There is an argument in Key West about who taught Caffeine Carl his first guitar chords. Bill Blue and Clayton Lopez both lay claim to teaching Carl to play the guitar. Carl says it was Joel Nelson who taught him at a radio studio of WIIS. Joel was a DJ at the time and he showed Carl and a friend David Freeman their first chords on David's acoustical guitar. Caffeine Carl credits Joel with being his biggest influence. Other influences were Calvin and Clayton Lopez and their band, The Masterpiece. Carl also used to attend all of Bill Blue’s gigs and was amazed at his skill playing the blues.
Check out my new book - THE SOUL OF KEY WEST
This is the first book about the Key West Music scene. The story is told by Caffeine Carl and 45 other musicians along with over 200 color photographs available at:
Ralph De Palma website link:
http://www.rwdepalma.com/shop
Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Soul-West-Ralph-Palma/dp/061587889X/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1386095961&sr=8-10&keywords=books%2C+the+soul+of+key+west
© Ralph De Palma Photographer
