For me and a lot of my pals, the best band to come out of our area in the ‘80s was The Silver King Band. A trio of talented characters – St. Petey Twig on barrelhouse piano, Flo Mingo on washboard, and Rock Bottom on harmonica. They were an R&B show. They were a vaudeville show. They were outrageous and hilarious. And the musicianship was always first-rate.
The guy who was St. Petey Twig, then Barry Cuda, and who was born Kent Smith, graduated from Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckerd College) where he met Angela Altieri, AKA Flo Mingo. He was mentored on piano by the great Knocky Parker, a USF professor who had played piano with Bob Wills and others.
Silver Kings in action
Twig formed the Silver Kings, at first an amazing duo with Flo Mingo, then an over the top trio with Rock Bottom. They were beloved here in Tampa Bay and also across Europe, especially Scandanavia, where they appeared in a never-to-forgotten TV show. Barry sent me a clip of that show, which really captures the fun of the Silver Kings. To see that video from 1983 in Denmark, just follow this link. It’s great and does contain some “adult” material.
The band mixed a lot of styles into a very original show. Barry has continued to make music that way mixing New Orleans, Creole, Caribbean and other influences.
“I’m not going to call myself a gender-jumper anymore,” Barry said. “I’m a gender-bridger!”
All good things pass and The Silver Kings split in 1985 as the touring caused rifts among the trio. Flo stayed in Europe, married and started a family. Rock returned to Tanpa Bay and was a major force in blues music here – and continued to tour. Twig changed his name to Barry Cuda and moved to Key West, where he became the house pianist at Sloppy Joe’s, the landmark bar.
Both Rock and Flo died much too young. Barry however, is going strong – 10,000 Key West gigs later. He has done well, owning houses in the Keys and in France and raising a daughter. But hasn’t played much in Tampa Bay.
“If you move to Key West, you are putting your career on cement blocks,” Barry joked. “I tell people if you want to hear me, come to Key West.”
I did it repeatedly, as a reporter traveling Florida I found lots of reasons to visit Key West and see Barry. Most recently, my wife and I spend a long weekend with him down there enjoying his new Kawai grand and his gourmet cooking. The house, which he designed to withstand the elements, did survive the big blow a few years ago.
Barry’s performances have the “anything goes” vibe that made the Silver Kings so beloved. He’s been here a few times in recent years and he’s back with a new compatriot, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz. I can’t think of a better combination of free-spirited, smart and outrageous entertainers than this pair. When he gets his mouth and his fingers going, nobody is funnier and more entertaining than Rev. Billy.
They paired up on the last Blues Cruise and found out that two is even better than one. So they are bringing that duet show to the Side Door on Friday, Sept. 27. In a nod to a famous two-piano duo from the ’60s they are calling the show “Ferrari & Thai Stick.” I’ll let you make the connection.
Don’t miss Rev. Billy and Barry Cuda together at last!
For tickets and information you can call our box office at 727-822-3590 or follow this link for on-line tickets.
Leave a Reply