‘Rockin’ In The Tropics’ concert, auction to benefit HOPE Clubhouse
While most fans of Jimmy Buffett’s may be looking forward to hearing some of the tropical tunes that made Florida’s legendary calypso-inspired crooner famous, others are planning to perhaps bring something home with them after attending next weekend’s “Rockin In the Tropics” fundraiser.
Two longtime members of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band — Michael Utley and Robert Greenidge of Club Trini — along with the Danny Morgan Band, will headline an outdoor concert at South Seas Island Resort on Saturday, May 14 from 1 to 5 p.m. Proceeds from the concert, including a silent auction, will benefit HOPE Clubhouse in Lee County.
“We have seven wonderful vacation getaway packages so far plus a $1,000 gift certificate for jewelry from Congress Jewelers,” said event chairs Andrea Prather of the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre and Joyce Miller of Punta Gorda, both of whom sit on the Hope Clubhouse Board of Directors. “Guests can sip margaritas while listening to the Trop Rock sounds of the original ‘Margaritaville’ and peruse some great auction finds. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than right here on the tip of Captiva Island amid the palm trees of South Seas Island Resort?”
Among the items to be auctioned at the event are:
• A four-night, five-day getaway in a hotel room or one-bedroom condo at South Seas Island Resort, including golf, golf cart and a cabana (valued at $2,400).
• A one-week getaway in a fully furnished five-bedroom home in Blue Ridge, Ga., (valued at $1,400).
• A one-week getaway in a three-bedroom log home on the New River in Todd, N.C.
• A one-week vacation in a two bedroom, two bath ocean view condo at the Ocean Club on Vero Beach, Fla.
• A one-week stay on Loggerhead Cay, on Sanibel Island.
• Two nights and three days at the Captiva Inn, with a $100 dinner gift certificate.
• A weekend stay (two nights and three days) at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa on Fort Myers Beach.
• A $1,000 gift certificate from Congress Jewelers.
“More auction items are being contributed every day, so we’re expecting to have something that will appeal to everyone,” Prather and Miller said.
Club Trini, led by musicians Utley and Greenidge, will be playing their signature Caribbean-rock music that helped make Buffett a household name among his fans, affectionately called “Parrotheads.” Among Buffett’s best known songs are “Margaritaville,” Cheeseburger In Paradise” and “Come Monday,” among many others.
A native of Arkansas, Utley is heavily influenced by the sounds of Memphis soul and New Orleans rhythm and blues. An accomplished keyboardist, producer and composer, he has produced multiple albums for Buffett.
Greenidge, a percussionist regarded as one of the best steel drum players in the world, grew up on the island of Trinidad. He is the longtime musical director of the legendary steel band, “The Desperadoes.”
Other members of the band Club Trini include Ralph MacDonald (percussion), Roger Guth (drums), Nadirah Shakoor (vocals), John Lovell (trumpet and percussion), Tina Gullickson (vocals), Peter Mayer (guitar and vocals) and Jim Mayer (bass guitar and vocals).
Sanibel residents Harry Silverglide, John and Mary Jo Boler and South Seas Island Resort are the major sponsors of “Rockin’ In The Tropics,” which will benefit HOPE Clubhouse of Southwest Florida, a new non-profit organization that helps people living with mental illness.
One of more than 350 clubhouse programs worldwide, based on the principle that meaningful work is critical in bringing positive change to the lives of those living with mental illness, HOPE Clubhouse’s staff help “members,” as they are called, develop work skills to enable them to obtain employment in the community. It opened its doors in March 2010 and currently has 41 members.
Tickets, priced at $50 per person (which includes one margarita), are currently on sale at Bank of the Islands, located at 1699 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel (472-7211), or at the HOPE Clubhouse, located at 3602 Broadway in Fort Myers (239-267-1777). No coolers or outside beverages will be allowed. Food and beverages will be available for sale at the concert. Parking is $10 per vehicle.
For additional information about “Rockin’ In The Tropics” or HOPE Clubhouse, call 239-267-1777 or visit www.hopeclubhouse.org.