By: Tommy Lee Cook
When I closed on the Buckingham Blues Bar property on August 1st of 2002, the establishment had recently been voted the “Number One Lousiest Bar” in the five counties of Southwest Florida. Local biker groups had compiled a list of the twenty biggest s***holes in May 2002, and it had been on that list as well. Deservedly so, and I was a patron for many years, going back to the early 80s.
The building had fallen into disrepair: poor plumbing, a failing AC system, a leaking roof, a jungle of a backyard on two acres—a mess in every way for almost anyone to undertake reviving. As a general contractor, we jumped on it and, within three and a half months, had completed a total renovation. Inside, outside, and our cool backyard was completed, too. That’s when the evolution began to shake off the image and reputation that the biker group had so crowned number one.
I have been a musician and singer-songwriter for decades, releasing a vinyl album in 1985 of my own music, Southern Soul/Tommy Lee Cook. I was still playing and writing at the time I purchased the bar, so an inside and outside stage was built with the dream of having a cool Blues club in the middle of nowhere, a place for original music, primarily Blues. Blues is a broad category—it’s slow, fast, happy, sad—it’s the Mama and Daddy of modern music, that’s the Blues, and I felt it would be a perfect fit.
The first original act I booked was a harmonica player and singer/songwriter, Pat Ramsey, one of the best in the business. Next was a young East Coast guitar slinger and singer/songwriter, Albert Castiglia, formerly with Junior Wells. Pat has since passed away, and Albert has become one of the top names internationally in the Blues world. In fact, Albert has a Billboard Top 10 album out right now and a catalog of some of the best original music in the world. In the almost 23 years since we opened the doors over 4,000 shows have been done inside and out with the best original acts in the world. Delbert McClinton, Selwyn Birchwood, Damon Fowler, JP Soars, Victor Wainwright, and Leroy Parnell, to name-drop a short list.
On August 15th, we will be hosting a super-group formed from some of the members listed above, Southern Hospitality, for what will be a sold-out show. In December, JJ Grey and Mofro, another huge international act, will wow 1,000 people in our backyard, another show that will sell out quickly.
The Buck, as we call it, caters to people of all ages and walks of life. It has become a magical place for music lovers to meet and relax with some of the most talented acts in the world sharing their original music show after show. Now, a search for Florida Blues bars will find us at “Number One” or close, only this time it’s a list we are proud to be on.
Buckingham Blues Bar Event Calendar: wwww.buckinghambar.com
