"One of the best bands. Their interactions with the audience is outstanding. What great showmanship."
A UNIQUE FLORIDA 5-PIECE BAND
Located in Southwest Florida - Tropical Avenue is patterned after the Tropical Bands you would find on South Beach and all around Miami! Performing Top 40 Dance, Latin Pop (in English & Spanish) are our specialties! We also sprinkle in some Calypso, Trop Rock, Motown, Classic Rock and even a few Top 40 Country tunes- always with a festive flair! Because of our versatile team, we can tailor our music to fit your Reception, Party, Festival or Event. Always with the utmost in professionalism and courtesy!
WEDDINGS
We make it our job to visit your venue to ensure we bring the right equipment for your special day and look forward to discussing what your expectations are. A timeline is drafted for your reception and ceremony and submitted for your approval prior to the wedding to make sure every detail is included and that the Reception is enjoyable for all who attend!
Tropical Ave makes sure to have proper pre-recorded music available for our breaks to keep your guests entertained and dancing!!!
We also "play well with others" and can coordinate with an outside Wedding Planner, Caterer, DJ or any other professionals you hire. One of the reasons Tropical Ave, receive referrals from several prestigious Wedding venues!!
YACHT & COUNTRY CLUB, FUNDRAISERS, SPECIAL EVENTS
Like our wedding clients, we are just as committed to our Special Event, Yacht & Country Clubs and Fundraisers!
Tropical Ave has been blessed to be "the" area band for many events that need a variety of music - from Standards to Today's Top 40 Hits! We have performed for the last 6 years for Mote Marine's Crystal Classic Fundraiser- Siesta Key Beach, were chosen by the Venice YMCA for their "Tropical Nights" event on Palm Island Resort, have performed for the last 3 years for Wobbly Feet Foundation-Pasta Bar for a Cure, and were selected the last 5 years to play at Dearborn Street Wine Walk- Fundraiser for Lemon Bay Arts Alliance! After visiting the location prior to the event date, we draft a timeline so that we are prepared to perform the proper songs at the proper time.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Tropical Ave chooses music for any performance that is danceable and most often fun!! Our team of musicians tries it's level best to keep the dance floor full and the festivities festive!! We also encourage and invite your guests to play bongos and other percussion instruments on select songs- continuing to make your event even more memorable for your guests!
We invite you to speak with us about your event to see if we may be the right fit for you!
GET TO KNOW THE BAND
JEFF HUGHES
guitar, trumpet, vocals
As leader of the band, Jeff takes care of all of the details of booking, song selection, logistics of setup and timelines for clients. He has a passion for performing and making sure everyone is having a wonderful time.
Jeff got his start in Chicago in 1973 as a member of a full time band. At 14, he played the biggest clubs in Chicago. He has performed in Miami Disco, and Wedding bands, Milwaukee Wedding Bands, Jazz & Blues groups, Classic Rock & Country bands in the Midwest, along with a few Latin groups. For several years, Jeff played hotel circuits in Illiniois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Feel free to discuss your upcoming event with Jeff.
RHONDA BROWN-HUGHES
bass guitar
Rhonda is one of the founding members of Tropical Ave and her bass playing is a key element to the band's sound! She has a built in meter that anchors Tropical Ave in to the song's groove, which makes our band easy to dance to!!
She receives regular compliments from both touring & local musicians, as well as audience members!
SAVANNAH BRADY
vocals and guitar
Savannah Brady a classically trained violinist, was noted as a “musical prodigy” by the North Port Sun, is currently enrolled at State College of Florida obtaining her associate in arts degree before she heads off to get her bachelors degree. She had the honor of playing three consecutive years with the Suncoast Super Strings under the direction of Itzhak Perlman. She was a member of the Gamble Creek band led by Kim Betts (daughter of the legendary Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers Band) where she and the band had the opportunity to open for Blue Oyster Cult, Wynonna Judd, Marshall Tucker, and Lonestar.
She is also an instructor at Rock Box School of Music in North Port.
Savannah also plays electric guitar on some of our tunes!
She brings a wealth of musical experience & superb vocals to our band!
She receives regular compliments from both touring & local musicians, as well as audience members!
SILIA
keyboards and vocals
Silia is a multi instrumentalist having been a member of the National Orchestra in Cuba for several years! She plays Viola and Piano in addition to several other instruments. She teaches music at a music academy and is attending school. She just celebrated 2 years with Tropical Avenue in July!! .
JONATHAN SHRADER
drums
Jonathan Shrader has been playing with all of our area's top musicians for many years now!! Interestingly enough, we first heard Jonathan when he was a teenager playing with a very young band at the Siesta Key Crystal Classic. Our band was playing right after them and we were so impressed with Jonathan's drumming back then, we asked him to sit in on bongos with us! Neither Jon nor us ever thought we would all be in the same band together years later!
What's most striking about Jonathan's playing is his versatility. No matter what style we are playing, he makes it sound as if it's his specialty.