Bobby Ingram
Longtime Grovite Bobby Ingram passed away 11 am Monday. If you lived any length of time in the Grove you knew of, or you personally knew Bobby. Here's an interview I did with him in August 2015.
Musician Bobby Ingram is an integral part of Coconut Grove's history. You probably see him around the village often and not realize that he was witness to Grove history from the 1960s on. He was here when the Grove was the Grove. When it was a bunch of clapboard stores and restaurants surrounded by trees, forest and shotgun houses. This photo is from historian Arva Moore Parks' book, "Coconut Grove," courtesy of Tucker Gibbs and the Village Post; it shows Bobby at right, with David Crosby. They played at the Flick and the Gaslight.
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the "old" Coconut Grove? A scent? A street scape? A store?
My fondest memory of the Grove when I arrived was that the sky was not blocked by any condominiums.
What year did you arrive in Coconut Grove?
1962
Did most of the performers live back in the Mary Street/Center Grove area? Or was it more South Grove near Plymouth Church?
I don't know. All over the Grove I guess.
I heard you were involved with the Flick, were you part owner or involved?
I was on the bill playing a duo with David Crosby, Vince Martin and Oz Bach were on the bill as well. Winter 1964 I was an investor in the first coffee house, Douglas Road 1962.
Peacock Park seemed to be a big hangout during the day, was it always full of people smoking pot, playing guitars, etc. or is that a myth?
I presume there was pot smoking in the park since pot was illegal at the time. I preferred to smoke in private.
What was your favorite restaurant back then? The Country Store? etc.
The country store on Rice Street.
Florida Pharmacy at the Engle Building.
Candlelight Inn on Commodore ( it wasn't a log cabin then)
When the Taurus opened in the 70's it was the best steak house this side of Dania.
Do you remember the A&P on US1 and 27th Avenue, near where the Burger King is now? What about Winn-Dixie, where Sapient is now? I remember the Winn-Dixie and the A&P, where our current dysfunctional post office currently is.
Who are some of the famous names that hung out and wrote songs here.
Writers: Fred Neil, Vince Martin, Mike Smith, Steve Goodman, David Crosby, Neal Young,
Buffy St. Marie, Rambling Jack Elliot, Jerry Jeff Walker, John Sebastian, Jimmy Buffet, Van Dyke Parks, Joni Mitchell, y mucho mas.
Did you attend the Doors/Jim Morrison concert at the Expo Center in 1969?
No I had no interest in Morrison
Tell me about the Taurus.
What happened in the Taurus Stays in the Taurus
Please add anything else you would like add about the old Grove.
I miss all the characters, free spirits, singers, sailors, artists.
=======
And here's a great video of Bobby's birthday by Richard Fendelman.
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the "old" Coconut Grove? A scent? A street scape? A store?
My fondest memory of the Grove when I arrived was that the sky was not blocked by any condominiums.
What year did you arrive in Coconut Grove?
1962
Did most of the performers live back in the Mary Street/Center Grove area? Or was it more South Grove near Plymouth Church?
I don't know. All over the Grove I guess.
I heard you were involved with the Flick, were you part owner or involved?
I was on the bill playing a duo with David Crosby, Vince Martin and Oz Bach were on the bill as well. Winter 1964 I was an investor in the first coffee house, Douglas Road 1962.
Peacock Park seemed to be a big hangout during the day, was it always full of people smoking pot, playing guitars, etc. or is that a myth?
I presume there was pot smoking in the park since pot was illegal at the time. I preferred to smoke in private.
What was your favorite restaurant back then? The Country Store? etc.
The country store on Rice Street.
Florida Pharmacy at the Engle Building.
Candlelight Inn on Commodore ( it wasn't a log cabin then)
When the Taurus opened in the 70's it was the best steak house this side of Dania.
Do you remember the A&P on US1 and 27th Avenue, near where the Burger King is now? What about Winn-Dixie, where Sapient is now? I remember the Winn-Dixie and the A&P, where our current dysfunctional post office currently is.
Who are some of the famous names that hung out and wrote songs here.
Writers: Fred Neil, Vince Martin, Mike Smith, Steve Goodman, David Crosby, Neal Young,
Buffy St. Marie, Rambling Jack Elliot, Jerry Jeff Walker, John Sebastian, Jimmy Buffet, Van Dyke Parks, Joni Mitchell, y mucho mas.
Did you attend the Doors/Jim Morrison concert at the Expo Center in 1969?
No I had no interest in Morrison
Tell me about the Taurus.
What happened in the Taurus Stays in the Taurus
Please add anything else you would like add about the old Grove.
I miss all the characters, free spirits, singers, sailors, artists.
=======
posted by Tom Falco at 3:20 PM
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