John Bartus: Bio
John Bartus - Songwriter, Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
John Bartus was the Mayor of an island town in the Florida Keys (Marathon). He is or has been, at one time or another, part owner of a newspaper group, radio talk show host, partner in retail shops, record producer, city councilman, recording studio owner, voiceover talent, advertising consultant, and -- no lie -- prop man for a circus.
But what John Bartus is best known for is being one of the premier singer/songwriters in the islands Jimmy Buffett once called home. And after over a quarter-century of entertaining audiences, John is far from putting the guitar down. As he put it in a recent interview, "Long after all my other careers are through, I'll still be playing music somewhere." And even with all the other careers, John still performs approximately 200 shows each year. From opening for artists like Rick Derringer and 38 Special to headlining the Florida Keys' best St. Patrick's and Independence Day parties, John leaves even the locals wanting a bit more of the islands he calls home.
It's not just Calypso pans and reggae riddims (although you will hear the occasional steel drum in a Bartus song). Florida Keys island music is as much rock and country as Caribbean. "What people think of as 'island music' isn't exactly 'Keys music,'" Bartus says. Listening to songs John has written in the Keys and about the Keys over the last 20 years drives that point home.
As diverse as his interests outside of music have been, so too are his musical paths. There are the Taylor-, Chapin-, and Lightfoot-influenced solo acoustic guitar performances. There's the Fogelberg- and McCartney-like studio perfectionist. There's the Billy-and-Elton-influenced piano balladeer. And there's the electric band leader/lead guitarist, equal parts Neil Young, Dave Gilmour, and Mark Knopfler.
John's two recent CD releases highlight this diversity. On the 2002 Keys Disease CD, Bartus the studio rat showed just what can be done by one person in a recording studio -- "The old-fashioned way, by really playing all the parts," Bartus is quick to point out.
And John's new Live From The Florida Keys CD showcases his solo acoustic guitar and piano work in a live Florida Keys club setting. "It's as raw as the nights they were recorded, warts and all," John says. "This CD wasn't 'fixed' in the studio after the fact."
John Bartus got off the road in the Florida Keys back in the mid-1980s, just after releasing his first album with then-partner Sallie Foster. "For four years, I left home and traveled to where the people were," Bartus says with a smile. "For the past twenty, I've let them leave home and come to me. It's better for all of us that way!"
Even though John Bartus has been content in the islands for two decades, it doesn't mean that he's lost the desire to hit the road now and again. "There's something about playing to new people in new places that keeps things fresh." So don't be surprised to see John singing his own brand of Florida Keys music in places a bit further removed from those islands he calls home.
Glenn Faast - Drums, Vocals
The Actuals. Savage Henry. The Dead Parrot Society. Dave Feder & the Saltwater Blues Band. The Florida Straits Band. Jimmy Hawkins & the Cyclones. The Conch Republic Band. The Freddie Bye Band. The Fantasy Band. It's almost easier to list the Keys groups Glenn Faast hasn't performed with.
Originally hailing from Connecticut, Glenn arrived in the Keys in 1986. Strangely enough, he had put the sticks down for several years, taking on other challenges such as becoming a world champion jet ski racer. The allure of music proved too strong, however, and Glenn found himself seated behind the drums once more with Freddie Bye at the Brass Monkey.
Glenn's percussive influences include John Bonham, Neil Peart, Keith Moon, Stan Lynch, Charlie Watts, and Ringo Starr. He also cites guitarists Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Bob Marley as major influences as well.
When not rhythmically occupied, Glenn enjoys tennis, softball, volleyball, and the occasional trip to the mountains to test his skills on downhill runs and white powder snow.
Marc Davis - Keyboards and Vocals
Combine a talented rock/jazz/blues/gospel keyboardist with a soulful singer/songwriter and a dedicated music educator, and you’ll get someone a whole lot like Marc Davis. Throughout the 30+ years that Marc has been making music, he’s literally done just about everything: rock bands, solo gigs, jazz clubs, gospel, session work, musical theater, band director, and teacher. His list of influences is as comprehensive as they come: Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven all the way up to Leon Russell, Toto, Steely Dan, Jimmy Smith, Andrae Crouch, and Three Dog Night. He’s performed with jazz sax man Phil Woods, Barry White’s band, and singer Andy Williams. In years past, Marc’s bands have opened for acts like Men at Work and Willie Nelson. In the Keys, Marc has performed thousands of solo gigs, as well as with the Conch Republic Band and the Florida Straits Band, and first hooking up with John and Glenn in the Fantasy Band. His two degrees, Music and Education, have served him well as he’s taught at Marathon High School and the Big Pine Key Neighborhood Charter School. Marc also founded the JAM program for local youth through the Community Methodist Church (where he’s also the music director), and has served as musical director for productions by the Marathon Community Theater and Marathon High School.
Christian Davis - Bass, Guitar
Although most of his repertoire is a good bit older than he is, Christian Davis’ youth has not been a limiting factor in his musical development. Although he’s only been playing guitar since 2002, his abilities have grown in exponential leaps and bounds, and Christian will one day be a major talent in this industry. After only playing a couple of years, Christian began studying with Kynch O’Kaine from the University of Miami. Although the central focus was jazz, Christian has continued to explore various genres of music. His list of favorite axemen shows his stylistic range: Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix, Brad Paisley, Eric Johnson, Greg Howe, and Trey Anastasio. Having picked up the bass for the Storm Watch gig, Christian’s technique, ear, and understanding of arranging have him holding down the bottom like a seasoned pro. When not performing with Storm Watch, Christian performs with other ensembles as he furthers his musical education.