Meet Peggy and Pat Essex | retired Music Educator/Performer and Patrick Essex musician and founder of the Bubba School of Music””

We had the good fortune of connecting with Peggy and Pat Essex and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Peggy and Pat, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Let me preface by saying Peggy (I) is writing this answer .
Patrick and Peggy Essex are brother and sister. #2 & #3 of five children. We come from a long line of musical relatives that loved playing music. Although, none studied music they all played by ear and were quite proficient and entertaining.

Pat and Peggy both learned to play the guitar at a young age. Beginning in high school I joined the Orchestra learning the viola. This is when I became totally consumed by music 24/7. I ended up going to college on music scholarships and majored in music, earning a bachelor’s degree in music education, a Master of Music Education and performance. Viola was my major, violin was my secondary instrument.

#5 child, Suzanne Essex also learned to play guitar and sing quite well. When she was planning her wedding there was a need for a band but no money to pay for one. THIS is when Peggy decided to put together a family band called “Family Tradition Band” so she could have a band. “Family Tradition Band” consisted of four of the Essex siblings; plus, the husband to be the husband brother and a friend. In the beginning our music sounded more like a hootnanny more than an organized band however over time it became much more musically cohesive as well as in demand for entertainment. The band played all throughout South Florida for approximately 13 years. At that time brother Pat took a job in Central Florida, I went back to school to earn a graduate degree, sister Suzy and husband Louie moved out of State thus the band was no more.

I must add on a personal note that I was and still am very proud of the Family Tradition Band. It went through several personnel changes over the years and all that contributed to the band are still very close friends. On a sad note, Louie has passed away and we all wish him to rest in peace.

As you can see FTB still a big part of who we are as DOUBLE TROUBLE!
We (Pat and I) are truly DOUBLE TROUBLE. In the beginning stages of putting our duo together there were many mini feuds between our musical disagreements. This was primarily because my formal training and Pat’s “Bubba School of Music” did not always agree. He heard one thing and I heard another, and this often caused our ‘schoolings’ to conflict.

We are proud of what we’ve accomplished over the years together because we not only learned how to compromise, but our relationship grew stronger. Our lil dual VS Duo developed into a very successful entity in our little town of Lake Placid, Florida.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Most of this question has been answered in my previous notes.

Getting where I am today was NOT easy, especially being a female. What sets me apart is the many opportunities that I believe were ‘Divine Intervention’. The God given talent and the path my music teachers and associates put me on were blessings to me from God.

The challenges I overcame were what made me realize that “I can do anything through God that Strengthens me.”

Becoming a teacher was such a blessing. To this day I still have contact with many of my former students. Being able to influence young folks in a positive way is so powerful and heartwarming. I thank God that I followed the teaching route. I LOVED and still do my former ‘babies’ many of whom now are in their late 40’s plus!

I want people to know that following your dreams can become a reality if you keep working towards your goals. Everyone has little failures along the way however determination and hard work will turn those little failures into big successes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In our ‘neck of the woods’ are many talented musicians and bands. There are many opportunities to take in a local band at the many clubs in this area. Some great food hangouts like the Cowpokes Watering Hole, Chicanes Restaurant and Hotel, The Highlands Little Theatre.

Some really unique places downtown Lake Placed like “Wet Dogs Brewery” where entertainers hang out and have open mic nights to share their gifts of music.

The Tropical Winery is a new venue that hires lots of great talent such as our own DOUBLE TROUBLE.

We also have so many great fishing lakes in our area for outdoor lovers. The Sebring International Raceway has many racing events throughout the year.

There’s also lots of thrift stores for the shoppers.

For worship we have many churches that have wonderful music services featuring choirs, instrumentalists etc.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Our parents were fervent supporters of our musical endeavors. They were our #1 promoters and staunch fans.

I had many mentors in the education field that were also my teachers and helped me all through my musical career which included playing professionally in the Symphony, playing commercially for many famous entertainers in Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and recording for quite a few big names as well while I lived in Miami.

Pat is more of a self-made man and musician. He deserves to be commended for his diligence, talent and dedication to anything he puts his mind to. I could not be more blessed with a musical partner as I am with having Pat as my partner in crime w/DOUBLE TROUBLE. If Pat had had the chances, I did to study music he would likely be a famous musician today.

Website: DOUBLETROUBLE4hire on Facebook

Facebook: DOUBLETROUBLE4hire

Other: Ptessex@aol.com (Pat) Pessex1@yahoo.com(Peggy)

Image Credits
CD cover and recording by Emily Finke, Ashley Finke and Amy Finke. Photo taken at the Circle Theatre Downtown Sebring. I’d like to acknowledge my dedicated Husband George Klammer for his encouragement and for his being my personal ‘roadie’ as I could NOT do all the gigs, we do w/out his assistance.