Key West is known for a lot of things. My favorite is real estate and the great Key West homes for sale you have to choose from when I take you out. We are also known for out artists, authors and musicians. Today I want to talk about Key West's own Nick Norman. He just introduced his new album. Nick is a true Key West local musician. As a few of our local bands sing, "Jimmy Buffett doesn't live here anymore" and, quite frankly, we don't want him.
A full moon evanesced like a studio prop behind Nick Norman as he sat on stage at Hawks Cay Resort in late February. It was the second “Keys to the Country” concert for the resort, which highlighted country megastar Lee Brice, along with names like Rob Hatch, Rebecca Lynn Howard and Abby Anderson — all showcasing their musical deity beneath the canopy of a Keys-lit sky.
In the distance, cars passed over Toms Harbor Cut Bridge,
unaware of the star power collected on the bright stage — with performers and
songwriters responsible for more than a dozen No. 1 hits.
Yet for Nick Norman, the event evoked a rawness of emotion.
It was the culmination of his childhood friends — some, like Lee Brice, who hit
stardom in the music industry after cutting his teeth with Nick performing at
summer camps in their native South Carolina — and others, like Rob Hatch, who
has worked with every legend in the business and firmly believes Nick has what
it takes to take the next leap in his career. And it was a celebration, not
just for Nick’s new album scheduled to launch days later, but for his
perseverance — and the friends who still stood by his side.
Music is a family business for Nick Norman, whose daughter, TK, never has stage fright. RALPH DE PALMA/Soul of Key West
Much like the hordes of vehicle lights making their way
south on U.S 1 that evening, Norman’s path had led him 16 years earlier to Key
West, where he’s worked the music scene on every stage from small bars to
sold-out crowds at the Key West Coffee Butler Amphitheater. And on March 5, his
self-titled album, well over a year in waiting, launched across America —
hitting No. 5 in iTunes total album sales the day of the release. In fact, on
that day, Nick’s name appeared on that list between Chris Stapleton and Willie
Nelson, something many believe will become a common occurrence in the weeks to
come.
Come on down to Key West and check out some of our great
musicians we have like Nick Norman. Better yet, buy a home in Key West from me
and you can listen to all of our great musicians. But remember, Jimmy Buffett doesn't live in Key West anymore.
Gary
