About Us

ABOUT US

KWest Productions is an association of some of South & Central Florida's top professional entertainers, working together to create some of the area's most dynamic, and above all else, FUN special events. While we specialize in weddings, we also do corporate events, birthday and anniversary parties, concerts, and even parade floats. Many of our musicians can also be found on a regular basis on the Florida & National nightclub circuit.

Flip Ferrari

Owner/General Manager

DJ/MC

A native of Chicago, Flip has also lived/worked in Toronto, Los Angeles, and New Orleans before settling down in Key West in 1988 and founding KWest Productions as the business umbrella for his many entertainment industry interests. Flip moved his base of operations to the Orlando area in 2023.

A music industry veteran, as a player Flip was classically trained in Brass at Northern Illinois University, and has played Bass Guitar for Toronto's Buffalo Springfield and Key West's Southernmost Blues Band and Jack Nasty Band. As a Sound/Light technician Flip's experience includes work with REO Speedwagon, Richie Havens, Billy Preston, and Rick Derringer, as well as a 12-year stint as the 'house' Production Manager/Main Stage sound/light tech & DJ for Key West's 5-room RumRunner's Entertainment Complex, where his primary duties included producing the Crucial' reggae band, playing Bass Guitar for 2 Guys Having Fun, and selecting, installing, maintaining the sound/light systems for all 5 rooms.

It was at RumRunner's that Flip originally began DJing, first simply to 'cover' Crucial's breaks, then moving on to doing full DJ shifts in the Channel Zero disco and The Hideaway alternative rock rooms. After leaving RumRunner's Flip's DJ engagements include hosting a weekly 80's night at Fat Tuesdays, a year at Bare Assets adult entertainment club, and on-the-air at WPIK (Pickin') country radio.

For the last few years, Flip has focused on utilizing his DJ/MC talents in the private event market, specializing in weddings and corporate events, and this renaissance man's future plans include branching out into photography and videography.

'Capt. Kid' Kelly George

DJ/MC & Video Specialist

Despite their wildly different backgrounds (he's a retired career Naval officer), Kid Kelly is the DJ that, of all the DJs in Key West, is the most similar to our Lead DJ (Flip). They have very similar tastes in music, and equally important: a firm belief that the extra cost and labor of providing 'full production' (more than simply 'adaquate' sound) AND killer lighting are critical to providing a proper 'party' atmosphere. Their only real difference is that while Flip is totally state-of-the-art with computerized library and mixing, powered speakers, and LED lighting, Kelly is 'old school', with actual CDs, 'power rack' and passive speakers, and analog light.

Kelly is however modernized enough to be our Video Specialist, and his 24' Screen and projector are available for 'Movie Night' type events. One of his regular gigs is the Halloween Haunted House for Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

Steve Allerton

Harp

In the late 1970’s Steve Allerton left the frozen tundra of upstate New York on a rickety 24 ft. sailboat headed for Key West, FL. Four to six months should have been enough time to make the voyage, but because of economic challenges, a series of complicated love affairs, near death experiences, and the failure of at least thirteen outboard motors, it would be seven years before Steve would set foot in tropical paradise. On his trip down the Intracoastal Waterway, periodic dolphin encounters punctuated the long hours at the tiller as if to say…. continue on old soul. Days of promise await you.

On his voyage, Steve lived by his wits as a street musician stopping in ports along the way. Steve reached Key West in the early eighties.

Steve's comments on playing weddings: "I arrive early to get set up and make sure my harp is properly tuned. Then I start playing even though there may be nobody there. This sanctifies the air and provides a relaxing atmosphere for the wedding party and guests to walk into. Harp music can be very soothing, a quality much appreciated at weddings where there can be a lot of tension.

My repertoire includes numerous Celtic and classical pieces along with a few popular selections. I am happy to honor any special requests if possible."

While a wedding 'specialist', Steve is also available for dinners and parties of all occasions.

Toko Irie

Steel Drums

A native of Grenada, Toko relocated to Key West in the early 1990's, where he was quickly recognized as the #1 steel drummer in a town crawling with Steel Drummers.

In addition to his steel drum talents, Toko is also proficient on Guitar, Bass Guitar and Drums, and as a singer. He usually works solo, with full -band background tracks, which he records himself.

With a smile as big as all outdoors, we guarantee that you and your guests will, as so many others have in the past, swiftly fall in love with Toko Irie.

Bongo D

Steel Drums

Duane (Bongo D) Scott was called to the joy of making music by the voice of the conga drum. His exploration ofJazz music exposed him to the varied percussion instruments of Africa and the Caribbean so it was only natural that he would fall in love with Latin and Brazilian
music / rhythms. But in 1970 when he discovered Reggae, D found his calling.

Equipped with a solid musical foundation in rhythm, D branched out to melody and harmony with the addition of keyboards, vocals and steel drum to his musical arsenal. Mystical, yet approachable, D is
a lover of people and a natural entertainer. His percussive bag of tricks
are often the highlight of a Bongo D performance.

George Victory

Steel Drums & Guitar

A native of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, George was raised in New York City before migrating south to Key West.

A proficient composer and recording artist, George has a large collection of original music available on, among other places, iTunes and CDBaby. He also has numerous videos available on YouTube.

Equally proficient on both Steel Drums and Guitar, George can be contracted for either, or at your option, allowed to switch between them according to the demands of individual songs.

Pavla Hruban

Violin & Viola

Pavla began playing the violin at age 6 and the viola at age 15. She studied for 5 years at the Conservatoire in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic and toured for 3 years with the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra. She came to the United States in 1997 at which time she joined the Key West Symphony Orchestra as well as began accepting private engagements.

Pavla is available both as a violin soloist, or as the leader of The Key West Strings she will arrange various duo/trio/quartet configurations such as violin/cello, violin/viola/cello, or violin/viola/cello/harp or piano.

Interested in hiring us for one of your special events? Lets Talk.