Destin Welcomes New Orleans Dents Brothers with Open Ears
Chris Manson March 9, 2005 Issue

Ronnie and Ernest Fly Dents, brothers all their lives and fellow musicians for nearly as long, fled New Orleans at 3 a.m. the morning before Hurricane Katrina ripped through Bourbon Street and the surrounding areas. Ronnies friend Rodeana had a house here and offered it to the family, older brother Fly says. Twenty-one of us stayed there for the duration of the storm. Half of them went back, half of us stayed.

Fly and Ronnie are now part of the ever-growing music scene in Destin. The sons of Ernest Maestro Dents, Sr.a man of many talents, music among them--grew up 40 miles outside of New Orleans and played with their fathers group while in their teens. Between them, the Dents brothers figure they have 80 years of professional experience, 10 of those on Bourbon Street.

When we played on Bourbon Street, there were 250 musicians out there at any given time, Fly says. Theres not that many hereits like heaven. Of course, there arent as many places here compared to Bourbon Street.

The brothers have made a few trips back to the Big Easy and inform me that things are nowhere near being back to normal, despite the recent Mardi Gras festivities and gradually fading media coverage. We have no intention of going back to New Orleans. We want to stay here and start over, Fly says.

Their first gig took place last September at a Destin Commons-hosted hurricane relief concert. Thats where we first got noticed, Fly says. This band was actually formed here. We found Fritz (Froeschner, guitarist) at Theos. The considerably younger men who play drums and keyboardsZ and T.C. respectivelyperformed at a Baptist church in Fort Walton Beach and immediately clicked with the Dents brothers. If you know how to cook, you can go in anyones kitchen.

Froeschner says the Dents brothers are the only good thing to come out of that goofy storm while Ronnie calls the whole experience a blessing in disguise. Its been a love-love situation. Destin gets what it wants, and we get what we want.

What a small but enthusiastic crowd heard at a recent Funky Blues Shack appearance is a spirited collection of rhythm and blues favorites with a little bit of jazz and Ronnies witty between-song banter. The first set kicks off with a heartfelt tribute to the Dents Brothers father, who passed away in January. Flys smooth melodic sax playing blends seamlessly with Ronnies steady rumbling bass lines. The rest of the band shines as wellFroeschner gets in a nice solo, while the younger guys show real imagination.

The great Impressions song Its All Right reveals Fly as a first class honker. Ronnies singing is warm and fueled by passion. Another musical great is honored when the Dents Brothers Band masterfully weaves together three classics made famous by Otis ReddingIve Been Loving You Too Long (Flys sax providing high drama), (Sitting on the) Dock of the Bay (the famous whistling transposed successfully to tenor sax), and Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song).

One of Flys sax heroes, Junior Walker, is honored with What Does It Take To Win Your Love, then Ronnie serenades a young lady in the audience with It Had to Be You. And Ive never enjoyed the instrumental oldie Tequila quite as much as when the Dents band takes a pass at ittheres the expected first-rate sax play, but also fine, improvisational soloing from Froeschner and T.C.

If you dont tip the band, we know voodoo! Ronnie warns the audience good-naturedly before the musicians take a break. He later tells me his immediate goal is to get as popular as we can get and make as much money as we can. He says it jokingly, although Fly and his wife plan to buy a home here.

Ronnie and Fly also attend the Faith Assembly Church, famously referred to as The Rock and Roll Church. They took us under their wing and took care of us, Fly says.

SIDEBAR:

WHO The Dents Bros. Band: Ernest Fly Dents, tenor saxophone and vocals; Ronnie Dents, bass and vocals; T.C., keyboards; Z, drums; Fritz Froeschner, guitar. The well-traveled Tommy Beavers handles drum chores on weekends.
APPEARING: At Funky Blues Shack alternating Wednesday nights throughout March and April; at Hammerheads Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays beginning at 6pm.
SOUNDS LIKE The Dents Brothers offer more than just a taste of New Orleans music, they serve up an irresistible smorgasbord of jazz, blues, Zydeco, Motown, and numerous soul classics that havent lost their pizzazz.
WEBSITE: A band site is forthcoming. In the meantime, check out Froeschners web page for information about upcoming Dents Bros. performances home.earthlink.net/~fritzmusic/

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