This funky band from South Florida plays an exotic mix of blues, soul and island grooves that could have only been bred in the beach huts and tiki bars of their peninsular homeland. A great live act with years of experience, Shack Daddys have "barbandismo" to spare, but perform and record with a level of taste and originality that separates them from your average eclectic roots outfit.
The main Daddys are Bonefish Johnny and Kilmo (left and right above). Working together for the last decade and a half with a rotating line-up of the region's best players (see below), they have entertained countless audiences at clubs, concerts and festivals around the nation. Shack Daddys spent several years as back-up band for the Native American singer/songwriter Chief Jim Billie, Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, a stint that earned them a mention in the bestselling book The Orchid Thief (which was later adapted into the movie Adaptation). The band also backed up Clarence Clemmons (sax man of Bruce Sprinsteen's E Street Band) for some local events and New Orleans legend Luther Kent for some of his South Florida appearances. Shack Daddys' music was most recently featured on Food Nation with Bobby Flay and BBQ with Bobby Flay on the Food Network!
BONEFISH JOHNNY began his career of shouting the blues and scratching funk guitar with his band Groove Thangs. Part of the Miller Genuine Draft Band Network, Groove Thangs toured the USA and overseas between 1984 and 1992, releasing six recordings for the Neverglades label. Their CD Uppression (newly reissued) won a "Jammy" for Best Independent South Florida Release in 1991, awarded by Florida's JAM Magazine. Bonefish is the soul of the shack music sound, writing catchy riffs for lyrics both ribald and wistful as well as uncovering forgotten songs that need to be covered.
CARL "KILMO" PACILLO was also in Groove Thangs, but his roots as a bass player go much deeper than that. Coming up in the heyday of Florida funk and the proto-disco influence of TK Records, Pacillo was soon on the road playing in Blood, Sweat & Tears. His dedication to his instrument found him in the New York jazz scene, often with his mentor and fellow Florida local Jaco Pastorius. Kilmo's hunger for hard grooving and vintage roots brought him to back to the land of shack music, where he helmed numerous reggae bands before forming Kilmo & The Killers, a blues-rock outfit know for trammeling tradition under its blazing fretboards.
Bonefish and Kilmo tap an amazing array of talent to create everything from an acoustic duo to a 12 piece big band. Among those who consider themselves Shack Daddys are:
JEFF WATKINS, an original Groove Thang and current sax star with James Brown, the Godfather of Soul!
PETER SOLLEY, famed keyboardist of Procol Harum and hit producer of The Romantics, Motorhead, Ted Nugent and local band Nickel 'N' Dime.
TEDDY MULET, veteran trumpet/trombone player and arranger for Gloria Estefan as well as Ricky Martin and other top acts.
NICOLE YARLING, dynamic singer and violinist who toured with Jimmy Buffet as part of his Coral Reefer band and performed with the late Joe Williams on her recent jazz CD.
RAIFORD STARKE, enigmatic award-winning (and Grammy nominated!) guitarist and singer.
Great South Florida musicians like drummers JEFF RENZA and JOHN YARLING, keyboardists BOB TAYLOR and BOBBY GROSZER, and many others!
Lately Shack Daddys are most often seen live at Alligator Alley Native Florida Restaurant & Music Hall, the award-winning South Florida nightclub created by Bonefish and Kilmo. There they have opened for such great acts as Little Feat, NRBQ, The Meters and many more.
Shack Daddys