Tropical rock is a genre of popular music that incorporates elements and influences of rock, reggae, country, folk, calypso, zydeco, and pop music, with themes and musical compositions inspired by an island style. Although today tropical rock is usually associated with southern Florida and the Gulf Coast of the United States, trop rock has its roots in calypso, rock, and country by artists such as Jerry Jeff Walker. The origins of the genre may be related to the musical sound of Jimmy Buffett and his folk singing style. Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band helped create a tropical sub-culture beginning in the early to mid-1980s, along with other artists including Bertie Higgins. Mainstream artists like Jack Johnson, Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson and Kenny Chesney also have songs in the trop rock genre. Other popular trop rock artists include Don Middlebrook, the Boat Drunks, Conch Republic, Dr. J, Howard Livingston, James "Sunny Jim" White, Jimmy & the Parrots, Jerry Diaz, Kelly McGuire, Renn Loren, Latitude, Tropical Soul, Barefoot Reggie Starrett, Dave McKenney, Cory Young, Danny Rosado and Donny Brewer, The Flip Flop Man, Eric Stone, The Sons of a Beach, Louie Liguori, The Detentions and Jesse Rice.
Description
Instrumentation is usually based around an acoustic guitar, and often includes steel drums, congas, marimbas, vibraphones, steel guitars, or other percussion instruments to create an "island sound". While country and other musical styles focus on falling in love/falling out of love themes, Trop Rock's main focus is on "escapism"—a laid back lifestyle, tropical places, boating, simplifying and having fun. Jimmy Buffett is often referred to as the "Pop of Trop Rock". Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band helped create a tropical sub-culture beginning in the early to mid-1980s, along with other artists including Bertie Higgins, Jerry Diaz, Barefoot Reggie Starrett, Eric Stone. Mainstream artists Jack Johnson, Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson and Kenny Chesney have songs in the trop rock genre, also. Other popular Trop Rock artists include Brent Burns, Rick Steffen, Johnny Russler & the Beach Bum Band,, the Boat Drunks, Conch Republic, Fins, Howard Livingston, James "Sunny Jim" White, Eric Stone, Barefoot Reggie Starrett, Jimmy & the Parrots, Kelly McGuire, Latitude, and Tropical Soul. Around 2017 a number of female artists began to gain popularity within the genre ; among the more noteworthy female trop-rockers are Sheree Cade, Dani Hoy, Brittany Kingery, Erica Sunshine Lee, Aubrey Wollett, and Robin Tricker.
History
In 2005 the Margarita M.A.F.I.A. was established because founders Tom & Michelle Becker, as well as many others, wanted a united voice regarding Trop Rock music. Two years later an annual awards show was created to recognize the artists, songwriters, musicians, radio stations, fans and others in the genre. In 2012 the Margarita M.A.F.I.A. changed its name to the Trop Rock Music Association to better describe its overall purpose. Due to the significant growth of the genre, in 2018 the organization decided to further expand by creating a new Board of Directors, logo, website, mission statement, and establishment as a 5016 nonprofit organization.
Events
The Official Jimmy Buffett Fan Club called "Parrot Heads in Paradise's Meeting of the Minds", the national parrot head convention attended by members from all over the world is held each November in Key West, Florida at the Casa Marina Resort. This event now 29 years old features Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band as well as people associated with Jimmy Buffett's music. There are many trop rock musicians on multiple stages at this event. The annual gathering attracts close to 5,000 fans as well as thousands to the lower Keys area. Other than PHiP's Meeting Of The Minds in Key West, there are many other Trop Rock Music Festivals that take place throughout the year, from coast to coast.
In 2000, WBWC-FM, Dennis King of Island Time Radio began programming this format on the air in Cleveland, Ohio and streaming worldwide on Monday nights. Radio Margaritaville, available on Sirius XM Radio, also plays many of the genre's hits. As the genre flourished with the guidance of the Trop Rock Music Association independently owned internet radio stations began to rise to popularity within the "trop rock" genre to include , , , , , Permanent Vacation Radio, Beach Bar Radio,, and Oyster Radio.
