In the summer of 65, we were young and so alive, Rockin' at the Surfer's Club, What a magical time it was! We were dancin' in the sand, playin' in a rock & roll band, singin' "I Want More", and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"! And I still get a chill, thinkin' about those days! I still get a chill! New York and the Purple Haze!
I still get a chill!

 

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In 1966 The Tropics won The International Battle of the Bands held at the famous McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. The Band took first place over more than 450 other bands, which included such names as Chicago and Tommy James & The Shondells. Out of that win came a recording contract with Columbia Records and the single "Take the Time" produced by Teo Macero, which made it to the top of the charts and got an 85 on Dick Clark's American Bandstand.

The 30-year reunion for the Tropics took place On May 7, 1999! The Tropics played at the St. Petersburg, Florida, Coliseum. It was a benefit for All Children's Hospital. (As seen on "Good Day Tampa Bay" FOX 13) This was the time to get back in the studio and re-record some of their favorite tunes, some of these recordings are available on this CD. The reunion was a tremendous success and many good friends were reunited in a free-spirited, fun-filled nostalgic evening, reliving the innocence of those wonderful times. "It was Fabulous" says Margie Sexton, the band's former manager and owner of the famous "SURFER'S CLUB," a Madeira Beach, Florida teen-age night club in the late 60's. This 7 song CD contains a song written for the occasion, "Still Get a Chill", Dedicated to the loving memory of our brothers and founding members Buddy Pendergrass 1947 - 2003 and Mel Dryer RIP 1946 - 2018. Other Band members include Eric Turner, Bobby Shea and Charlie Souza and our 1964 original band members Wayne Guida, Ron Ferrer and Spencer Hinkle.




Order The Anthology CD

On this 17 song CD The Tropics Anthology 1965 - 1969, you'll find most all of the origional recordings of the records made by the band, some on Major labels like Columbia and Malaco Records, some on local Florida labels such as Thames and Laurie Records in NewYork. All songs on this CD are the Remastered ORIGINAL RECORDINGS of Florida's #1 Show Band 1965-1969. (Manager Margie Sexton and her husband Dick proudly inserted the word fabulous into the bands name! "The Fabulous Tropics"!)

 

 

In the mid 60's Charlie, a Florida native, was a part of the The Tropics, achieving a national level of success. And when the group reunited in 1999 for a 30 year reunion at the St. Petersburg Coliseum, the immortality of the music they played was evident!
Who would remember all of the joy that was generated by the music and all of the people who helped make it happen? The next day, Charlie was looking out at the white sand of St. Pete Beach from a hotel balcony and got an idea. He said to his band mate, Buddy, hey! there should be a Florida Music Hall of Fame so that we can keep the memory of all of us alive along with those who came before us right up to the present, and those in the future! Buddy agreed!

R.I.P. Buddy Pendergrass, this is for you and our brother Mel Dryer

 

 

 

 


Florida Music Hall of Fame Inductee

Mel Dryer R.I.P.
There is plenty of cherry pie in Heaven Brother!

 

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