by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
Ten years ago, I retired from any further judging activities. However, I make one exception every year–Whitey’s Fish Camp’s Annual Lighted Boat Parade. Last year, it was viciously cold on that dock and I emerged as a frozen geezer-cicle. This year, I bundled up with serious cold weather gear and I was as warm as toast until the cold ate through my pants and my butt got frozen.
Thirty boats of all sizes entered the contest with some truly creative lighting. Joining me on that icy dock were Eve Szymanski of the Clay County Chamber and Tourism Council, Dave Brennan of Folio Weekly, and Rita Dissow of Clay Today. The winner of the lighted boat parade won an all expense paid trip for two to Trenton, New Jersey–no way Jose–it’s really the Bahamas. Trenton is nice if you like smokestacks and air you can taste.
The guy dressed as Santa with the live band on board was back this year, but he won last year, so I scored him low. A boat with the skyline of Jacksonville in lights was impressive. But the boat with the computer synced music and lights got my highest vote. The lights changed and fireworks were blasted off at key points in the music. It was a floating rock show.
For this fourth annual event, the crowd was the biggest ever with satellite parking across the bridge. A shuttle brought people back to Whitey’s. Hundreds of people lined up on the bridge to view the spectacle. All the docks across the river were decorated with lights. Whitey’s was packed with an overflow crowd, with many families and kids galore. Yes, this had become a major event for the Fleming Island region. Who knew that Whitey’s would emerge as the epicenter of Christmas spirit for all of Clay County?
After enjoying dinner, I hung around until the band played. For this year’s hoopla, Str8-Up was the featured live entertainment. This six piece funkadelic soul band has gone through some personnel changes since the last time I covered their act at Brewster. The most significant artist to join the group is Myrna Lynn Stallworth–a statuesque powerhouse who can belt out the Motown catalogue with a quality voice that cuts through the mix.
Myrna’s strong, emotionally charged voice and magnetic stage persona gives the band a memorable identity. Born in Jacksonville, Myrna gravitated to music at an early age. Her childhood was spent singing gospel music. It wasn’t until the age of 33 that Myrna felt the desire to pursue a secular musical career. Myrna is a gifted singer, songwriter, arranger, and performer. She is a tower of power at 6’2”. This gal is the real deal.
My main man, Excel Lewis, drives the band on drums. Lewis came to Jax two years ago and is experienced playing in many ensembles and many different genres, including funk, jazz, and rock bands over the years. He’s a solid player who anchors the band’s killer grooves. Lewis was instrumental in starting Str8-Up in Jacksonville.
Jim Wallace plays all single and double reed instruments. A Berkeley School of Music scholarship recipient, Jim’s instrument of choice is the tenor saxophone. Jim is also versatile and very experienced, having played in innumerable ensembles. He likes R&B and funk and his trademark sound is mixing jazz-oriented background into the elements of Str8-Up’s soul-based rhythms.
Bassist Jeffrey Abraham is from Augusta, Georgia and has been playing bass since the age of fourteen. He’s played in many memorable ensembles including gospel groups. After his Navy career Jeff returned to his musical roots, playing in bands and studying bass.
Julius Walker, on guitar, was born in Mississippi and raised in St. Louis, which gave him a varied musical background. His blues roots have served him well. Julius brings years of experience to the table for this funk-soul band and that experience shows in his comping and inventive lead playing.
Also on guitar is John Parker-Urban who is another guitar burner who brings his diverse background to the Str8-Up lineup. John is one of those guitarists who can play any style, soaking up his many influences and creating an original technique. John loves playing with Str8-Up because of the infectious grooves that set up his blistering solos.
So it was a dynamite event at Whitey’s with the dazzling lighted boat parade, the great food, and Str8-Up grooving on the bandstand. Man, this was a hip happening of the highest order.
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