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Before Buffett, Coffee Butler was the Biggest Star in Key West

Today, when you’re in Key West and want to see a live outdoor cconcert, you’ll probably end up at the Truman Waterfront at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater.

From 1954 to 2005 Coffee Butler was the premiere music entertainer, often referred to as the Louie Armstrong of Key West.

He was born in 1928 into a fanily of musicians in Bahama Village, which has always been the center of music in the Keys.

Lofton Butler, his friends called him “Loffy”, but they mispronounced his name so much it became “Coffee”.

He played baseball in the Florida-Cuba League for the Palm Beach Rockets in 1950-1951.

He performed with his dad Duke Butler in his 9 piece band “Duke and the Royal Aces” and then “Coffee and the Cups” which played throughout Key West.

Over the years, Coffee performed for President Truman, Tennessee Williams, Tallulah Bankhead and once when the Beatles were to play their only concert in Florida, a hurricane forced their plane to land in the Keys and he played for them too.

For many years he had a long solo gig at Howie’s Lounge where the front window had a tiny stage occupied by Coffee’s grand piano.

Jerry Jeff Walker and Jimmy Buffett would often hang out at the bar in the early 70s and Jimmy convinced Coffee to let him sing during his breaks. Buffett had been playing at the Chart Room, Crazy Ophelias and the Snake Pit mostly for tips and drinks while he held a day job on a fishing boat.

Coffee mentored Jimmy and eventually he was playing for happy hours and getting paid.

One Key West resident said Coffee always reminded him of Sam, the pianist in the movie Casablanca.

The legendary Coffee Butler passed away in 2022 at the age of 93.

David Garland May 27, 2026 Key West FL Bars History Music

Location: Jimmy Buffett Mem Hwy, Key West, FL

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