A Real-Life Wonderful World
"Ask most little boys what they want to be when they grow up, and they'll say an astronaut or something like that. All I ever wanted to be was Louis Armstrong."
Troy Anderson spent 12 years in Europe.
So spoke Troy Anderson on a recent visit to las Olas Boulevard, where his boyhood dream actually became reality. It was the early years of the century when he worked as a bartender at O'Hara's, a popular bar which featured musical entertainment. Anderson, blessed with the right skin color, had been playing the trumpet since age 10. He could sing and developed an excellent imitation of Louis Armstrong's memorably growly raspy voice. He had done his imitation a few times on active duty in Germany, but it was more than two decades before he again picked up his horn to entertain.
"When I went to O'Hara's, nobody knew I could play," he says. At cocktail hour, when not too busy, he pulled out his trumpet and went into the Armstrong bit. He worked near the front door and passers-by stopped and came into the bar to listen.
O-Hara's, which closed in 2008 to allow for the expansion of the Riverside Hotel, was owned by Kitty Ryan. We recently wrote about Wells Squier whose designs established the charming Las Olas look. In a different way, Kitty Ryan made a similarly important contribution. Before her, Las Olas had little nightlife. O'Hara's changed that dramatically. Her Sunday concerts featured jazz and blues and packed the place. At night O’Hara's became a press hangout, and Kitty Ryan pioneered outside dining which is now found up and down Las Olas.
When Ryan realized she had a uniquely talented bartender, she gave Anderson shots on Sundays. His reputation for his Louis Armstrong imitation quickly spread and he began getting gigs in other venues. Sensing the opportunity of a lifetime, he formed a band. "The Wonderful World band was born at O'Hara's," recalls Anderson. "Kitty helped me get gigs at other places. She helped me in every way she could, for which I'm very grateful."
After Anderson polished his act with appearances around the country, he decided to try Europe. He was so successful that he spent the next 12 years abroad, beginning in Poland (which he loved) and playing in a number of countries, eventually expanding to a half dozen cruise lines. "At one time I spent seven straight months on ships," he says.
Today at age 64, he considers himself semi-retired. "I'm not working in bars anymore, but I still get gigs. I've gotten a nice warm welcome back, so I'm feeling pretty good. I'm cherry picking my spots."
He's also spending time in the Bahamas where he was born and spent time back and forth from Florida growing up.
It’s safe to say life is a lot more comfortable than it was then.
"Oh yeah, I go to the Bahamas to chill. It's beautiful, very pleasing to the soul. It's a moment of clarity."
Clarity, as in a little boy's vision of his future.
