February 24, 2025 • 42 mins
CW Colt tried to retire after a celebrated career playing music across the globe. But just a few years after he set down his guitar, a dream pulled Colt back into music. This time, his passion extends beyond the need for a paycheck. Instead, the renowned journeyman has a vision for the world to "Be Love." To ignite his revelation of love, Colt wants to spread Key West's "One Human Family" way of life across the world. With tears of gratitude and joy throughout, Colt joins the Florida Keys Weekly Podcast to share his vision.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome back to an edition that you're going to love
of the Florida Keys Weekly podcast. I'm Brett Myers, your host.
I get a rare treat today. Most of our podcasts
here lately have been by phone, remote as we, uh,
have a couple of our notable stars, famous folks call
in from afar before they come here and play.
(00:24):
Today I have the luxury of having someone sitting across
from me in my eyes and many eyes and the
truth be told, he is a star, uh, he would
not tell you that of all those that he has
played with played aside beside and taught been taught by
and he's taught others, uh, he is for me an anomaly, um,
he represents, he embodies the true musicians of Key West.
(00:45):
He's gonna talk about that, um, before I jump into it,
let's do think our sponsor.
Uh, Overseas Media Group, that is your digital marketing company
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(01:06):
social media, all that stuff you don't don't have time
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So thank you for being our sponsor today and our
radio listeners in Radio land.
That is WKWF 103.3 FM, your early risers, thanks for
listening in, and of course all of our podcast listeners
in podcast world, Amazon, Spotify, Apple, and Keys Weekly.com.
(01:28):
Uh, you can find all our podcasts there. Speaking of
Keys Weekly.com, on May 7th, 2016, I had an article
and it said 20 questions with CW Colt. Uh, most
of you listening locally know who CW Colt is unless
you live under a rock. For those of you listening
internationally or nationally, we're gonna talk about who CW Collet is.
(01:49):
Because he's sitting right across from me, C that'd be
great to
Speaker 2 (01:52):
have you. I am here wow, that was a heck
of an introduction there. That's beautiful
Speaker 1 (01:57):
you know we gotta get, we gotta get the uh
the business stuff out of the way um, CW, for
those who don't know you, we're gonna talk about what
you have going on that's new. You're, you're a regular
with me in terms of just articles and hanging out
and speaking.
And I've known you for some time. I came down
to the Florida Keys in 2006, I met you not
long after, uh, watching you play music, playing bars, playing
(02:18):
live shows, those types of things, and you had a
you had a vibe about you that was always cool,
that's why people love you, you have an incredible history.
We'll talk about that too. But recently, just last week
you came in to see me and there was a
different CW setting across from me, um, there was a
new vibe, a new energy, a new positivity.
And you really kinda, you got me with goosebumps and
(02:38):
a little teary eyed and uh there's something new happening
with you. We're gonna talk about that too before we
jump into it, uh, for those who don't know you,
I just wanna run uh just kind of through your
background a little bit, um, you have been playing music
for how long?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Uh, 61 years,
Speaker 1 (02:54):
61 years,
Speaker 2 (02:55):
61, yeah,
Speaker 1 (02:56):
and you, I had to, had to squeeze this out
of you at one point because I know how modest
you are, um, you, you go back to some pretty
interesting names that got you into music. I feel like
you told me at one point Chet Atkins taught you
your first chords, is that right?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yes, that's true. Yes, um, we were just starting our
first band. The Beatles had kind of made their debut
and stuff and so we were all on that train
right away.
Um, my, my friend's dad, uh, knew Chet Atkins pretty well,
and so he said, well, you wanna, you wanna see
how to play guitar, so Chet came over to the
(03:33):
house and he sat there he just had a baby.
And his wife was holding the baby and just sat
on his amp and just started playing.
And I looked at him and I went,
Wow.
I think I'll be a lead singer.
You know, and so, uh, but no, I, I, I,
(03:54):
I've learned a few chords and we were able to,
you know, squeak out a few songs back then like
Gloria and things like that and some Beatles songs and.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Well, and again I, I didn't bring you in to
brag on your past, but for those who don't know you,
maybe some locals don't realize some of your history before
you got here. I mean, you've played with names, uh,
I feel like, uh, some huge names in the music business,
and I know you don't like to name drop, but
you've told me some before, Willie Nelson and others that
you've known over the years, um, it goes back.
(04:24):
But it's, it's a, it's a testament to your love
of music, not stars. I mean, you've been around, you've
got personal battles, you, you, um, you beat cancer that
almost took away your music career. And how long ago
was that? You know, you told me about
Speaker 2 (04:35):
1987. I was diagnosed, uh, stage 3 cancer. So
Speaker 1 (04:41):
and came back from that
Speaker 2 (04:42):
came back
Speaker 1 (04:42):
from that and then in what year did you come
to Key West?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Um, well, I didn't move down here to, well, we
were in Key Largo for a long time, so I
should say
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Florida Keys, but
Speaker 2 (04:54):
yeah, back in the 70s and stuff, we were up
in Key Largo a lot and but I kind of was,
I wasn't really playing so much here uh as a
kid here in the Keys and stuff, it was, you know,
I wanted to be a rock star so I wanted
to be in LA and those kind of places so.
But uh
But my family was here and then uh you know
(05:15):
I kinda I was playing down here quite a bit
for the navy and stuff we were doing a lot
of military stuff VFWs American Legions supporting our veterans and
things so.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Had had Buffett taken off at that point? Was he
a household name?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Oh yeah, I mean by the time I got here,
because I'd already worked with him in Denver at that point.
So
Speaker 1 (05:36):
you'd
worked with Jimmy in Denver out there, and I know
you'd work again. I, I start throwing names around. People
be amazed and kind of backed
Speaker 2 (05:41):
him up. Well, actually he opened for me, so that
was the
Speaker 1 (05:44):
that was Jimmy Buffett opened for you.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
That's right it was the LPJ golf tournament he comes
in and Arnold Palmer shows up and he wants to
eat dinner with him, so he says.
I'll get up and do 2 songs, bring the band
on and
There you have it.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
So you start telling these stories. I can go down
every avenue of these stories, you know, Palmer shows up.
Buffett's out there. I feel like you've thrown Bo Diddley
and Ernest Tubbs at me before. Uh, I mean these
stories as for a whole and and people listening are
probably gonna say that's tell more of the story and,
and well,
Speaker 2 (06:15):
come
and see the shows, yeah, because that's what that's the
new me
Speaker 1 (06:18):
now and that's what I want to dig.
And that's what my listeners understand, CW has so many
layers and you do and and there's so many stories,
and we've talked about them before and we'll we'll have
you on as much as you like and we could
tell some of those, but there's something new going on
with you now. You've been down here playing for decades.
You really define Florida Keys music. You're, you know, it
wasn't always a place that was where singer-songwriters were on
(06:39):
the map. I've always said that I feel like the Keys,
particularly now Key West and the Keys.
Have become a music, you know, I don't say industry
but a music destination, um, you know, where Athens, Georgia,
and Seattle, the Seattle movement and Austin, Texas. I really
feel like the Keys have have not just doing it
now but have lately, the last few years become that
(06:59):
and I, you know, a lot of times it's lost
that the people that made that happen, there's some pioneers
of music, Paul Cox.
And Barry Cudda, uh, Larry Bader, Mike McLeod and others,
but your name is always on the forefront of that
CW that came down here and I'm honored
Speaker 2 (07:12):
to just be, you know, involved, you know, be included
in
that.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Well, you and you know it's true and you're humble, but, uh, you, you,
you guys and ladies made that what it is today.
And so Key West being the music vibe that it
is and you and you played shows and bars and
everything else and and there was a moment there I
feel like because we're gonna lead into what's going on
with you right now and CW Collet.
Uh, there was a moment where you took a step
back not long ago and decided to retire,
Speaker 2 (07:38):
yeah, 4.5 years ago, or 5 years now, um, you know,
I was doing 535 shows a year downtown and they
weren't no one hour show, but, but you know that including,
you know, the sipping of whiskey and things like that
kind of like wore me out and uh it became
a big health issue as far as.
Mentally and physically, so I just needed to take a
(08:01):
break and step back from it all. I had so
many ideas of songs to write and I wasn't writing
them because I was so busy trying to chase that
that neon rainbow type of thing, you know, but uh.
But fortunately during my time I off I I started
to write all these incredible tunes that I that were
(08:23):
that were touching me and touching the people around me
um I started documenting in music, you know, the history
of some of our local characters like Dink Bruce, you know, and,
and you gotta just think about it and so I
wrote a song called Dink About it
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Dink about it, yeah, Dink Bruce, think about it
Speaker 2 (08:42):
and
uh.
You know, and, and, and he had inspired me so many,
so much of my life too and spending I live
right across from Louis and we'd spend every Sunday I
sitting at Louis's or and uh a lot of times
in the old days all the old guys would be
hanging around out there and we'd be telling stories and
stuff so but all those guys have passed away but.
(09:04):
But Dink was probably the most special because he introduced
a lot of people to other people that changed other
people's lives and so I sat there and I was
thinking so I went around to all his friends and
everybody and I gathered this data.
And I just kinda
It took me a while to decipher it off because
(09:24):
everybody sent me a line on what they would what
they thought about Dink and what he would say and
stuff so I came up with this really beautiful song
called Dink about it.
And then
Uh, I was, I woke up in the middle of
the night about 3 o'clock in the morning after having
a dream about Cheryl Kate's singing in a, in a big,
(09:46):
we were all in the Ball Street and there was
all these people singing and I looked up and there
was Cheryl Cates and she was just belting it out.
And she was very special because.
She saw something in me that I kind of forgot
about and who I was and stuff and and uh.
The last thing she ever said to me was you
(10:09):
can't retire you're the best singer in town and I
was just I had tears in my eyes when she
said that. I just was, wow, what a thing to
say and uh.
So when she uh.
When I had her in this dream, I thought.
Man, I went out to the recording studio right away.
(10:30):
It's 4 o'clock in the morning at that time.
And, uh,
Speaker 1 (10:34):
for those listening, I wanna keep you right on track
on that story, but I I I wanna bring some
people with us in case they don't, you know, we
have a lot of listeners who are not from here, um,
which I'm flattered about, uh, they must be really bored,
but not because of you, because of me, but when
I have someone like you, they're listening, uh, in all seriousness,
you know, you talk about D Cheryl Cates, um.
She is, she was a force in this town, a
(10:56):
person who was endeared by so many, her husband, Craig Cates,
who everyone knows, is the county commissioner, former mayor of
Key West, but Cheryl was really the, you know, and
Craig would agree with that. He's the force behind that
incredible family, um, we lost her during COVID.
And uh but she was just someone in this town
who got things done out of love, whether it was
feeding the hungry, it was clothing children, supporting schools, supporting
(11:18):
people like you and I so I want to point
that out as you tell this story to kind of
understand who Cheryl Cates was. He just found people and
she just sort of she knew people's hearts, you know,
she found someone that she connected with that she felt
like had that kind of heart, uh, for love and humanity.
She connected and she supported them and when she was
your friend.
She was your friend. Like there was, she was loyal,
(11:39):
she was a bad ass and she, she had your
back so I want you, you're up at 4 in
the morning she had passed away. You're thinking about her.
Go ahead,
Speaker 2 (11:46):
you know, I go out in the studio. I'm sitting
there and I'm just going, hm, wow and I picked
up my guitar and all of a sudden.
What's what has been really happening and which has been.
Extraordinary for me because when I was younger and I
just learned a guitar I had to make up my
(12:06):
own songs and so a lot of it just be
making up the song and that'd be the end of
that song you never hear it again because it wasn't
recorded or anything so what I started doing is turning
on my recorder when I pick up my guitar just
so if I get something because sometimes the song will
flow all the way through all the lyrics, everything, the music.
(12:27):
Or you know, you get the basic idea and then
you break it down, but anyway.
That's what happened with this. I turned on the recorder.
And I had this nostalgic feeling.
So I started it like the old 50s, you know,
and uh, and then the song just popped out. The
chorus came out and then the verses were easy to
(12:48):
put together because all they were, they were about her
life and the extraordinary person that she was in the
giving and everything, but the, the whole chorus is Cheryl,
your spirit lives on. It's the heart of Key West
beating from dusk till dawn, your spirit, your light.
Forever bright, you are our guiding light.
(13:10):
And when I had that, the whole song just fell
into place.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Now at this point you're still retired professionally somewhat, or
Speaker 2 (13:17):
no, not at all.
OK, so there's no more retirement
Speaker 1 (13:20):
because I know you're not now because you came in
the other day. That's what I wanna talk about. There
was a new, there was a new CW Collet because
you talked about the whiskeys and the drinking and the
lifestyle and playing all the shows when you came in
the other day and we started talking, I said CW,
we need to get on a podcast because you, you
have a new.
Not just outlook, take, but a new walk in life. Um,
there's a new energy, positivity, uh, you said at one
(13:42):
point you felt like you weren't being appreciated by the
crowds and playing and that suddenly didn't matter anymore
Speaker 2 (13:49):
because you got this new me not appreciating myself first,
you know, I mean I was kind of lost in
the whole.
Thing of getting older, you know, that kind of like,
you know, you see all these fantastic young kids coming
in and they're playing fantastic, you know, so I support that,
you know, of course, but uh you know you start
(14:11):
thinking well maybe it is time for me to just
kind of lay back and just let life go and
but uh but I wasn't gonna give up music I
mean I'm I was determined to stay writing and stuff
I just had so much I wanted to say but
one of the things that happened to me.
Um,
You know, I, I.
(14:32):
Back in the 80s, we were trying to determine which
direction I was gonna go. Was it, we were gonna
be country or we gonna be pop or, you know,
kind of a.
Island sound or what we were gonna do the whole
band
Speaker 1 (14:43):
you kinda had to
choose back then, right?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
There was a lot of the record companies wouldn't, you know,
you had to be this or that or this we
were everything you know I had a jazz sax player
ahead of
Speaker 1 (14:52):
your time ahead of your time,
Speaker 2 (14:53):
yeah well that's what.
Taj Mahal told me he said, Man, you're 22 years
ahead of yourself. See
Speaker 1 (14:58):
these stories guys, in case you listen, you guys, uh,
I'm telling you there's so many when someone just says
that's what Taj Ma you know Taj Mahal told me
that's incredible, but yeah, so back then, but you're kind
of the studios they wanted you to be a certain sound,
a certain thing, uh, before social media it was a tune,
a look, and they kind of marketed that way and
you here you are ahead of your time. You're blending,
you're fusing all these different musics, uh, coming up and
then and go ahead, yeah,
Speaker 2 (15:20):
so back in 1980 we were, we were, uh.
We were just starting to formulate what kind of style
we wanted to do, so we kind of messed around
a little bit we did uh a couple of my
tunes in a reggae field and stuff and I totally
forgot about that, but I was making more money being
this other character called Banjo Billy, you know, uh, because
(15:41):
I played banjo at that time and.
Um, I was working with Marty Robbins at that time
we were doing shows, uh, for we had America the
Beautiful show put together at that time.
But uh
What happened was is Carter canceled the Olympics. We were
supposed to perform for the Olympics and stuff that year
(16:01):
and that all got canceled so we had this big
huge show and nowhere to really put it so we
went to Shriners and.
You know, different uh veterans things and raise money with
the show with that so and uh but uh but
what happened with me now is uh.
(16:23):
During this whole time I got together with Reggae Lou
and I asked him to come.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Explain who Reggae Lou is real quick for listeners.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Reggae Lou came to town. He's, uh, he's a, he's
a really good performer and, uh, very compassionate person, and
I just thought, you know, maybe, maybe he liked a
couple of my songs.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
So from Jamaica, right, uh, or spends a lot of
time there, I think, right,
Speaker 2 (16:44):
yeah, but he's actually from, uh, I think Seattle or something.
I'm not
Speaker 1 (16:48):
sure, but
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
But a lot of recording artists, a lot of time
and emphasis in Jamaica, reggae scene,
Speaker 2 (16:55):
he's in, he's tied in, he's he's connected me with
a lot of the guys in um Montego Bay, you know,
all these other bands that are coming to town and stuff.
He's introducing me to them.
But we had, we had tried going to the reggae
route back then in the 80s and so I pulled
up some of the old stuff and I thought, well,
maybe these guys would like to do these songs.
(17:15):
So I asked him to come by the studio and
he came in and.
I played a few songs and he got all excited
about it and then uh.
Then what happened is I, I'd written Shrimp boats on
the horizon at that time, so I played him that
and he goes, man, we're gonna do that song and
I said, OK.
And then he said, if I'm gonna record anything I
(17:35):
have a producer and he's coming to town and uh
I'd like you to meet him. I said, OK, his
name is Almighty.
Well, 2 days before he shows up, I write a
song called We Are One Human Family.
Which we will be releasing on the 28th of this month,
worldwide internationally, it'll be on everywhere.
Uh, but this song, this is another one of those songs.
(18:00):
Where uh JT Thompson.
Who came up with the one human family sticker 25
years ago.
And since then they've given out 4 million of these stickers.
And I've helped give away.
A lot of them. I've got one on top of
Mount Vesuvius in Italy,
Speaker 1 (18:17):
so that's so cool. Uh, wristbands too, all the cool wristbands.
JT's done one human family, uh, and is the mantra
of Key West,
Speaker 2 (18:24):
the official that's the philosophy too, and.
JT asked me about a year ago, he said, will
you write me the one human family song? And I said, Man,
I've been trying to do that for 25 years, you know,
I said, what do you want in it?
He said 3 words.
So he gives me these 3 words and I write
(18:47):
them down and I get back in the studio and
I lay them on the console. So for a couple
of weeks I'm going through.
I'm looking at the words and I'm just one morning
I just walk in.
And once again, I turn on the recorder.
And um
I just all of a sudden I get this course.
(19:08):
It was part of what Willie was always saying, you know,
we're all human beings, you know.
And uh
So I thought
The the course wrote itself. We're human beings, we want
the same.
Love and compassion is not just a game. Hand in
hand we'll find a way. We're one human family. What
do you say?
(19:29):
To equality.
What do you say to diversity? What do you say
to unity? So each one of those turned into a
verse and that chorus just set it up and I
mean I, the song just flowed right out of me
and all the lyrics, everything, and I was sitting and
I got these chills and I.
And I was so overwhelmed I had to stand up
(19:50):
and walk around the studio in a circle for a
while and shake myself because I was just hit by
this incredible feeling of love.
And then 2 days later, Almighty shows up and he's
not even there for 30 minutes and he's already hooking
up to the, I, I, I bought all the best
equipment for recording. I've been sitting on it for 10
(20:11):
years and I'm not, I'm.
I have no idea how to work at all. I'm
just fortunate enough I could turn it on
Speaker 1 (20:18):
and sounds like my daily routine here on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I, I can make, make it to where I can
record a song, you know, and that's about, but he
comes in, he starts going with all this pain. He goes,
You got everything here, man. And within 8 hours he
started putting this song together. It was just incredible.
And uh
And I started telling him about the feeling that I
had when I was writing it and stuff and he goes, man, I,
(20:43):
it's it. I get it too.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
What do you call that like when you have it's
almost a spiritual moment, right? I don't mean to put
a god into it or a deity or not, but
it's a spiritual thing,
Speaker 2 (20:52):
yeah, the unity of the of the universe. I mean, I, I'm,
I'm not religious and I'm not political or anything, man,
but I really do feel.
This energy of this universe, it just came to me,
you know,
Speaker 1 (21:04):
you know what you said to me when you came
in the other day and I could see it in
your face. I could see it in your, your being,
your aura, whatever it might be, and I'm not one
of these sappy people, but I, you know, when someone
has something in them and it's shining out and it's
usually based in love or or appreciation or thankfulness or
gratitude and you know it's real, it's not a judgmental,
(21:24):
it's not a leverage, it's not filled with hate or
envy or pride, it's it's a real thing and you
could fill it with you and you looked at me.
And I said, what's going on CW and you said,
I've got new life. That's what you told me
Speaker 2 (21:35):
yep I do and that's what happened. I mean that's
when that song hit me and stuff.
It was a feeling of be love.
Be love and all of a sudden that just kept
hitting me be love.
Be loved and I started.
And then it came out in a conversation I was
having with somebody.
(21:56):
And then I realized, no, this is what my purpose is.
Is to bring the world back to be love and.
What I'm trying to do now at this point is
how do, how do I convey to people with music
to want to be a better person towards each other,
to be kinder to each other.
(22:17):
To be more compassionate to each other and that's what's.
This is me now, you know,
Speaker 1 (22:25):
and, and it's real those who can't see you, you
got tears
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Almighty's in the studio creating all this stuff. I have
to go to New Orleans for 10 days. Meanwhile, he
sends me my song Shrimp Boats on the horizon.
And I'm playing it there and then I ended up
playing the shrimp festival in there but then he sends
me one human family and I start playing it for
my my family and stuff and everybody's going this is
(22:49):
fantastic and stuff so.
I get back and you know I, I turn on
the TV and all of a sudden I see this
Bob Marley movie I never really watched it or nothing
I thought well I'm doing the reggae thing now let's
let's find out more about the roots and everything of
it all you know I wanna know about the life
and everything.
(23:09):
And I just got chills when I saw that Bob
Marley had had the same thing happened to him with
uh one love and then all of a sudden my
whole thing.
Just hit me. I've got to be loved. This is
me now, and you have to be loved to be loved.
(23:30):
Every one of us want to be loved.
So in order to be loved, you have to be
the love you want.
So, and that's what I my my new show, my whole.
My whole inner workings right now are all about bringing
this message to people when when I when when people
(23:51):
come to see me.
It's not a party it's not, you know, it's it's
a fun time. I want you to laugh because the
music's happy and everything.
But I want you to have tears of joy. I
want you to feel like you belong. You feel like
you belong to the human race and then also I
want you to think because that's, that's the message that
(24:14):
I that I was that's what I'm here to do now.
Spread the message of be love and help people be
happy and think,
you know, and,
Speaker 1 (24:23):
and for someone listening they say, well this sounds interesting
but it it sounds a little sappy or yeah that
sounds good, but is it possible or achievable but you
said what this hits you you've been playing like you've
been doing for decades you've been playing shows and you
said suddenly the response has been
tremendous
Speaker 2 (24:41):
and it's even been more intense since the last time
I talked to you, I mean.
I mean, every show now, I, I can't sit down anymore.
Um,
It's just this
I, I don't, you know, I'm back to being that
little kid with the dream of playing music and not
(25:02):
see before it was survival, you know, a lot of
it's survival when you, when you're in the trenches there
in the bars and stuff, you know, you see a
bar you see a paycheck, you know that's what that was.
You get past all that in your life and all
of a sudden.
I'm just, I'm, I feel so energized because I get
(25:23):
this last go around. I thought I was done, you know,
I could barely walk 5 years ago and I could,
you know, and I was, you know, my body was
falling apart, but now, man, I'm running up and down stairs.
I'm doing you look great. I look great. I'm gonna
be the new Mick Jagger of Key West, man, you
Speaker 1 (25:41):
know, now I know you said you're not political and
I don't, I'm not gonna make this political, but because
the world is part of this, you feel like the timing.
And the way you're trying to separation a lot of
people
Speaker 2 (25:53):
I think there should be no separation. We're all human
beings we need to take care of each other. That's
all I'm saying, and I don't, you know.
We need to, we need to figure out how to
come back together again as a, as, as a human race,
and you have a vision. I'm talking, you know, we
shouldn't have to be killing each other to to have
a life. It's hard, you know, it's just crazy.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
It's hard to, you know, and you have this vision
to take it from Key West and beyond, and we're
gonna talk about that, but it's funny you say that
because when I spoke to you again, I, I wrote
a few things down because you inspired me the other day.
Here comes CW, and I always love catching up with you,
no doubt about it.
But you started kind of telling me this and at
first I was a little skeptical. I was like, well
you had a good moment and then you kept talking.
(26:36):
I felt the genuine realness of this whatever you're feeling
and you say it won't go away and it's still
here with you now and you said, Bret, I just
wanna make people laugh, #1, you said number 2, I
wanna make them have tears of joy, number 3, I
want to create a society where we feel good about
treating one another with kindness and uh you know I
got this thing from the universe's concept and it's time
for me to be loved and and.
(26:59):
I thought well you know that's a grand idea but
it starts at one show at a time one person
at a time it's hard to be mad it's hard
to say I hate those people or I hate that
idea or I hate that.
Statement or I don't like this or what it's hard
to do that when there's a joyful music being played
right um so and that's the idea right to take
(27:21):
this Key West as one human family
Speaker 2 (27:23):
this is a
new sound that we've created right now with reggae Lou
myself it's like taking if you took.
Frank Sinatra, Van Morrison, Waylon Jennings, Toots and the Mayal,
Bob Marley, you know, and you mix them all up,
you know, you just stir that all up and then
all of a sudden you throw in the background vocals
(27:44):
of the Eagles or the Beatles or the Bee Gees, OK.
And that's the sound we're creating. This is a whole
like you said earlier, LA's got their sound. New York's
got their sound, Nashville's got their sound. Key West now
you said it's a music community. This is time for
us to create a new style of music which is
(28:04):
island and it's a little bit of everything, but it's,
you know, this new sound that I've got is going
it's just incredible and it's gonna, it's catching on and
with the band.
Um, you won't see me playing guitar. You're gonna see
me singing because that's what I do. I'm a lead singer.
And uh I've always been a lead singer. I had
(28:25):
to learn guitar in order to accompany accompany my singing,
but
Speaker 1 (28:28):
you're
a messenger now. I mean, but you, you know, you're,
you're uh you're, you're giving a message.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
I, I, I did a show last night with Lou
on on Sunset Pier last night, and it was just incredible.
I wish I had the videos, uh, that they took,
but I saw a few of them this morning. It
was just, I said that's who I am.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
That's that's who I got CW Colt here on the
Florida Keys Weekly podcast, a new revived.
Apotheosis may be the word you know you you you've
reached this level of some spiritual level of and again
not putting a religious connotation but a spiritual connotation on
this I
Speaker 2 (29:02):
have
a purpose is what I say is uh I have
if I can just get everybody for one billionth of
a second.
So just think about what that little sticker is that
we give away that says one human family if you
connected that for a billionth of a second then we've
got you because that's what you are and we don't
(29:22):
ever be anything more.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Maybe maybe up there in DC they start playing this
music before every session and uh start out that way
but but what you know, seriously, what is your vision
5 years from now and again I know it's not
commercial success. You want this message to be to resonate
and to to find its way into the hearts and
minds across the world. How do you do it one
show at a time out of Key West? What's your vision?
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Well, first thing we're gonna do is, uh, it's with
the music. It's all created with the music. It's all
about the music.
And then the music we have the messages and everything
of just, you know, being a better person to each
other and and and you know we had the fun
ones too we have fried Skeeters and a no CM sauce,
you know, we got all kinds of fun songs and
things like that in the show so it's it's uh.
(30:09):
You know, I wanna make people laugh. I wanna just
make them feel good about themselves and make other people
feel good about themselves. So if everybody starts doing it
in chain reaction.
Everybody starts feeling good and it starts with the music
is what I'm saying and without the music this isn't
gonna work.
So
That's why I just, this music is so intense right
(30:30):
now that's that's coming out of me and it's coming,
you know, everybody that's coming around me, um, I'm so
excited to have Larry Bader on board. I just met
with him the other
day
Speaker 1 (30:39):
worldwide talents.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
I know, and I've always respected it and admired this man,
you know, and, and, and he, you know, so we
kind of mutually had this thing going, and, but, uh,
he said to me about I don't know 15 years
ago or something, he says.
We're gonna work together one day and I said, yeah,
I hope so, you know, and there was a point
where I couldn't play guitar because my hands were so
(31:00):
bad and I approached him. I said, I may need
a band so I can be, you know, do the
Frank Sinatra thing or whatever, you know, crooning, but,
Speaker 1 (31:10):
uh, well, the, the juxtaposition here is I don't wanna
make it about being famous or who you knew because
you guys don't, and you even before this, you guys
have never prided yourself and bragged about these things but
when listeners hear you say, well, Larry Bader and I
were talking.
Here's another guy who played the Apollo plays with Smokey Robinson,
who's played with the greats, who's got stories if you
can get it out of him talking about hanging out with, uh,
(31:31):
you know, Greg Allman and so and here he comes
to you and to show you I'm just pointing out
to show you, you never know in Key West when
you hear a gentleman like you playing the type of
talent and the and the appreciation.
That is we have for music here and here we
are talking about you guys getting together and doing bringing
these styles together, bringing a message of love together out
of Key West. You call it Americana a little bit
(31:53):
maybe is that is that a word?
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Uh well, no, it's not a no, this is our
own this is a Key West. What would you
Speaker 1 (31:59):
call it? I don't wanna.
Name on it how would you
Speaker 2 (32:01):
how would you describe it would kill me if I
said it. She said you're not gonna, you're not gonna
call it that.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Are you gonna bring any banjo back into
it?
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Oh yeah, OK. Here's the fun part about it, you know,
you're you're talking about a reggae sound with pedal steel guitars, violins, banjos.
I mean in the shrimp boats we've got all that
going on and that was the first take that we
did of it. I played all this stuff for Larry
the other day and he's gone.
I could, you know, because I'm in, I'm in and
uh so here's the thing we're gonna release one song
(32:31):
every month I know for the next 20 years or so.
I mean that's how big of the catalog I've written,
but uh we're going back and taking all my stuff,
even the old recordings and stuff we're redoing it all
into this new style, Key West style, Jamaican Key West style.
It's uh.
Because
Speaker 1 (32:48):
I heard you
Speaker 2 (32:49):
should Jamaica West, you shared some.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
It's got ska reggae, Key West's got a little south country,
you know, yeah, the vibes there yeah
Speaker 2 (32:57):
and so what we did is we found we found
a niche in this sound that you know we're combining, OK,
now Almighty is in a band called Earthcry and he's
also a teacher at the university in Montego Bay and
stuff for teaching kids and stuff like that, but he's
also uh.
He's on board with me now. He's, uh, he'll be
(33:20):
coming back here and we'll be working, we'll be cranking
out a lot of tunes, uh.
Um, but he's an incredible producer. He plays everything, every instrument,
so it was just fun. He spent two months in
the studio.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
And you got a vision, you know, with him and
others and other musicians here and you talked about the
young people earlier, young, old, but whatever the whatever however
you wanna label that, but you have a vision of
bringing all these people together this Key West sound shows, uh,
festivals you even talked to me.
You already have this I can see you living it
in your head as you described it maybe doing something
in Havana and and just so
Speaker 2 (33:55):
well
what I have here's what I've got I've got Blove
Key West, OK? I've got those websites all the way
around and I got Blove Jamaica, B Love Cuba, Blove
New Orleans. My idea eventually this is way out there, man.
I'm just in conceptual stage right now, but.
But my total dream would be to have each one
of these islands and places have their history, so we,
(34:18):
we write the shows around their culture, their people, and everything,
and then at some point we flip flop all the
shows to, you know, New Orleans show, go to Jamaica
and the Jamaican show come here and.
And we'll have all those those musicians and those entertainers
from those areas and and and support this uh this
(34:39):
in mix of all this music and everything
Speaker 1 (34:43):
and for those who you know don't necessarily understand or
know about the the one human family it's all about
acceptance inclusivity it's about loving one another it's about.
You know, finding, finding more reasons to embrace one another
than to be divided line,
Speaker 2 (34:58):
how do I be better to the person than another person?
How can I be better to them? And that starts with.
You know,
Letting somebody in line in front of you, you know, or, um,
just being courteous, you know, like thinks that courtesy is
contagious and then he said don't re-elect anyone and that's
(35:20):
in his song.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Um, well, we're coming up on time. I'm gonna get
a couple things in with you here, but so this
you get this new, uh, revitalized revival of CW cult,
and you're having fun. I can tell I came even
heard you the other night over at Two Friends' patio
where people can find you.
Um, see, if you wanna find, speaking of that, if
they wanna find you now they got comments about this
(35:44):
or wanna get involved or support or no more, what's
the best way to, you know the website or what's
the best way to reach
out
Speaker 2 (35:50):
to
Speaker 1 (35:50):
you?
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Well, my daughter's putting together, she already put together a
link page for me already and uh we're in right
now we're in designing of a website at this point,
but uh.
I would say uh any of the social media uh
platforms like Facebook and Instagram, oh
Speaker 1 (36:08):
your name CW Colt C O L Tt and uh
you know, you wanna know more about CW you can
Google Keys Weekly, CW Colt, you'll see an article from
May 16th or 2016 in May, we talk about some
of your history and past. This is before your.
You're uh awakening here uh but it was still a
fun article. It tells a lot about your background, who
you are but today just check you out on Facebook,
(36:28):
you got the site coming soon they can reach out
to you there. You've got a show coming up.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
I do. I've got two shows. I've got one on
February 20th, which I think there might be a few
seats left, but uh there's another show on March 6th
and it's in the back listing room at the Key
West Theater and uh.
They'll start at 7 o'clock, but these, these backroom shows are,
it's a whole thing about who how I started because
(36:55):
I'm gonna start from when I was a little boy
to to where I am at today and I'm gonna
try and cover it within an hour and a half
or so and uh which is pretty difficult, but I
have to condense everything but.
Um, but I wanna make you laugh when you come
in there. I want you to have tears of joy,
and then I just want you to think about how,
(37:16):
how to be a better person.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
Can I put you on the spot? Sure. All right,
so because you've been a little teary eyed with joy.
I didn't give you a lot of water. I'm not
a good host. Can you give me like a, a, uh,
maybe the chorus, the melody of one of these, like the,
the Blove? Can you give me a little, give someone
a taste?
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Are you alright, yeah, we're human beings. We want the same.
Love and compassion not just in game and in hand
we'll find a way. We're one human family. What do
you say we're human beings.
February 28th would be released to the world. I be listening,
(37:56):
be loved.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
CW, you are welcome to come on here with me anytime.
We go way back and we've done this before, whether
it be in print or what it might be, and
today's probably the first time I didn't just hammer down
on your past and who you are so people can
know that more about that as they look you up
and read about you. It's fascinating and I know that
it's fascinating to fans and people that but.
But I wanted today to be about, you know, this
(38:19):
new take this new movement. It was fun and and
and as you said, it truly is contagious. You walked
out the other day and I looked over at my
editor of the Keys Weekly, Mandy Miles, and I said,
you know, CW just left and I was like, he got,
he gave me goosebumps. I got me got me pumped up.
I feel I feel good, you know, and and I
think that's that's the mission, right? People walk away from
your shows and say, you know, I feel I feel better,
(38:41):
I feel good for having listened to that. I felt
like I was part of something that moved through us here.
Um, and, uh, you know, I will speak for you,
but I imagine that's the mission you know,
Speaker 2 (38:49):
it isn't, it isn't really easy to try to keep
that maintain that and stuff, but you know at first
it was a little bit here, a little bit there,
but then all of a sudden now I can maintain
this whole be love thing you know I just feel
like I've been sent here with this purpose to just
put the thought in your mind, one human family and
(39:10):
then be loved.
Just those two things, thoughts, that's
Speaker 1 (39:14):
all it is you love and, and to be and
to to give love, you have to be love. You
have to love yourself. You have to appreciate yourself. You
talked about that and uh it all starts with the
win and then you can give it back.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
Give
yourself your own love first, uh, you know, be appreciative
of who you are and what you are. You're a
human being. You're worth something.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
You literally look different. You look great, but there's a,
there's a, there's
Speaker 2 (39:36):
a it's different
Speaker 1 (39:37):
there's a spark in you man,
Speaker 2 (39:38):
and uh I'm ready. I'm here.
I'm, I'm just gonna spread this. this is my last
go around in my life. So when I leave this world,
I want everybody to be loved. Well,
Speaker 1 (39:50):
CW Colt is telling everyone he's not telling, he's he's.
He's expressing it, just be loved and give love. One
human family coming out of Key West in the Florida Keys.
CW Colt here on the Florida Keys Weekly podcast. There's
gonna be a lot more to come on this as
he gets out there and really starts this. You're gonna
be looking for support and people to to jump on
this
movement.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
I'm looking for support constantly. I need, I need everything.
If you want to be a part of this, just
contact me, um.
Um, just, just Google me. You'll, you'll find my name
and number everywhere and
Speaker 1 (40:23):
there's so many, and that's one of the beauties of
Key West is that there is so much love here.
There's so many support for locals and one another and
nonprofits and and civic organizations and students and.
Whether it be no matter race, creed, color, sexuality, whatever
it is, um, that is one of the beauties of
Key West, and we've always said if you could bottle
that and give it to people and start to change
(40:46):
the world, that
Speaker 2 (40:46):
sounds
like what you're doing, see what I my vision was.
You see this little island of Key West and all
of a sudden you see this whole wave coming up
like a cone and it just circles the whole planet
and it's called it's the music it's the beloved music
so that's what it is yeah
Speaker 1 (41:04):
there you go and that's the pattern there it is
the trademark Y from CW call CW we love you.
It's an honor to have you on here again and
uh I'm gonna keep people posted on this. I know
you're going to keep me posted. I'll be coming down
to the.
Uh, Key West Theater, try to sneak in there. I'm
sure it might be sold out at this point, but
at least that first show and check it out. Alright,
I love it. I get some perks here. There you go, folks,
(41:26):
and I hope you feel it too coming through today.
It's always fun to catch up with CW Cole. He
is a legend, uh, and he's not even talking about that.
He's just talking about what he's gonna bring to others here, uh,
as he walks through this life and, uh, on this
earth and giving it back, and we love him for
it and appreciate all of you, love all of you
for listening.
And uh if you get a chance, check out this
podcast and others at Keysweekly.com, but certainly check out CW
(41:49):
Colt social media pages website, that's C C W and
Colt C O L T, and uh fascinating and gentlemen
and thank you again. Everyone have a great week and
we'll we'll have you back here soon. Thanks so much.
Welcome back to an edition that you're going to love
of the Florida Keys Weekly podcast. I'm Brett Myers, your host.
I get a rare treat today. Most of our podcasts
here lately have been by phone, remote as we, uh,
have a couple of our notable stars, famous folks call
in from afar before they come here and play.
(00:24):
Today I have the luxury of having someone sitting across
from me in my eyes and many eyes and the
truth be told, he is a star, uh, he would
not tell you that of all those that he has
played with played aside beside and taught been taught by
and he's taught others, uh, he is for me an anomaly, um,
he represents, he embodies the true musicians of Key West.
(00:45):
He's gonna talk about that, um, before I jump into it,
let's do think our sponsor.
Uh, Overseas Media Group, that is your digital marketing company
down here in the Florida Keys, they have the world
of expertise, but they have that local service that you
need when you call them up they're there for you.
You can reach them by phone. That's overseasediaroup.com websites, digital media, marketing,
(01:06):
social media, all that stuff you don't don't have time
to fool with, they do it and they do it well.
So thank you for being our sponsor today and our
radio listeners in Radio land.
That is WKWF 103.3 FM, your early risers, thanks for
listening in, and of course all of our podcast listeners
in podcast world, Amazon, Spotify, Apple, and Keys Weekly.com.
(01:28):
Uh, you can find all our podcasts there. Speaking of
Keys Weekly.com, on May 7th, 2016, I had an article
and it said 20 questions with CW Colt. Uh, most
of you listening locally know who CW Colt is unless
you live under a rock. For those of you listening
internationally or nationally, we're gonna talk about who CW Collet is.
(01:49):
Because he's sitting right across from me, C that'd be
great to
Speaker 2 (01:52):
have you. I am here wow, that was a heck
of an introduction there. That's beautiful
Speaker 1 (01:57):
you know we gotta get, we gotta get the uh
the business stuff out of the way um, CW, for
those who don't know you, we're gonna talk about what
you have going on that's new. You're, you're a regular
with me in terms of just articles and hanging out
and speaking.
And I've known you for some time. I came down
to the Florida Keys in 2006, I met you not
long after, uh, watching you play music, playing bars, playing
(02:18):
live shows, those types of things, and you had a
you had a vibe about you that was always cool,
that's why people love you, you have an incredible history.
We'll talk about that too. But recently, just last week
you came in to see me and there was a
different CW setting across from me, um, there was a
new vibe, a new energy, a new positivity.
And you really kinda, you got me with goosebumps and
(02:38):
a little teary eyed and uh there's something new happening
with you. We're gonna talk about that too before we
jump into it, uh, for those who don't know you,
I just wanna run uh just kind of through your
background a little bit, um, you have been playing music
for how long?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Uh, 61 years,
Speaker 1 (02:54):
61 years,
Speaker 2 (02:55):
61, yeah,
Speaker 1 (02:56):
and you, I had to, had to squeeze this out
of you at one point because I know how modest
you are, um, you, you go back to some pretty
interesting names that got you into music. I feel like
you told me at one point Chet Atkins taught you
your first chords, is that right?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yes, that's true. Yes, um, we were just starting our
first band. The Beatles had kind of made their debut
and stuff and so we were all on that train
right away.
Um, my, my friend's dad, uh, knew Chet Atkins pretty well,
and so he said, well, you wanna, you wanna see
how to play guitar, so Chet came over to the
(03:33):
house and he sat there he just had a baby.
And his wife was holding the baby and just sat
on his amp and just started playing.
And I looked at him and I went,
Wow.
I think I'll be a lead singer.
You know, and so, uh, but no, I, I, I,
(03:54):
I've learned a few chords and we were able to,
you know, squeak out a few songs back then like
Gloria and things like that and some Beatles songs and.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Well, and again I, I didn't bring you in to
brag on your past, but for those who don't know you,
maybe some locals don't realize some of your history before
you got here. I mean, you've played with names, uh,
I feel like, uh, some huge names in the music business,
and I know you don't like to name drop, but
you've told me some before, Willie Nelson and others that
you've known over the years, um, it goes back.
(04:24):
But it's, it's a, it's a testament to your love
of music, not stars. I mean, you've been around, you've
got personal battles, you, you, um, you beat cancer that
almost took away your music career. And how long ago
was that? You know, you told me about
Speaker 2 (04:35):
1987. I was diagnosed, uh, stage 3 cancer. So
Speaker 1 (04:41):
and came back from that
Speaker 2 (04:42):
came back
Speaker 1 (04:42):
from that and then in what year did you come
to Key West?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Um, well, I didn't move down here to, well, we
were in Key Largo for a long time, so I
should say
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Florida Keys, but
Speaker 2 (04:54):
yeah, back in the 70s and stuff, we were up
in Key Largo a lot and but I kind of was,
I wasn't really playing so much here uh as a
kid here in the Keys and stuff, it was, you know,
I wanted to be a rock star so I wanted
to be in LA and those kind of places so.
But uh
But my family was here and then uh you know
(05:15):
I kinda I was playing down here quite a bit
for the navy and stuff we were doing a lot
of military stuff VFWs American Legions supporting our veterans and
things so.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Had had Buffett taken off at that point? Was he
a household name?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Oh yeah, I mean by the time I got here,
because I'd already worked with him in Denver at that point.
So
Speaker 1 (05:36):
you'd
worked with Jimmy in Denver out there, and I know
you'd work again. I, I start throwing names around. People
be amazed and kind of backed
Speaker 2 (05:41):
him up. Well, actually he opened for me, so that
was the
Speaker 1 (05:44):
that was Jimmy Buffett opened for you.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
That's right it was the LPJ golf tournament he comes
in and Arnold Palmer shows up and he wants to
eat dinner with him, so he says.
I'll get up and do 2 songs, bring the band
on and
There you have it.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
So you start telling these stories. I can go down
every avenue of these stories, you know, Palmer shows up.
Buffett's out there. I feel like you've thrown Bo Diddley
and Ernest Tubbs at me before. Uh, I mean these
stories as for a whole and and people listening are
probably gonna say that's tell more of the story and,
and well,
Speaker 2 (06:15):
come
and see the shows, yeah, because that's what that's the
new me
Speaker 1 (06:18):
now and that's what I want to dig.
And that's what my listeners understand, CW has so many
layers and you do and and there's so many stories,
and we've talked about them before and we'll we'll have
you on as much as you like and we could
tell some of those, but there's something new going on
with you now. You've been down here playing for decades.
You really define Florida Keys music. You're, you know, it
wasn't always a place that was where singer-songwriters were on
(06:39):
the map. I've always said that I feel like the Keys,
particularly now Key West and the Keys.
Have become a music, you know, I don't say industry
but a music destination, um, you know, where Athens, Georgia,
and Seattle, the Seattle movement and Austin, Texas. I really
feel like the Keys have have not just doing it
now but have lately, the last few years become that
(06:59):
and I, you know, a lot of times it's lost
that the people that made that happen, there's some pioneers
of music, Paul Cox.
And Barry Cudda, uh, Larry Bader, Mike McLeod and others,
but your name is always on the forefront of that
CW that came down here and I'm honored
Speaker 2 (07:12):
to just be, you know, involved, you know, be included
in
that.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Well, you and you know it's true and you're humble, but, uh, you, you,
you guys and ladies made that what it is today.
And so Key West being the music vibe that it
is and you and you played shows and bars and
everything else and and there was a moment there I
feel like because we're gonna lead into what's going on
with you right now and CW Collet.
Uh, there was a moment where you took a step
back not long ago and decided to retire,
Speaker 2 (07:38):
yeah, 4.5 years ago, or 5 years now, um, you know,
I was doing 535 shows a year downtown and they
weren't no one hour show, but, but you know that including,
you know, the sipping of whiskey and things like that
kind of like wore me out and uh it became
a big health issue as far as.
Mentally and physically, so I just needed to take a
(08:01):
break and step back from it all. I had so
many ideas of songs to write and I wasn't writing
them because I was so busy trying to chase that
that neon rainbow type of thing, you know, but uh.
But fortunately during my time I off I I started
to write all these incredible tunes that I that were
(08:23):
that were touching me and touching the people around me
um I started documenting in music, you know, the history
of some of our local characters like Dink Bruce, you know, and,
and you gotta just think about it and so I
wrote a song called Dink About it
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Dink about it, yeah, Dink Bruce, think about it
Speaker 2 (08:42):
and
uh.
You know, and, and, and he had inspired me so many,
so much of my life too and spending I live
right across from Louis and we'd spend every Sunday I
sitting at Louis's or and uh a lot of times
in the old days all the old guys would be
hanging around out there and we'd be telling stories and
stuff so but all those guys have passed away but.
(09:04):
But Dink was probably the most special because he introduced
a lot of people to other people that changed other
people's lives and so I sat there and I was
thinking so I went around to all his friends and
everybody and I gathered this data.
And I just kinda
It took me a while to decipher it off because
(09:24):
everybody sent me a line on what they would what
they thought about Dink and what he would say and
stuff so I came up with this really beautiful song
called Dink about it.
And then
Uh, I was, I woke up in the middle of
the night about 3 o'clock in the morning after having
a dream about Cheryl Kate's singing in a, in a big,
(09:46):
we were all in the Ball Street and there was
all these people singing and I looked up and there
was Cheryl Cates and she was just belting it out.
And she was very special because.
She saw something in me that I kind of forgot
about and who I was and stuff and and uh.
The last thing she ever said to me was you
(10:09):
can't retire you're the best singer in town and I
was just I had tears in my eyes when she
said that. I just was, wow, what a thing to
say and uh.
So when she uh.
When I had her in this dream, I thought.
Man, I went out to the recording studio right away.
(10:30):
It's 4 o'clock in the morning at that time.
And, uh,
Speaker 1 (10:34):
for those listening, I wanna keep you right on track
on that story, but I I I wanna bring some
people with us in case they don't, you know, we
have a lot of listeners who are not from here, um,
which I'm flattered about, uh, they must be really bored,
but not because of you, because of me, but when
I have someone like you, they're listening, uh, in all seriousness,
you know, you talk about D Cheryl Cates, um.
She is, she was a force in this town, a
(10:56):
person who was endeared by so many, her husband, Craig Cates,
who everyone knows, is the county commissioner, former mayor of
Key West, but Cheryl was really the, you know, and
Craig would agree with that. He's the force behind that
incredible family, um, we lost her during COVID.
And uh but she was just someone in this town
who got things done out of love, whether it was
feeding the hungry, it was clothing children, supporting schools, supporting
(11:18):
people like you and I so I want to point
that out as you tell this story to kind of
understand who Cheryl Cates was. He just found people and
she just sort of she knew people's hearts, you know,
she found someone that she connected with that she felt
like had that kind of heart, uh, for love and humanity.
She connected and she supported them and when she was
your friend.
She was your friend. Like there was, she was loyal,
(11:39):
she was a bad ass and she, she had your
back so I want you, you're up at 4 in
the morning she had passed away. You're thinking about her.
Go ahead,
Speaker 2 (11:46):
you know, I go out in the studio. I'm sitting
there and I'm just going, hm, wow and I picked
up my guitar and all of a sudden.
What's what has been really happening and which has been.
Extraordinary for me because when I was younger and I
just learned a guitar I had to make up my
(12:06):
own songs and so a lot of it just be
making up the song and that'd be the end of
that song you never hear it again because it wasn't
recorded or anything so what I started doing is turning
on my recorder when I pick up my guitar just
so if I get something because sometimes the song will
flow all the way through all the lyrics, everything, the music.
(12:27):
Or you know, you get the basic idea and then
you break it down, but anyway.
That's what happened with this. I turned on the recorder.
And I had this nostalgic feeling.
So I started it like the old 50s, you know,
and uh, and then the song just popped out. The
chorus came out and then the verses were easy to
(12:48):
put together because all they were, they were about her
life and the extraordinary person that she was in the
giving and everything, but the, the whole chorus is Cheryl,
your spirit lives on. It's the heart of Key West
beating from dusk till dawn, your spirit, your light.
Forever bright, you are our guiding light.
(13:10):
And when I had that, the whole song just fell
into place.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Now at this point you're still retired professionally somewhat, or
Speaker 2 (13:17):
no, not at all.
OK, so there's no more retirement
Speaker 1 (13:20):
because I know you're not now because you came in
the other day. That's what I wanna talk about. There
was a new, there was a new CW Collet because
you talked about the whiskeys and the drinking and the
lifestyle and playing all the shows when you came in
the other day and we started talking, I said CW,
we need to get on a podcast because you, you
have a new.
Not just outlook, take, but a new walk in life. Um,
there's a new energy, positivity, uh, you said at one
(13:42):
point you felt like you weren't being appreciated by the
crowds and playing and that suddenly didn't matter anymore
Speaker 2 (13:49):
because you got this new me not appreciating myself first,
you know, I mean I was kind of lost in
the whole.
Thing of getting older, you know, that kind of like,
you know, you see all these fantastic young kids coming
in and they're playing fantastic, you know, so I support that,
you know, of course, but uh you know you start
(14:11):
thinking well maybe it is time for me to just
kind of lay back and just let life go and
but uh but I wasn't gonna give up music I
mean I'm I was determined to stay writing and stuff
I just had so much I wanted to say but
one of the things that happened to me.
Um,
You know, I, I.
(14:32):
Back in the 80s, we were trying to determine which
direction I was gonna go. Was it, we were gonna
be country or we gonna be pop or, you know,
kind of a.
Island sound or what we were gonna do the whole
band
Speaker 1 (14:43):
you kinda had to
choose back then, right?
Speaker 2 (14:44):
There was a lot of the record companies wouldn't, you know,
you had to be this or that or this we
were everything you know I had a jazz sax player
ahead of
Speaker 1 (14:52):
your time ahead of your time,
Speaker 2 (14:53):
yeah well that's what.
Taj Mahal told me he said, Man, you're 22 years
ahead of yourself. See
Speaker 1 (14:58):
these stories guys, in case you listen, you guys, uh,
I'm telling you there's so many when someone just says
that's what Taj Ma you know Taj Mahal told me
that's incredible, but yeah, so back then, but you're kind
of the studios they wanted you to be a certain sound,
a certain thing, uh, before social media it was a tune,
a look, and they kind of marketed that way and
you here you are ahead of your time. You're blending,
you're fusing all these different musics, uh, coming up and
then and go ahead, yeah,
Speaker 2 (15:20):
so back in 1980 we were, we were, uh.
We were just starting to formulate what kind of style
we wanted to do, so we kind of messed around
a little bit we did uh a couple of my
tunes in a reggae field and stuff and I totally
forgot about that, but I was making more money being
this other character called Banjo Billy, you know, uh, because
(15:41):
I played banjo at that time and.
Um, I was working with Marty Robbins at that time
we were doing shows, uh, for we had America the
Beautiful show put together at that time.
But uh
What happened was is Carter canceled the Olympics. We were
supposed to perform for the Olympics and stuff that year
(16:01):
and that all got canceled so we had this big
huge show and nowhere to really put it so we
went to Shriners and.
You know, different uh veterans things and raise money with
the show with that so and uh but uh but
what happened with me now is uh.
(16:23):
During this whole time I got together with Reggae Lou
and I asked him to come.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Explain who Reggae Lou is real quick for listeners.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Reggae Lou came to town. He's, uh, he's a, he's
a really good performer and, uh, very compassionate person, and
I just thought, you know, maybe, maybe he liked a
couple of my songs.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
So from Jamaica, right, uh, or spends a lot of
time there, I think, right,
Speaker 2 (16:44):
yeah, but he's actually from, uh, I think Seattle or something.
I'm not
Speaker 1 (16:48):
sure, but
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
But a lot of recording artists, a lot of time
and emphasis in Jamaica, reggae scene,
Speaker 2 (16:55):
he's in, he's tied in, he's he's connected me with
a lot of the guys in um Montego Bay, you know,
all these other bands that are coming to town and stuff.
He's introducing me to them.
But we had, we had tried going to the reggae
route back then in the 80s and so I pulled
up some of the old stuff and I thought, well,
maybe these guys would like to do these songs.
(17:15):
So I asked him to come by the studio and
he came in and.
I played a few songs and he got all excited
about it and then uh.
Then what happened is I, I'd written Shrimp boats on
the horizon at that time, so I played him that
and he goes, man, we're gonna do that song and
I said, OK.
And then he said, if I'm gonna record anything I
(17:35):
have a producer and he's coming to town and uh
I'd like you to meet him. I said, OK, his
name is Almighty.
Well, 2 days before he shows up, I write a
song called We Are One Human Family.
Which we will be releasing on the 28th of this month,
worldwide internationally, it'll be on everywhere.
Uh, but this song, this is another one of those songs.
(18:00):
Where uh JT Thompson.
Who came up with the one human family sticker 25
years ago.
And since then they've given out 4 million of these stickers.
And I've helped give away.
A lot of them. I've got one on top of
Mount Vesuvius in Italy,
Speaker 1 (18:17):
so that's so cool. Uh, wristbands too, all the cool wristbands.
JT's done one human family, uh, and is the mantra
of Key West,
Speaker 2 (18:24):
the official that's the philosophy too, and.
JT asked me about a year ago, he said, will
you write me the one human family song? And I said, Man,
I've been trying to do that for 25 years, you know,
I said, what do you want in it?
He said 3 words.
So he gives me these 3 words and I write
(18:47):
them down and I get back in the studio and
I lay them on the console. So for a couple
of weeks I'm going through.
I'm looking at the words and I'm just one morning
I just walk in.
And once again, I turn on the recorder.
And um
I just all of a sudden I get this course.
(19:08):
It was part of what Willie was always saying, you know,
we're all human beings, you know.
And uh
So I thought
The the course wrote itself. We're human beings, we want
the same.
Love and compassion is not just a game. Hand in
hand we'll find a way. We're one human family. What
do you say?
(19:29):
To equality.
What do you say to diversity? What do you say
to unity? So each one of those turned into a
verse and that chorus just set it up and I
mean I, the song just flowed right out of me
and all the lyrics, everything, and I was sitting and
I got these chills and I.
And I was so overwhelmed I had to stand up
(19:50):
and walk around the studio in a circle for a
while and shake myself because I was just hit by
this incredible feeling of love.
And then 2 days later, Almighty shows up and he's
not even there for 30 minutes and he's already hooking
up to the, I, I, I bought all the best
equipment for recording. I've been sitting on it for 10
(20:11):
years and I'm not, I'm.
I have no idea how to work at all. I'm
just fortunate enough I could turn it on
Speaker 1 (20:18):
and sounds like my daily routine here on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I, I can make, make it to where I can
record a song, you know, and that's about, but he
comes in, he starts going with all this pain. He goes,
You got everything here, man. And within 8 hours he
started putting this song together. It was just incredible.
And uh
And I started telling him about the feeling that I
had when I was writing it and stuff and he goes, man, I,
(20:43):
it's it. I get it too.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
What do you call that like when you have it's
almost a spiritual moment, right? I don't mean to put
a god into it or a deity or not, but
it's a spiritual thing,
Speaker 2 (20:52):
yeah, the unity of the of the universe. I mean, I, I'm,
I'm not religious and I'm not political or anything, man,
but I really do feel.
This energy of this universe, it just came to me,
you know,
Speaker 1 (21:04):
you know what you said to me when you came
in the other day and I could see it in
your face. I could see it in your, your being,
your aura, whatever it might be, and I'm not one
of these sappy people, but I, you know, when someone
has something in them and it's shining out and it's
usually based in love or or appreciation or thankfulness or
gratitude and you know it's real, it's not a judgmental,
(21:24):
it's not a leverage, it's not filled with hate or
envy or pride, it's it's a real thing and you
could fill it with you and you looked at me.
And I said, what's going on CW and you said,
I've got new life. That's what you told me
Speaker 2 (21:35):
yep I do and that's what happened. I mean that's
when that song hit me and stuff.
It was a feeling of be love.
Be love and all of a sudden that just kept
hitting me be love.
Be loved and I started.
And then it came out in a conversation I was
having with somebody.
(21:56):
And then I realized, no, this is what my purpose is.
Is to bring the world back to be love and.
What I'm trying to do now at this point is
how do, how do I convey to people with music
to want to be a better person towards each other,
to be kinder to each other.
(22:17):
To be more compassionate to each other and that's what's.
This is me now, you know,
Speaker 1 (22:25):
and, and it's real those who can't see you, you
got tears
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Almighty's in the studio creating all this stuff. I have
to go to New Orleans for 10 days. Meanwhile, he
sends me my song Shrimp Boats on the horizon.
And I'm playing it there and then I ended up
playing the shrimp festival in there but then he sends
me one human family and I start playing it for
my my family and stuff and everybody's going this is
(22:49):
fantastic and stuff so.
I get back and you know I, I turn on
the TV and all of a sudden I see this
Bob Marley movie I never really watched it or nothing
I thought well I'm doing the reggae thing now let's
let's find out more about the roots and everything of
it all you know I wanna know about the life
and everything.
(23:09):
And I just got chills when I saw that Bob
Marley had had the same thing happened to him with
uh one love and then all of a sudden my
whole thing.
Just hit me. I've got to be loved. This is
me now, and you have to be loved to be loved.
(23:30):
Every one of us want to be loved.
So in order to be loved, you have to be
the love you want.
So, and that's what I my my new show, my whole.
My whole inner workings right now are all about bringing
this message to people when when I when when people
(23:51):
come to see me.
It's not a party it's not, you know, it's it's
a fun time. I want you to laugh because the
music's happy and everything.
But I want you to have tears of joy. I
want you to feel like you belong. You feel like
you belong to the human race and then also I
want you to think because that's, that's the message that
(24:14):
I that I was that's what I'm here to do now.
Spread the message of be love and help people be
happy and think,
you know, and,
Speaker 1 (24:23):
and for someone listening they say, well this sounds interesting
but it it sounds a little sappy or yeah that
sounds good, but is it possible or achievable but you
said what this hits you you've been playing like you've
been doing for decades you've been playing shows and you
said suddenly the response has been
tremendous
Speaker 2 (24:41):
and it's even been more intense since the last time
I talked to you, I mean.
I mean, every show now, I, I can't sit down anymore.
Um,
It's just this
I, I don't, you know, I'm back to being that
little kid with the dream of playing music and not
(25:02):
see before it was survival, you know, a lot of
it's survival when you, when you're in the trenches there
in the bars and stuff, you know, you see a
bar you see a paycheck, you know that's what that was.
You get past all that in your life and all
of a sudden.
I'm just, I'm, I feel so energized because I get
(25:23):
this last go around. I thought I was done, you know,
I could barely walk 5 years ago and I could,
you know, and I was, you know, my body was
falling apart, but now, man, I'm running up and down stairs.
I'm doing you look great. I look great. I'm gonna
be the new Mick Jagger of Key West, man, you
Speaker 1 (25:41):
know, now I know you said you're not political and
I don't, I'm not gonna make this political, but because
the world is part of this, you feel like the timing.
And the way you're trying to separation a lot of
people
Speaker 2 (25:53):
I think there should be no separation. We're all human
beings we need to take care of each other. That's
all I'm saying, and I don't, you know.
We need to, we need to figure out how to
come back together again as a, as, as a human race,
and you have a vision. I'm talking, you know, we
shouldn't have to be killing each other to to have
a life. It's hard, you know, it's just crazy.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
It's hard to, you know, and you have this vision
to take it from Key West and beyond, and we're
gonna talk about that, but it's funny you say that
because when I spoke to you again, I, I wrote
a few things down because you inspired me the other day.
Here comes CW, and I always love catching up with you,
no doubt about it.
But you started kind of telling me this and at
first I was a little skeptical. I was like, well
you had a good moment and then you kept talking.
(26:36):
I felt the genuine realness of this whatever you're feeling
and you say it won't go away and it's still
here with you now and you said, Bret, I just
wanna make people laugh, #1, you said number 2, I
wanna make them have tears of joy, number 3, I
want to create a society where we feel good about
treating one another with kindness and uh you know I
got this thing from the universe's concept and it's time
for me to be loved and and.
(26:59):
I thought well you know that's a grand idea but
it starts at one show at a time one person
at a time it's hard to be mad it's hard
to say I hate those people or I hate that
idea or I hate that.
Statement or I don't like this or what it's hard
to do that when there's a joyful music being played
right um so and that's the idea right to take
(27:21):
this Key West as one human family
Speaker 2 (27:23):
this is a
new sound that we've created right now with reggae Lou
myself it's like taking if you took.
Frank Sinatra, Van Morrison, Waylon Jennings, Toots and the Mayal,
Bob Marley, you know, and you mix them all up,
you know, you just stir that all up and then
all of a sudden you throw in the background vocals
(27:44):
of the Eagles or the Beatles or the Bee Gees, OK.
And that's the sound we're creating. This is a whole
like you said earlier, LA's got their sound. New York's
got their sound, Nashville's got their sound. Key West now
you said it's a music community. This is time for
us to create a new style of music which is
(28:04):
island and it's a little bit of everything, but it's,
you know, this new sound that I've got is going
it's just incredible and it's gonna, it's catching on and
with the band.
Um, you won't see me playing guitar. You're gonna see
me singing because that's what I do. I'm a lead singer.
And uh I've always been a lead singer. I had
(28:25):
to learn guitar in order to accompany accompany my singing,
but
Speaker 1 (28:28):
you're
a messenger now. I mean, but you, you know, you're,
you're uh you're, you're giving a message.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
I, I, I did a show last night with Lou
on on Sunset Pier last night, and it was just incredible.
I wish I had the videos, uh, that they took,
but I saw a few of them this morning. It
was just, I said that's who I am.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
That's that's who I got CW Colt here on the
Florida Keys Weekly podcast, a new revived.
Apotheosis may be the word you know you you you've
reached this level of some spiritual level of and again
not putting a religious connotation but a spiritual connotation on
this I
Speaker 2 (29:02):
have
a purpose is what I say is uh I have
if I can just get everybody for one billionth of
a second.
So just think about what that little sticker is that
we give away that says one human family if you
connected that for a billionth of a second then we've
got you because that's what you are and we don't
(29:22):
ever be anything more.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Maybe maybe up there in DC they start playing this
music before every session and uh start out that way
but but what you know, seriously, what is your vision
5 years from now and again I know it's not
commercial success. You want this message to be to resonate
and to to find its way into the hearts and
minds across the world. How do you do it one
show at a time out of Key West? What's your vision?
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Well, first thing we're gonna do is, uh, it's with
the music. It's all created with the music. It's all
about the music.
And then the music we have the messages and everything
of just, you know, being a better person to each
other and and and you know we had the fun
ones too we have fried Skeeters and a no CM sauce,
you know, we got all kinds of fun songs and
things like that in the show so it's it's uh.
(30:09):
You know, I wanna make people laugh. I wanna just
make them feel good about themselves and make other people
feel good about themselves. So if everybody starts doing it
in chain reaction.
Everybody starts feeling good and it starts with the music
is what I'm saying and without the music this isn't
gonna work.
So
That's why I just, this music is so intense right
(30:30):
now that's that's coming out of me and it's coming,
you know, everybody that's coming around me, um, I'm so
excited to have Larry Bader on board. I just met
with him the other
day
Speaker 1 (30:39):
worldwide talents.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
I know, and I've always respected it and admired this man,
you know, and, and, and he, you know, so we
kind of mutually had this thing going, and, but, uh,
he said to me about I don't know 15 years
ago or something, he says.
We're gonna work together one day and I said, yeah,
I hope so, you know, and there was a point
where I couldn't play guitar because my hands were so
(31:00):
bad and I approached him. I said, I may need
a band so I can be, you know, do the
Frank Sinatra thing or whatever, you know, crooning, but,
Speaker 1 (31:10):
uh, well, the, the juxtaposition here is I don't wanna
make it about being famous or who you knew because
you guys don't, and you even before this, you guys
have never prided yourself and bragged about these things but
when listeners hear you say, well, Larry Bader and I
were talking.
Here's another guy who played the Apollo plays with Smokey Robinson,
who's played with the greats, who's got stories if you
can get it out of him talking about hanging out with, uh,
(31:31):
you know, Greg Allman and so and here he comes
to you and to show you I'm just pointing out
to show you, you never know in Key West when
you hear a gentleman like you playing the type of
talent and the and the appreciation.
That is we have for music here and here we
are talking about you guys getting together and doing bringing
these styles together, bringing a message of love together out
of Key West. You call it Americana a little bit
(31:53):
maybe is that is that a word?
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Uh well, no, it's not a no, this is our
own this is a Key West. What would you
Speaker 1 (31:59):
call it? I don't wanna.
Name on it how would you
Speaker 2 (32:01):
how would you describe it would kill me if I
said it. She said you're not gonna, you're not gonna
call it that.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Are you gonna bring any banjo back into
it?
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Oh yeah, OK. Here's the fun part about it, you know,
you're you're talking about a reggae sound with pedal steel guitars, violins, banjos.
I mean in the shrimp boats we've got all that
going on and that was the first take that we
did of it. I played all this stuff for Larry
the other day and he's gone.
I could, you know, because I'm in, I'm in and
uh so here's the thing we're gonna release one song
(32:31):
every month I know for the next 20 years or so.
I mean that's how big of the catalog I've written,
but uh we're going back and taking all my stuff,
even the old recordings and stuff we're redoing it all
into this new style, Key West style, Jamaican Key West style.
It's uh.
Because
Speaker 1 (32:48):
I heard you
Speaker 2 (32:49):
should Jamaica West, you shared some.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
It's got ska reggae, Key West's got a little south country,
you know, yeah, the vibes there yeah
Speaker 2 (32:57):
and so what we did is we found we found
a niche in this sound that you know we're combining, OK,
now Almighty is in a band called Earthcry and he's
also a teacher at the university in Montego Bay and
stuff for teaching kids and stuff like that, but he's
also uh.
He's on board with me now. He's, uh, he'll be
(33:20):
coming back here and we'll be working, we'll be cranking
out a lot of tunes, uh.
Um, but he's an incredible producer. He plays everything, every instrument,
so it was just fun. He spent two months in
the studio.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
And you got a vision, you know, with him and
others and other musicians here and you talked about the
young people earlier, young, old, but whatever the whatever however
you wanna label that, but you have a vision of
bringing all these people together this Key West sound shows, uh,
festivals you even talked to me.
You already have this I can see you living it
in your head as you described it maybe doing something
in Havana and and just so
Speaker 2 (33:55):
well
what I have here's what I've got I've got Blove
Key West, OK? I've got those websites all the way
around and I got Blove Jamaica, B Love Cuba, Blove
New Orleans. My idea eventually this is way out there, man.
I'm just in conceptual stage right now, but.
But my total dream would be to have each one
of these islands and places have their history, so we,
(34:18):
we write the shows around their culture, their people, and everything,
and then at some point we flip flop all the
shows to, you know, New Orleans show, go to Jamaica
and the Jamaican show come here and.
And we'll have all those those musicians and those entertainers
from those areas and and and support this uh this
(34:39):
in mix of all this music and everything
Speaker 1 (34:43):
and for those who you know don't necessarily understand or
know about the the one human family it's all about
acceptance inclusivity it's about loving one another it's about.
You know, finding, finding more reasons to embrace one another
than to be divided line,
Speaker 2 (34:58):
how do I be better to the person than another person?
How can I be better to them? And that starts with.
You know,
Letting somebody in line in front of you, you know, or, um,
just being courteous, you know, like thinks that courtesy is
contagious and then he said don't re-elect anyone and that's
(35:20):
in his song.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Um, well, we're coming up on time. I'm gonna get
a couple things in with you here, but so this
you get this new, uh, revitalized revival of CW cult,
and you're having fun. I can tell I came even
heard you the other night over at Two Friends' patio
where people can find you.
Um, see, if you wanna find, speaking of that, if
they wanna find you now they got comments about this
(35:44):
or wanna get involved or support or no more, what's
the best way to, you know the website or what's
the best way to reach
out
Speaker 2 (35:50):
to
Speaker 1 (35:50):
you?
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Well, my daughter's putting together, she already put together a
link page for me already and uh we're in right
now we're in designing of a website at this point,
but uh.
I would say uh any of the social media uh
platforms like Facebook and Instagram, oh
Speaker 1 (36:08):
your name CW Colt C O L Tt and uh
you know, you wanna know more about CW you can
Google Keys Weekly, CW Colt, you'll see an article from
May 16th or 2016 in May, we talk about some
of your history and past. This is before your.
You're uh awakening here uh but it was still a
fun article. It tells a lot about your background, who
you are but today just check you out on Facebook,
(36:28):
you got the site coming soon they can reach out
to you there. You've got a show coming up.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
I do. I've got two shows. I've got one on
February 20th, which I think there might be a few
seats left, but uh there's another show on March 6th
and it's in the back listing room at the Key
West Theater and uh.
They'll start at 7 o'clock, but these, these backroom shows are,
it's a whole thing about who how I started because
(36:55):
I'm gonna start from when I was a little boy
to to where I am at today and I'm gonna
try and cover it within an hour and a half
or so and uh which is pretty difficult, but I
have to condense everything but.
Um, but I wanna make you laugh when you come
in there. I want you to have tears of joy,
and then I just want you to think about how,
(37:16):
how to be a better person.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
Can I put you on the spot? Sure. All right,
so because you've been a little teary eyed with joy.
I didn't give you a lot of water. I'm not
a good host. Can you give me like a, a, uh,
maybe the chorus, the melody of one of these, like the,
the Blove? Can you give me a little, give someone
a taste?
Speaker 2 (37:31):
Are you alright, yeah, we're human beings. We want the same.
Love and compassion not just in game and in hand
we'll find a way. We're one human family. What do
you say we're human beings.
February 28th would be released to the world. I be listening,
(37:56):
be loved.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
CW, you are welcome to come on here with me anytime.
We go way back and we've done this before, whether
it be in print or what it might be, and
today's probably the first time I didn't just hammer down
on your past and who you are so people can
know that more about that as they look you up
and read about you. It's fascinating and I know that
it's fascinating to fans and people that but.
But I wanted today to be about, you know, this
(38:19):
new take this new movement. It was fun and and
and as you said, it truly is contagious. You walked
out the other day and I looked over at my
editor of the Keys Weekly, Mandy Miles, and I said,
you know, CW just left and I was like, he got,
he gave me goosebumps. I got me got me pumped up.
I feel I feel good, you know, and and I
think that's that's the mission, right? People walk away from
your shows and say, you know, I feel I feel better,
(38:41):
I feel good for having listened to that. I felt
like I was part of something that moved through us here.
Um, and, uh, you know, I will speak for you,
but I imagine that's the mission you know,
Speaker 2 (38:49):
it isn't, it isn't really easy to try to keep
that maintain that and stuff, but you know at first
it was a little bit here, a little bit there,
but then all of a sudden now I can maintain
this whole be love thing you know I just feel
like I've been sent here with this purpose to just
put the thought in your mind, one human family and
(39:10):
then be loved.
Just those two things, thoughts, that's
Speaker 1 (39:14):
all it is you love and, and to be and
to to give love, you have to be love. You
have to love yourself. You have to appreciate yourself. You
talked about that and uh it all starts with the
win and then you can give it back.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
Give
yourself your own love first, uh, you know, be appreciative
of who you are and what you are. You're a
human being. You're worth something.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
You literally look different. You look great, but there's a,
there's a, there's
Speaker 2 (39:36):
a it's different
Speaker 1 (39:37):
there's a spark in you man,
Speaker 2 (39:38):
and uh I'm ready. I'm here.
I'm, I'm just gonna spread this. this is my last
go around in my life. So when I leave this world,
I want everybody to be loved. Well,
Speaker 1 (39:50):
CW Colt is telling everyone he's not telling, he's he's.
He's expressing it, just be loved and give love. One
human family coming out of Key West in the Florida Keys.
CW Colt here on the Florida Keys Weekly podcast. There's
gonna be a lot more to come on this as
he gets out there and really starts this. You're gonna
be looking for support and people to to jump on
this
movement.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
I'm looking for support constantly. I need, I need everything.
If you want to be a part of this, just
contact me, um.
Um, just, just Google me. You'll, you'll find my name
and number everywhere and
Speaker 1 (40:23):
there's so many, and that's one of the beauties of
Key West is that there is so much love here.
There's so many support for locals and one another and
nonprofits and and civic organizations and students and.
Whether it be no matter race, creed, color, sexuality, whatever
it is, um, that is one of the beauties of
Key West, and we've always said if you could bottle
that and give it to people and start to change
(40:46):
the world, that
Speaker 2 (40:46):
sounds
like what you're doing, see what I my vision was.
You see this little island of Key West and all
of a sudden you see this whole wave coming up
like a cone and it just circles the whole planet
and it's called it's the music it's the beloved music
so that's what it is yeah
Speaker 1 (41:04):
there you go and that's the pattern there it is
the trademark Y from CW call CW we love you.
It's an honor to have you on here again and
uh I'm gonna keep people posted on this. I know
you're going to keep me posted. I'll be coming down
to the.
Uh, Key West Theater, try to sneak in there. I'm
sure it might be sold out at this point, but
at least that first show and check it out. Alright,
I love it. I get some perks here. There you go, folks,
(41:26):
and I hope you feel it too coming through today.
It's always fun to catch up with CW Cole. He
is a legend, uh, and he's not even talking about that.
He's just talking about what he's gonna bring to others here, uh,
as he walks through this life and, uh, on this
earth and giving it back, and we love him for
it and appreciate all of you, love all of you
for listening.
And uh if you get a chance, check out this
podcast and others at Keysweekly.com, but certainly check out CW
(41:49):
Colt social media pages website, that's C C W and
Colt C O L T, and uh fascinating and gentlemen
and thank you again. Everyone have a great week and
we'll we'll have you back here soon. Thanks so much.
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