Executive Musicians

Lessons in Music

Robert (Bob) Meyer, 56 University of Miami / marketing professor Jam lament: “As a lead guitarist, I’m always arguing for more opportunity to play.”

Bob Meyer is looking for a new gig. He moved to Miami a year ago from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, where he was lead guitarist in Brand Inequity, a band with three other Wharton professors. While Meyer loves to play ’60s and ’70s classic rock, he played current hits from popular groups like Green Day, Oasis and Blink-182 with his former band. He is hoping to join a new band soon. “The way these things come together after you have a profession is kind of serendipitous.”
Doubling His Fun

Bruce Turkel, 51 (center) Turkel / founder, creative director / Coconut Grove marketing and branding agency Favorite to sing and play: “Too Tall to Mambo” by The Nighthawks [Photo: Gloria Turkel]

Bruce Turkel likes to whip out his harmonica at business conferences and has been known to practice while stuck in traffic. A bluesman and songwriter of south Florida renown, Turkel plays in two bands, Same Ole Suspects and Blackstar. His fellow band members have day jobs, too, but all agree that their three to four hours of practice each week are their favorite time. “We play with the same people we played with in high school, sing the same songs as in high school and make the same money we made in high school,” he says. “None of us do it for the money, although it is cheaper than golf or fishing.” Same Ole Suspects plays once a month at John Martin’s, a pub in Coral Gables. Most recently, the band opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Fruit and Spice Park in Redlands, while Blackstar opened for Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels in May at Greynolds Park Love-In, an annual celebration of ’60s music.

No Objections

Attorney Nick Nanton has managed to merge his passion for music with his law practice. A singer, songwriter and producer, he knows the Orlando music scene and represents some of the up-and-comers, like Between the Trees and The Black Rabbits as well as old stars like Stan Lynch, the drummer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He doesn’t have a regular gig but sits in with bands both at home in Orlando and in Nashville, where he travels frequently. He owns several guitars. His favorite is a Gibson custom BB King Lucille, a wedding present from his wife. His style: Modern country rock and pop. “I write and produce for fun.”

Nick Nanton, 29
Dicks & Nanton P.A. / partner / Orlando
Playlist: “It’s Like Coming Home” by Bob Dylan (for comfort); “Free Falling,” John Mayer’s version of the classic by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; “You Found Me” by The Fray; “Here We Go Again” by Paramore

[Photo: Gloria Turkel]