Del Suggs
A pioneer of "Trop Rock" music performing at small venues and festivals.
He calls the beaches of North Florida home, sings a song about a magic beach chair, and is a well-regarded educator who has been voted the Best Campus Speaker by APCA Schools. Del Suggs has a bio and resume like no other. As for his popularity in Florida, Suggs has performed for a delighted audience at the Florida Folk Festival every year since 1983.
This singer, guitarist, and songwriter has shared the stage with Guy Clark, the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gamble Rogers, and Garrison Keillor. (That's the short list.) While Jimmy Buffett rightfully holds the credit for the genre known as Trop Rock, many believe Suggs was also instrumental in creating and popularizing songs about the islands, sand, hurricanes, sailing, and warm winds.
Suggs wrote and performed songs he labeled "Saltwater Music," based on his experiences growing up in Panama City. When Andy Forsyth wrote the book Trop Rock Songs: Stories and Tales in 2011, he featured Suggs in a chapter of the book. John Reno recorded his songs, "Break in the Weather," "Billy," and "Magic Chair." Carol Ann Mathews, Tammerlin, and other artists have also recorded his songs. (Suggs and Pierce Pettis co-wrote "Billy.")
In addition to being a headliner at small shows and performing at music festivals, Suggs has a master's in education and is a frequent guest speaker on college campuses where he runs leadership development programs. His book, Truly Leading: Lessons in Leadership, is in its second edition.
