The Traveling Troubadour

Sometimes, rumors fly like the wind in a tropical storm. On even more drastic occasions, reports that rebel against logic, tradition, and common sense spread like raindrops in a hurricane, but when shocking stories have roots that will not shock old friends, rumors and realities can merge into one fantastic but unsurprising tale.

Many seasons ago, when Russia was the Soviet Union and the Cold War was raging, life for the Marco Beach Boys and Girls was similar to today. Election years brought opinions, arguments, and political TV commercials that were seemingly never-ending. Late summer also brought tropical storms and an occasional hurricane, but throughout all the fierce wind and turbulence - from everywhere - life in the Marco tropical paradise made the push forward and mostly never looked back—until recently. . .

During the decade when almost every restaurant, bar, or private party had a live entertainer, Davey was playing in the background or begging for an audition. Davey was the wandering minstrel of Marco - and sometimes Naples - and he would try to play and sing any top 40 song. He would have probably been much better off with the many fans he was sure he had if he did not attempt songs that were, perhaps, beyond his reach. If a particular hit song could turn into a watery and generic melody that was almost unrecognizable, Davy was the ever-ready minstrel who was performing the oldie but goodie. Davey was, and apparently still is, however, fearless, resilient, and certainly confident that he will become the next musical sensation, wherever he might be.

Davey was the Marco Beach Boy who was on the fringe of every social activity. Davey also wore many hats and was a virtual chameleon in any situation. During one winter season, Davey was the youngest ever used car salesperson at a dealership in Naples. The following summer he became a tour guide in the Everglades until a narrow escape with a large alligator became the retirement factor in another of Davey’s many venues of employment. Throughout all of his endeavors, however, Davey carried around a guitar and a portable sound system and always made a movable show wherever he happened to be. If a popular tour boat happened to have a traditional Halloween party, Davy was there with his guitar and a microphone, and he would play and sing until the last of the crewmembers were ready to throw him overboard.

Despite Davey’s mediocre musical efforts, his one redeeming feature was his overwhelming good looks. This young man could have easily been the Romeo to any Juliet. His striking appearance would attract people wherever he went, and his hale-fellow-well-met, friendly and engaging personality would seal the deal on almost anything - until he grabbed a microphone and started singing hits from yester-year that were sometimes sketchy. 

Because Davey was fun to be around when he was not singing, he was popular. Everyone liked Davey - even the sometimes reluctant managers of the venues that hired him as a performer. His Elvis-like good looks were a draw and after a few drinks, many of his female fans were able to ignore a few sour notes with a few more whiskey sours.

After a few seasons of playing the traveling tropical troubadour, part-time alligator wrangler, and sometimes car sales engineer, Davey became smitten with one of his fans. An exotic and foreign-looking young lady made an appearance and quickly became a dynamite component to a busy but lonely lifestyle. Davey’s dark hair and flashing blue eyes were the perfect complement to the startling green eyes and long red hair of the new arrival from Moscow. 

The new Russian girl was Alexandra, and she was very different from Davey’s other female fans and occasional companions. After a whirlwind of infatuated weeks led to several months of mutual devotion,  the beautiful Alexandra from Russia became the love of Davey’s life. They were together everywhere. From fun-filled parties to performing at all the favorite venues, Davey and Alexandra were indeed the new item in town and they were inseparable.

At this point, Davey was on a puppy on a leash to Alexandra’s every whim and whimper. Apart from becoming his girlfriend extraordinaire, Alexandra also becomes Davey’s musical manager. She at once eliminated the watery songs that were complicated and difficult to perform. She instead replaced Davey’s weak repertoire with three-chord hits that he could actually perform without sounding like an uncertain musical train wreck.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union, however, Alexandra was ready to go home. The old communist regime was gone, she explained to everyone, and after all - there is no place like home.

As human nature pushes forward, and as time goes by, dynamic personalities and unforgettable friends from the past almost fall to the wayside. The favorite bartender for years cashes in, sells his house and moves away. The friendly condominium gardener decides it is time for a change and moves back to Chicago after 25 years. The beautiful police officer - who was also on the fringe of all the fun - comes back after finding true love to show off her husband and teenage kids.

After visiting with another friend from the past, the Marco Beach Boys became stunned when learning that Davey, the wandering minstrel of Marco, did move away with the beautiful Alexandra back to her native Russia.

According to undisclosed but reliable sources, Davey is still a traveling troubadour and performing old top 40 hits in one of the largest cities in Russia. Sources also explain that he switches musical venues and day jobs frequently because his secret American identity, dashing good looks, and engaging personality might become suspect by espionage officers of the Russian intelligence service.