The life of a regional music star is not easy. 

To be a success you have to book a ton of shows, travel to a bunch of venues, and perform well enough to bring back the crowd the next time you’re in town. No fancy hotels, very few adoring fans, and little time between gigs to enjoy yourself. 

Duke Tumatoe knows that life and has been living it well for a long time. 

Among the cities on his regular circuit is Fort Wayne, where he will return Saturday, Jan. 20, to perform at Baker Street Centre.

Traveling band

Born William Severen Florio, he got his start as a blues guitarist in the late ’60s with the first incarnation of REO Speedwagon. When REO set out to find the pop music footlights, Florio split off to form his own band with his new stage name. 

Based in his hometown of Chicago, Duke Tumatoe & The All-Star Frogs were born. 

The band quickly dove into the touring life, staying relatively close to home and playing any show they could get. They produced four albums over 13 years of relentless touring. 

The Frogs’ lineup featured the wildly talented keyboardist James Mitchell Hill, whose partnership with Tumatoe continues to the present day.

They played and learned from Chicago blues legends along the way, including Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, and Buddy Guy.

With a name like “The All-Star Frogs,” you would assume the band had an element of humor to it. And you would be correct. 

Many of Tumatoe’s most popular songs include evidence of his quick wit and elements of his bawdy comedic styling. Some are so bawdy that discretion prevents me from listing their titles in a family publication.

After relocating to Indianapolis in the mid-’80s, Tumatoe made the decision to slim down the band. With Hill continuing by his side on keys, Duke Tumatoe & The Power Trio were formed. 

Getting a laugh

The Power Trio continued the relentless touring schedule, performing more 200 shows a year all over the Midwest. That schedule remains full into 2024, with multiple shows every month, including the stop in Fort Wayne. 

Around this time, the talk show The Bob & Tom Show was dominating local radio, and Tumatoe found kindred spirits in musical and comedic tastes. He became a regular contributor, providing an original musical commentary every week on the local NFL squad entitled “Lord Help Our Colts.” It was a fan phenomenon but caused some friction among the players and coaches. His response to players’ disapproval was typical Tumatoe humor: “I didn’t really criticize their performance. I just made it rhyme.”

On a memorable Bob & Tom Live Day music event, he joined with the late comedian Sam Kinison on an impromptu version of his song “Tie You Up.” It was a scorching performance that is worth seeking out on YouTube. 

I Like my job

Through the decades, The Power Trio found time for the recording studio as well. They have produced a total of 12 albums. 

One of those collections was a special labor of love. 

Legendary rocker John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival ran across the band while researching regional acts that were not typically heard on commercial radio. Fogerty was so impressed that he produced a Duke Tumatoe live album, I Like My Job, from more than 24 hours of live performances. 

That difficult life of a regional star seems to suit Tumatoe well. He still has plenty of opportunities to play gigs. He has assembled a deep catalog of recordings to play from. His path didn’t require the social media presence that drives live music today; he earned his audience one show at a time. 

Not many craftsman musicians can claim that kind of history. And as the live album says … He loves his job.