This coming September will mark the 40th year of performing for North Port’s Jeff Hughes, and his popularity continues to grow by leaps and bounds. There’s good reason for that. Not only are Jeff’s shows up-tempo, interactive performances, but his use of social media as part of the promotion of not only his solo act, known as the Short 1-Man Band, but his other two musical groups, Tropical Ave Band and Trio De Janeiro, are second to none.

With all of the bands, in all of his shows, Jeff engages the audience to become a part of the show. “When I’m playing at a place and I get other people playing tambourines or bongos and all that kind of stuff, there’s an energy, a sense of community that happens,” Jeff explained. “Because of the interactive nature of what I do, it’s actually easier than a lot of musicians have it, because I have help.”