Englewood, Florida isn’t just about its perfect weather, sunshine, and beaches. There’s something else this town offers in abundance: the arts.
You walk down Dearborn Street, and you’ll hear live music pouring out from art-filled galleries and cafés. Creativity just fills the air in Englewood.
One group that really grabs your attention is the Robert Kinsley Band. Robert’s no stranger to this scene; he’s been a fixture in Englewood’s music community for years.
Most Thursdays during the season, you’ll find him playing at the Old Florida Gallery, and sometimes over at Lemon Bay Park in the big meeting room. He used to team up with a banjo player, Bill Keeney. The two of them played just about everywhere, from the farmers market to events for the Englewood Historical Society, before Bill moved away. Now, most of Robert’s gigs center on the local Englewood Farmers Market.
Music’s been a part of Robert’s life since he was a kid. He started out with guitar lessons and just never stopped playing. Before Englewood, Robert lived in Athens, Ohio for thirty years, jamming in different bands, sometimes with his brother, sometimes with an entire group.
Robert’s other life? He taught English and creative writing, first at Syracuse University, then mostly at Ohio University. Even now, you can tell he’s got a knack for words. And his band isn’t just about covers. Robert and his crew play original tunes too. Back when he was still with Bill in a duo called Godfrey Creek, they put out a few CDs. But with this new lineup, they haven’t released anything yet. He says they’ve been together about two years now, and he’s been working on new material.
So how did Robert end up here? Simple. His sister-in-law lived in Venice. Robert and his wife would come down to visit, fell in love with the area, and the rest just sort of fell into place. Thirteen years later, they’ve made Englewood their home.
Besides music, Robert’s a big fan of Lemon Bay. He and his wife volunteer over at Lemon Bay Park, and that’s been a big part of their life here. He loves the powerful sense of community, saying it reminds him a bit of Athens, just smaller but packed with the same energy, especially around the arts. On top of that, he still finds time to shoot a little basketball with the guys.
Robert’s family is spread out, with his son and two granddaughters living up in Nashville. But he says he’s living the dream here in Englewood. “It’s been a lot of fun. The weather’s great, except for the heat and hurricanes, but honestly, not shoveling snow anymore? You can’t beat that.” Growing up on a dairy farm in northern Ohio, he saw a lifetime of tough winters, so he appreciates every warm day.
The Robert Kinsley Band itself is a mix of backgrounds and sounds. Chuck Vaughn, their ukulele bass player, is a retired EMT who handles percussion too. Dave Harris plays guitar, sings, and switches to drums when needed, and his wife Deb joins in on the djembe drum. Bob Rusbion rounds out the group on harmonica. Every Tuesday, they rehearse at Robert’s house, and come Thursday, they’re usually out performing, at least until the farmers market season wraps up. After that, with a couple of members headed out of town, they’ll take a break for the summer.
Robert says travel and some downtime are on the agenda. “We’ll keep practicing when we’re around, maybe work on some new songs, possibly record a few things. Then we’ll be back in the fall, ready to play.”
That’s life in Englewood. Music, sunshine, and a community that really sticks together.
For more information, check out The Robert Kinsley Band Facebook page.
