The Beach Maniac Island Music Podcast

Jerry Diaz, a prominent figure in the Trop Rock music scene, has captivated audiences with his unique blend of Gulf Coast storytelling and Caribbean sounds. With a career spanning over three decades, he has become a household name, known for his heartfelt lyrics and engaging melodies. In this blog post, we explore his latest album, "Find Your Beach," delve into his songwriting process, and highlig...

In this month’s Beach Maniac Island Music Podcast, we’re introducing seven great new Trop Rock songs in a Showcase of our most recent Trop Rock Minute episodes. Each of these amazing artists personally introduce their new songs: Hola Beaches by Christopher Dale You Got That Lovin by Kirstie Kraus I’m In Need of a Beach by Greg Mihaly Sail Away by Captain Matt and the Boatcrew Salted Rimmed Glasses...

Kirstie Kraus, a Wisconsin native, has been making serious waves out of Nashville, not by fitting into a box, but by building her own lane. She blends modern country with a little old school rock, a little beach-town attitude, and a whole lot of personality… and that’s exactly why she’s found a home not just in country music, but right here in the Trop Rock world as well.  

In this month’s Beach Maniac Island Music Podcast, we’re bringing you something special — a compilation of the first twelve Trop Rock Minute episodes, featuring the artists and songs that helped kick off this new series.

In this special episode of the Beach Maniac Island Music Podcast, host Bill Hurley asks AI itself about the pros and cons of AI Music Generators such as Suno. Are they a threat to real musicians or are they a valuable tool to help boost musicians' creativity?

In this engaging conversation, Doyle Grisham, the legendary pedal steel guitar player for the Coral Reefer Band, shares insights into his life on the road, the evolution of touring, and the emotional connection he has with his music. He reflects on his long-standing collaboration with Jimmy Buffett, the significance of the pedal steel guitar, and the importance of creating a unique musical identit...

Trop Rock artist Donny Brewer talks with Beach Maniac Island Music Podcast host Bill Hurley about his songs, his career, his love of the Trop Rock community, his strong family connections, and much more.

Kenny and Nell Tice are two of the most fun and talented people on the Trop Rock scene. As hosts of the Livin’ Like Kenny program, they orchestrate a three-hour weekly escape that brings you sunshine, laughter and plenty of great tunes every Wednesday night on Radio Trop Rock. But they’re not just radio show hosts, they are huge supporters and promoters of Trop Rock music and Trop Rock musicians....

Christopher Dale is one of the most gifted and entertaining musicians on the Trop Rock circuit today. Christopher, based out of San Diego, is noted for expertly combining storytelling and humor. And - quoting from his website - “his catchy songwriting and remarkable vocal range coupled with candid storytelling and an unparalleled devotion to entertain the audience makes each Christopher Dale live...

Don Middlebrook is truly one of legends of Trop Rock. In fact, he is commonly considered to be a Founding Father of the genre. With his silky smooth voice, natural talent as a prolific songwriter with over 150 songs to his credit, and with a rich history of working hard and performing year-round at virtually every type of venue from northern Michigan to Key West Florida, Don is one of the most res...

You probably know Greg Mihaly from his melodic Trop Rock tune, Sunshades on 30A. In that song, Greg takes us on a musical tour of the iconic Highway 30A in the Florida Panhandle, singing about the white sand beaches, emerald waters and the laid-back charm of the beach towns dotting the Gulf Coast. While Sunshades on 30A has become his signature song in the Trop Rock world, Greg's music stretches f...

Alan Jax Bowers is one of the secret weapons behind many of your favorite Trop Rock songs. Whether he's performing live on stage, laying down killer drum tracks in his Florida studio, producing and engineering records, or just being the guy every artist calls when they need musical magic, Alan Jax Bowers is everywhere in the world of island music. He's worked with some of the biggest names in Trop...

James ‘Sunny Jim’ White is a Trop Rock pioneer who has won just about every Trop Rock award there is, including Trop Rock Music Association Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Musician of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Performer of the Year, the “I Can” award for community service and, most recently, Entertainer of the Year.

He overcame a near fatal car accident and later serious vocal chord issues that left him wondering if he would ever be able to talk again, much less sing. Now Monallo is fully recovered and one of today’s rising Trop Rock stars, having been named the 2024 Horizon Award winner by the Trop Rock Music Association. With hits such as Moonlight, Sunrise Vibes, He’s Gone Coastal, Live by the Sea, and Eve...

In this special edition of the Beach Maniac Island Music Podcast and Blog, we highlight a great new release called Largo by two powerhouse Trop Rock artists Kirstie Kraus and Mike Nash. This part Trop Rock, part Country song is a sweet tale of a young couple who meet on spring break in Key Largo and hit it off right away. Twenty years later they are still together, and while vacationing in Key Lar...

Joe Lowder from Flip Flop Republic and Stoney Banks introduce their new single Long Way to Mexico on the Beach Maniac Island Music Podcast.

After 19 years of building a successful career writing and performing in Nashville, Mark Mulch has found a home in the Trop Rock / Island Music community and is “all in” “I found my people,” he says in the latest Beach Maniac Island Music Podcast. Three years after embracing Trop Rock, Mark now has several Island Music hits, including Tide Down (with Kirstie Kraus), Sunrise Vibes (with Monallo), L...

Mike Miller is co-founder of the Boat Drunks, a band that consistently draws large loyal crowds and wins big awards, including being named Trop Rock Band of the Year nine times, most recently in 2024, by the Trop Rock Music Association.

Kirstie Kraus is an amazing young talent who has found a way to navigate two parallel tracks to success and stardom: in both the country music and Trop Rock / Island Music genres.

Todd Donnelly’s unique blend of Caribbean sounds carries you away to the tropics. Todd talks about the music he loves, and how he got to where he is today, in this Beach Maniac Island Music Podcast interview.

Todd Donnelly, an Illinois-based singer-songwriter whose unique calypso style makes him one of the most creative and entertaining of the Island Music artists of our day. 

Beach Maniac Bill Hurley was the guest November 24 on Sunday Mornings with Tiki Man on Tiki Man Radio, talking about his awesome experience of being Tiki Head DJ for an Hour and about how the Beach Maniac song came to be.

Tiki Man Danny Lynn turned Tiki Man Radio over to Beach Maniac Bill Hurley for an hour this November. Bill shared his favorite Trop Rock and Coastal Americana music and told a few stories, including the story behind the Beach Maniac song.