By 1989 Jeff Pike had developed an enormous following in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia with his one man, first-of-it's kind tribute to Jimmy Buffett. In 1991 Jeff formed A1A. In 1992 Jeff and A1A won a Margaritaville Records-sponsored Jimmy Buffett Sound Alike Contest. As the first band ever to showcase a high-energy 4-hour concert composed of nothing except Buffett's best songs spanning every era of his career, A1A became the only Tribute Band personally sanctioned by Jimmy Buffett. While countless other bands have followed in A1A's wake and cited them as their main inspiration, A1A remains the first and foremost Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show.
Jeff Pike and A1A bring to life a highly energetic, colorful, family friendly, Parrot Head Extravaganza Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show and have performed exclusively for clients such as Ted Turner, Bill Gates and Microsoft, CNN, NASCAR, Hewlett Packard, The Atlanta Braves, The United States Navy, Bellsouth, AT & T, Georgia Pacific, The Maui Ocean Center, The Georgia Aquarium, The Georgia Transplant Association, Angel Flight, Delta Com, Team National, The MGM Grand, and many more.
Jeff Pike has performed with Jimmy Buffett in concert, appeared in Jimmy's MTV Video "Fruitcakes" and was a featured soloist on Jimmy's "Barometer Soup Radio Special CD." A1A's first CD, "A1A - Live" which was produced by Mr. Buffett's bass player since 1989, Jim Mayer, featured Jimmy's original harmonica player for 30 years, Greg "Fingers" Taylor, who performed with A1A for several years. The bands second CD featured Jimmy's saxophone player and horn section leader for 13 years, Amy Lee. Jeff has also performed with Jimmy's acclaimed guitarist and songwriter Peter Mayer as well as long time Coral Reefer Members Michael Utley and Robert Greenidge. Many members of Jimmy's band, past and present, have sat in with A1A on many an occasion over the years and it has always been a memorable experience.
Jeff's first partner in A1A, Scott Nickerson, started the first Parrot Head Club and PHIP (Parrot Heads In Paradise) in Atlanta Georgia in 1988. This helped pave the way for A1A to be the first and only band to headline the annual Jimmy Buffett "Meeting of The Minds" Parrot Head Convention 8 years in a row, as well as the now legendary Parrot Head Phlockings "Stars On The Water," "Stars Fell on Alabama, and, the very first Parrot Head Cruises dating back to 1995. Being the first and only Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show for quite sometime, A1A was extremely instrumental in the building and growth of the international Parrot Head Club community. They have played all over the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico and Japan, spreading their own unique style of trop rock music. Simply put, A1A easily inked their place in Parrot Head and Jimmy Buffett history long ago. Heavily instrumental and crucial in the building and shaping of the Parrot Head phenomena as it is today, A1A's long lasting influence, importance and career cannot be underestimated.
In 2003 A1A released their first all original CD, "Ship Happens!!" June 2008 saw the release of their second original CD, " Beachwrecked", which continues to augment the "tropical rock" island genre with the band's own unique and original style.
In 2009, A1A were pleased to work with Grammy Award Nomine and MTV Video Award Winner, Miss Nadirah Shakoor. Miss Shakoor has recorded and performed with artist's such as Paula Abdul, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Ralph McDonald and Arrested Development, to name just a few. For the past 15 years she has been singing backup and lead with Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefer Band. She spent the year on the road with Jimmy Buffett and A1A promoting her latest CD "Nod To The Storyteller," which is available on Jimmy Buffett's record label, "Mailboat Records."
A1A currently perform as a five to seven piece musical ensemble. Upon request the A1A experience can be enhanced by adding our A1A Tropigal Dancers and/or our A1A Beachwrecked Theme Actor Pirates.
A1A's new all original CD, "The Road To Paradise," was released on June 11, 2011. Reviews have been astounding and the band is are getting ready to set sail on The 2011 Road To Paradise Tour. Stay afloat and stay tuned for more info!
To be continued....
