of music’s biggest hit songs, mixed with an attention to sonic detail and presentation borrowed from his music production background.

Jonathan currently resides in Key West, Florida; entertaining people from all over the world in some of the finest establishments on the island. He also regularly performs at weddings and private events of all kinds in the Florida Keys and South Florida’s mainland.

The Shanty Hounds

“The Shanty Hounds are an acoustic duo from Key West, Florida. Composed of two singer-songwriters, Dani Hoy and Key West Chris The

Shanty Hounds can be seen and heard several times a week in Key West, the lower Keys and beyond. A “dynamic duo,” The Shanty Hounds play a unique blend of covers and original music mixed with entertaining flair and humor.

The Hounds do a generational mix of Americana favorites,
rock, classic rock, country, Western swing and folk music from a variety of artists as well as their own original music. Delivered with musical artistry that comes from years of playing together, fun is their central
theme and the reason their fanbase is quickly
growing. “

Bobby Enloe

My name is Bobby Enloe. I was born in 1967 in Wilmington, Delaware. I grew up listening to my neighbors band practice in their basement, I knew I wanted to play guitar.

I was nine years old when my mom and dad bought me my first guitar and amp. I graduated high school in ‘85 with long hair and a love for heavy metal music. Today my hair is shorter and the tunes are quieter, but the love for music is the same.

I’m thankful to have lived the last decade of my life in Key West, having the pleasure of playing at Two Friends Patio for many of those years.

Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to play you some music sometime soon.

RB Tolar

Arriving in Key West in 1980, RB Tolar has performed with and for some of the finest entertainers on the planet.

From Eric Clapton to George Harisson to Paul McCartney just to name a few. He is a master virtuoso on guitar and plays 6 other instruments as well as piano along with songwriting with Shel Silverstein to name a few. 

RB is also a Gibson brand-sponsored guitarist since 1996 and has led his won orchestra on carnival cruise lines for almost two years.

RB enjoys recording and is now nominated for two Grammy Awards 2022, Latin Rock and Classis Rock for his guitar instrumentals. You can find him in his off time recording in his home studio and fishing. 

RB is currently mentored by Russ Titelman, producer for Warner Brothers and an independent.

He resides in Key West and loves the island and its people. RB also performed on the Sirius XM Radio project where he played all of 2500 songs and recordings by Elvis Presley, 30 movies and documentaries, performing with Elvis Presley band and many other notable musicians.

Alfonse

Alfonse originally hailing from the Jersey Shore, has called Key West home since a weekend visit in the Fall of ‘99. As he
often mentions during his gigs, “It’s been a hell of a weekend”!

The next fifteen years (‘99-2014) would find Al playing “Sunset @ The Top” La Concha Hotel … these years also giving him an opportunity to play with most of the Islands musical family!

As lead guitarist with Jersey’s “Party Dolls Band”, (‘88-‘99), Al played hundreds of venues in the tri-state area and beyond..

Visitors will often come in to Two Friends, look up at the stage, and say..”Hey, I know that guy”!

Kim Jade Fry

I have been playing bass and singing professionally for most of my adult life. Started out in Florida in the Rock Club Circuit, then moved to L.A. to play in an Original rock band, played all the Sunset Strip clubs, etc…Moved back to Florida and enrolled in Music School in Miami. Spent a total of 5 years in Miami Dade Community College and the University of Miami studying bass and voice.

During this time, I was gigging a lot with local blues/jazz artists until forming my own blues/rock band , Kim Jade and The Coalition, that was working regularly. Soon after, I formed another band, Night and Day, which covered anything from sambas to down n dirty blues.

After moving to NYC to peruse my career as an artist, worked with producer/guitarist Nunzio Signore and many other incredible musicians and released my first album. During my time in NYC, I performed with my
band in many venues, The Bitter End, The Red Lion, Piano’s, etc…

Then I decided to give L.A. at try; lived in the Los Angeles area for 3 years, perfomed with several original artists as a side-man and worked in few 80’s tribute band.

In 2008, I moved to Washington DC, fortunately, it turned out to be a great city for me to renew my love of Blues and Funk. I quickly became immersed in the music scene in D.C. and have been playing regularly in
several bands. The most prominent being the “Heir of the Dog” which was performing regularly in Washington DC, often times at Madam’s Organ Blues Bar.

Currently, I am playing, singing and writing with a new band called “The Good Thing”.

Andrew Gordon

I was born and raised here in key west in 1994. My father was a chef at the rooftop cafe and my mother was a very prominent jazz
singer.

Throughout the years I’ve been a musician and have played for the band where I started off with the trumpet. As years professed I picked up the guitar and never looked back.

Myles Mancuso

Myles Mancuso is a multi-instrumentalist who spreads his musical talents across Guitar, Keyboards, Drums and Bass, most commonly fronting “The Myles Mancuso Band”, where he sings and plays the Guitar and Keyboards. Myles has composed, performed, produced, and engineered all of the original tracks on his first four albums. His original style of music is a blend of Roots Americana and R&B.

After graduating high school and attending college studying musical performance at the Purchase Conservatory for Music in NY, he relocated to the Florida Keys where he performed up and down the FL Keys for a year and a half. He then relocated to Nashville where he spent almost 2 years gigging almost nightly on Broadway, at Clubs like “The Stage”, Gavin DeGraw’s “Nashville Underground” along with other top venues on the Historic Music Row, Broadway Strip. Myles also helped various local Nashville artists write and record tracks at a number of studios around Music City, his musical abilities allowed him to play Bass, Drums and Keyboards for various up-and-coming artists in Nashville.

Nashville made a strong Impression on him and he wanted to capture the sounds of Music City on his latest CD of strictly Country/Americana Tracks. All the songs were written, and all instruments performed by Myles on this new CD; it covers everything from Outlaw to Opry, Traditional to New Country Sounds and is set for release in 2018.

Now twenty-two, Myles has been fronting his own band, performing professionally for audiences since the age of nine. Due to his talent and experience at such a young age, Myles was headlining many of Manhattan‘s Top venues before he graduated High School. He was recognized in 2010 by TrueFire as one of the Top 10 Guitar Prodigies in the World. He’s frequently performed on some of the top stages in New York City, such as BB Kings Club, The Brooklyn Bowl, The Cutting Room, The Iridium Jazz Club, The Village Underground, Rockwood Music Hall, Café Wha, The Bitter End and others.

Over the course of his career, Myles has also played at popular Festivals such as the Warren Haynes’ Mountain Jam Festival, the Sarasota Blues Festival, Gathering of the Vibes, The New York State Blues Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, and the Bethel Woods Blues Festival.

 

Along with performing on well-known stages, Myles’ Band has opened for a variety of national artists, such as The Allman Brothers, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Les Paul, Levon Helm and others.

Some other notable moments in Myles’ music career; In 2012 The Myles Mancuso Story was nominated for an Emmy in the Entertainment: Program Feature/Segment category. In 2010 Myles won an award from Boston’s Berklee College of Music for a jazz piano performance with “The Jazz Machine” (two-time national champions of the annual High School Jazz Band Competition at the Berklee College of Music).

Sid Bernstein, who is best known as the promoter who brought Beatles to America, said in an interview while promoting a show that featured Myles in NYC, “Myles is a bona fide prodigy that will thrill and captivate an audience.” Les Paul stated, “He reminds me of myself when I was a young boy.” Levon Helm, Grammy winner and legendary drummer of The Band said, “He may be a boy, but he sure plays like a man.” An audience member summed up best what many people feel after hearing Myles play, “It’s like seeing a musical legend in the making”. This is a can’t miss show!

Joel Nelson

I started playing music in Virginia in a garage band when I was in the seventh grade. My first solo gigs were in Virginia Beach in the early 70s.

Having visited Key West in 1978 and seeing the music scene and weather, I moved here in 1980 for the winter. I have always considered myself a singer first and guitar player second as an accompaniment.

I have written songs along the way when inspiration hit. I moved to Key West for good in 1982 in and have enjoyed a great career making music in the bars and I restaurants. I’ve been fortunate to raise a family in Key West and continue working for all this time.

I will continue to play and sing as long as they will let me I suppose.