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Florida Musicians Take
Center Stage around the World
Pull back the curtain on where it all
began in their hometowns
January 25, 2008
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2008) – As Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform at half time of Super Bowl XLII, they will represent a long list of brilliant Florida musicians. Invigorated by bright Florida sunshine, these artists continue to shine in performances around the world.Tallahassee – The Alternative/ Hard Rock band Creed came together as Naked Toddler in Tallahassee in 1995. The band agreed to take the name “Creed” at bassist Brian Marshall’s suggestion, who took the name from his former band, Mattox Creed. In their early days, Creed performed at several local live music bars including Barnacle Bill’s, but their “big break” came when they played at Floyd’s Music Store on the Tennessee Street Strip. Additional notable residents: George Clinton, T-Pain
Gainesville – Super Bowl XLII headliner Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers has its roots in Petty's Gainesville-based band, Mudcrutch. Petty met and hit the big time with bandmates and fellow Gainesvillians Benmont Tench, Mike Campbell, Ron Blair and Stan Lynch. Additional notable residents: Bo Didley, Sister Hazel
Jacksonville – Jacksonville native sons Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Larry Junstrom and Bob Burns formed Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1964. The inspiration for the band’s name came from a former gym teacher of two of the band members at Westside Jacksonville’s Robert E. Lee High School named Leonard Skinner, who gave the members a hard time for their long hair. During the 1970s, Lynyrd Skynyrd was inspired by heavy metal, rock and country throughout the South, producing hits like “Freebird” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” Ronnie Van Zant’s widow runs Freebird Live, a live music venue in Jacksonville Beach.
Additional notable residents: James Weldon Johnson, Limp Bizkit, The Allman Brothers Band, Pat Boone, .38 SpecialClearwater (near St. Petersburg) – Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards composed “Satisfaction” late one night in 1965 while the band was staying in a Clearwater, Florida hotel. The song became the British band’s first No. 1 hit in America and is ranked No. 2 on Rolling Stone magazine’s top 500 songs of all time.
Additional notable resident: Jim MorrisonMiami – One of the world’s most recognized music artists, Gloria Estefan, was primarily raised in Miami. Her future husband, Emilio Estefan Jr., asked her to sing with his band, the Miami Latin Boys. The group then changed their name to the Miami Sound Machine. The only singer to perform at two Super Bowls, Estefan’s song “Reach” was the official song of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, where she performed in the closing ceremonies. The Estefans are owners of the Cardozo Hotel Miami Beach and several Bongos Cuban Cafes. Additional notable residents: Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira
Source: News Release, Visit Florida