For the past month, I’ve been desperately searching for something inspiring to write while recovering from rotator cuff surgery. It’s not how I envisioned spending my summer, but I’m far from unique, as almost everyone I meet has undergone the same surgery at least once! I guess it is somewhat like a rite of passage, although given an option, I would like to have passed through something more pleasurable. As I mentioned in my previous newsletter, there is always a silver lining to every challenge we face. For me, it is twofold, with the first being a reprieve from my wife’s ever-growing honey-do list, which appears to be gaining interest. The second has been a bit of a challenge, as I’ve tried to reflect on other things that would bring enjoyment now that I’ve been forced to limit my outdoor activities.
Taking time away from the computer and the endless paperwork to read a good Nelson DeMille novel is entertaining and gets my creative juices flowing. His books are full of history and suspense, and the ever-present sarcastic wit of his iconic character, John Corey, someone my wife will tell you, resonates with me. However, even more inspiring to me is music.
Every generation has its favorite recording artists and songs, and while some may disagree, music is a language that touches the soul. It’s perhaps one of the last avenues where people can communicate with each other and where emotions and beliefs can be expressed often without fear of a harsh response. Music makes my heart sing, and I find it takes you on a journey through your life. Most people I know can tell you where they were or what they were doing when a particular song they heard hit the airwaves. While listening to music at home or on a road trip is gratifying, there is nothing like seeing your favorite songs performed live.
Today, you hear terms like “Cover bands,” “Tribute Bands,” and, to some extent, “Impersonators.” It was explained to me, “Impersonators dress like the artists. Cover bands perform the songs but often add their creative interpretation to the music, while Tribute bands have a higher level of audience expectation. It is a full-on symphony and tribute to a great composer or composition.” Vocally and instrumentally, the music is played as close to how the original artist recorded it. To be able to play note for note and vocalize with similar accuracy, I find not only entertaining but captivating.
Todd Pitts is a name you may not recognize, but this gifted musician is akin to the Rich Little of Music, where he has founded not one, but ten tribute bands that pay homage to those recording artists that have touched our lives in one way or another. I first heard Todd’s band, “The Alter Eagles,” an Eagle’s tribute band he founded, play at the Visani Italian Steakhouse and Comedy Theater. I was amazed by how close this talented group of musicians duplicated the vocals and instrumental work of the original Eagles band. Not only did they play each song to perfection, but they were multi-instrumentalists as well. However, despite his success, Todd’s story is a winding tale of a young man’s dream that was derailed, and it took years for that desire to be fulfilled.
Influenced by his mother, an accomplished singer, Todd and his brother started perfecting their vocal skills, paying close attention to the inflections in how each song was performed. Instrumentally, Todd admits he is self-taught, learning to play by ear. Humbly, he classifies himself as “utilitarian,” or in other words, “A singer who plays guitar and drums,” an understatement if you ask me. Todd tells of how they formed a band and were performing from Thursday through Saturday at a local bottle club, an after-hours club in the Tampa area; however, on the final night of this run, he crashed his car in front of the Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa, ironically the venue where he saw his first concert featuring the band “Rush” four years prior. His music career would take a detour and a dream delayed. For the next 11 years, Todd would serve as a combat paramedic in the U.S. Army in one capacity or another in what he describes as the “Straight Leg Infantry.” During that time, he was stationed for two years in Berlin and eventually transitioned to the mechanized unit out of Fort Polk. He continued his medical specialty, transitioning as a dermatology tech, helping treat patients in various hospitals.
In 1992, Todd entered what he described as “The World of Corporate America,” where Lanier employed him and sold copiers and fax machines. After that, he joined the tech world selling computers with 3-D modeling and effects capabilities. Todd recounted how these systems were used to create Pixar and Jurassic Park animation movies. As with many of us resigned to pursue a career more out of necessity than desire, it appeared Todd was inevitably destined to follow the same path until open heart surgery in 2001 was the awakening he needed. He decided to follow his passion.
In one of my previous newsletters, I mentioned that as a young teenager, we formed a rock and roll band and envisioned ourselves as the next Beatles, as I’m sure most kids did then. The thought one day we’d be playing in front of an audience was a thrill beyond our young imaginations. Of course, reality set in, and our careers were short-lived. However, I gained an inexpressible appreciation for those who can capture the performance of the original artists in such a way that it takes us back to those special moments in our lives. As I’ve gotten older, I find there is a time when we are the most creative, and if not acted upon, it seems to pass. For some, it lasts longer than others, which I find astounding when I think of the number of songs Paul McCartney and John Lennon penned in a relatively short time. Todd summed it up best: “It’s about applying creativity to life.” That time came to Todd 14 years ago when he wanted to recreate the tracks of the original artists as close as possible. He recounts that they performed only 15 shows in the first year, and by the second year, it had expanded to 35. Today, they perform 140 to 150 shows per year. What started as an Eagles tribute band has now grown to 9 additional tribute acts that pay homage to Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Simon and Garfunkel, The Bee Gees, The Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller and America. Todd’s wife Chandra, who mixes the sound for the band at each show, added, “While our shows have expanded, so have our loyal fans. Each 4th of July, we are the featured band at the historic Daytona Beach Band Shell and have played to audiences approaching 20,000.”
While the number of shows has expanded, and their audience has grown, Todd said their greatest joy and satisfaction comes when looking out from the stage and seeing the smiles and emotions across each face in the crowd. He recounts witnessing a couple during their Simon and Garfunkel show where they closed with the song ”Sound of Silence.” “They were sitting in the front row, and as they moved closer to each other, you could see the emotion that came over their faces….it turned out it was their wedding song.” He tells of their Bee Gees tribute show they performed in Sun City when the crowd of 700 started singing back to the song they were playing. Todd said, “We stopped singing, and the crowd took control of the experience.” “And then you have a young girl in tears as we performed Desperado during our Eagles tribute show.”
Todd summed it best when he said, “Music is very honest and brings you back to those special times in your life.” I often think, in the world in which we live, perhaps music isn’t just a way of escaping some of life’s challenges for a brief moment or two but may be one of the best forms of communication we could have with each other where all our differences are put aside, and we can enjoy the best life has to offer……. together.
To view all their upcoming tribute events, go to www.ClassicTributeslive.com, but book your evening to remember early, as they sell out fast.
-Gary Cardillo
Almost two years ago, my wife signed us up as members of St. Andrew’s South Golf Club, as it occurred to her I was spending too much time sitting behind a computer or working late into the evening, and my only outlet was doing yard work. Somewhere along the way, I became my father! I wasn’t doing anything fun in my spare time. Try explaining that to someone who spends half their year bundled up during the winter months, and they’ll think you lost your mind when you live on the water and close to a host of golf courses. Sure, there are more challenging courses than St. Andrews; for years, when asked why I didn’t join, I would tease and tell them that due to the relatively flat terrain of the course, that’s where they used to host the areas Greyhound races. Now before you think, “This guy must be some golfer,” let me tell you this course has gotten the better of me in more ways than one. While St. Andrew’s South may not be hosting the U.S. Open anytime soon, this club is second to none in terms of the people we’ve met and the friends we’ve made.
I consider myself very fortunate to have met so many wonderful people during my life that I’m blessed to call “friends.” Their backgrounds are as diverse as the world in which we live. Some have been politicians, others doctors, lawyers, law enforcement, and even those with rags-to-riches stories. While I love to celebrate their histories of accomplishment, the ones whose lives touch me most are those who passionately serve others, whether through personal sacrifice or by giving generously of their gifts and talents. Their backgrounds may differ vastly, but they desire to serve with little attention drawn to themselves. One such person is long-time friend Kim Amontree, whose contributions to our community read like a “Who’s Who.” Kim has served on the local school board as Vice Chair and as an integral member of a variety of boards and committees that include the “Punta Gorda Diversity Task Force,” “Charlotte County Chamber Government Affairs,” and “Charlotte County Reads” in addition to her various roles with the Florida School Boards Association. This association aims to increase student achievement by developing effective school board leadership and advocacy for public education.
Simply put, the FSBA is the “voice of education in Florida,” which Kim has served on multiple committees and continues today as co-Chair of the Legislative sub-Committee. Kim’s involvement with the community is just as comprehensive as she serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Southwest Florida and is “Chair of the Punta Gorda YMCA Community Board.” Her passion for children does not end there as she is a “Coalition Member of Drug-Free Punta Gorda,” a “Volunteer Reading Buddy.” She has also served as a mentor for Take Stock in Children and a coach for Girls on the Run. I’ve often felt Kim was the person I would call if my house were on fire as she’d be the first one on the scene and have it under control before the fire trucks arrived. She’s not one to sit back and hope for change; she’s a team player who will invoke the change.
I often ask those looking to move to our area what brought them here. For Kim, it was an opportunity for her husband Jim, a highly respected Gastroenterologist, to join the Intermedic practice years ago. Kim recalled how they met through a group of friends while both were living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They weren’t dating for long when Kim had an opportunity to move to New Orleans, working with NCR, a world-leading enterprise technology provider of software, hardware, and services for large banks and other entities. Jim was an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico when a close physician friend notified him of the Intermedic opportunity. Kim jokingly said, “I told Jim I wasn’t moving just for love. It would be for a ring, a house, and a dog.” So in 1991, they made the move and never looked back. Despite being on a fast track herself, Kim put her career on hold to help Jim open his practice which came to fruition in 1999. Years later, having helped create a thriving medical practice and raising three gifted children, Kim said, “Life is short, and I wanted to spend time doing things that matter.” Those who know Kim know of her passion for community and children specifically. Having been a Realtor myself for 20 years, the questions from those looking to move to our area center around medical services and education, the question most dear to Kim’s heart.
Few of us would disagree that we live in a world fraught with many issues, from health and finance to the environment. Kim reflected, “Unfortunately, the problems in society we face today the next generation is going to have to solve, and that comes through education.” Equally challenging is the environment our educators face today. Aside from the lack of decorum exhibited in debates of opposing thoughts and philosophies, you hear in classrooms and on college campuses throughout the country, not to mention security challenges, Kim said, “There is a direct tie to the impact on educational performance that stems from socio-economic conditions. Approximately 60% of the children are “direct certified” (receiving some form of government assistance). Over 90% are considered “economically needy.” While the pandemic had devastating effects on the 2020-2021 school year, where 30% of the children missed more than ten days of school, a dramatic increase from the 12% norm, Kim said, “The Charlotte County school system wasn’t going to take the foot off the gas; the students were expected to learn the curriculum.” In 2021, the Charlotte County School System had its highest graduation rate of 91%. Not only did more children graduate, but they scored in the top tier of Florida’s Advance Placement Standardized Test.
Kim’s decision to join an organization or board comes down to one significant fact, “Does it benefit the children of the community?” I’ve always felt we educate our children to benefit other cities and towns across the country since, historically, there have been limited employment opportunities locally. Kim said they could benefit from higher-paying jobs by providing workforce opportunities to serve the community’s growth, such as aviation, where students can graduate with FAA certifications. Kim continued by saying that with the cost of education reaching all-time highs, providing white-collar opportunities without going through a four-year college program would reduce student loan debt and enable these students to earn a good living in less time. She added, “If you want better medicine and services, you must support and have confidence in the school system.” By passing the “Yes For Success” referendum, teachers’ salaries increased from $38,000 to $54,000, which is one of the highest in the state. The referendum enabled the school system to address the psychological impact many children face today. Succinctly stated, “Schools are the front line of mental health issues.” As a result of the passage of the referendum, they were able to triple the number of social workers and double the number of psychologists.
Kim continued, “Discipline is one of the biggest barriers to educational success. It only takes a two percent discipline problem in a class to impact the other ninety-eight percent.” When you factor in some families’ socio-economic challenges, taking 20 minutes a day to read with a child is often compromised. Kim added, “Some parents don’t know what they don’t know.” Reading with your child stimulates from a knowledge base perspective and builds a stronger parental bond.” I have often thought with the absence of this bond; one can only assume there is a correlation as to why we see so many issues manifesting in today’s generations.
While most people would like to talk about themselves, Gary and Gail have always put their clients first, and their diverse backgrounds have provided their clients an unparalleled level of service and knowledge throughout the past years.