Below is a snippet from Ralph DePalma in the Keys News about William Ochoa Jr., aka, Chief Billy, during his 22 years in Key West. I knew Chief Billy well during his extended stay in Key West, and saw him often at his Friday night gigs with Barry Cuda and Steve Mello at BO’s (a good friend) Fishwagon and at Blue Heaven. Billy played at both Matt and Becky’s wedding parties in Key West, along with Steve. I remember helping Barry Cuda open his IRA at our house on William St. in Key West, where, to this day, Debbie and I still live in Old Key West. Billy, if you’re reading this, I hope you’re well. DePalma writes:
Barry Cuda and the Sharks, included Chief Billy, Steve Mello on drums and Marty Stonely on sax, continued and became a popular Key West group. With a little help from Cuda, they played gigs all over town. In 1994, BO’s Fishwagon moved to its current location on Caroline Street and for the next 25 years, the Sharks was their Friday night band.
Beer was free at BO’s for the band members when they first started playing but soon afterwards, owner Buddy Owens had to limit the band to three free beers each. Chief Billy and Steve were the rhythm section for Cuda and the Sharks. They made an album with Cuda called “Fish Nuts.” Steve was a mischief maker and he and Chief Billy were always cutting up but he was a musician first, some say a musical genius. To this day, Cuda says he felt like Groucho Marx performing with two Harpos.
World-famous drummer Richard Crooks and Chief Billy were introduced by Barry Cuda while playing at BO’s Fishwagon in 2006. They started gigging together at Blue Heaven. Richard, Tim McAlpine and Chief Billy had a gig at Blue Heaven one night and they tried some different approaches to several cover songs. Chief called for an older Dylan song “Tangled Up in Blue” and said to Richard “Just think of it like the ‘Blood on the Tracks’ sector.” Richard Crooks, who often recorded with the great Bob Dylan, quickly responded, “Hey, this more fun than playing with Dylan — don’t pay as much but more fun.”
Read more here.
If you’re willing to fight for Main Street America, click here to sign up for my free weekly email.
