Sarasota's 5 O' Clock Club Owner to Get Worthy Send Off

SARASOTA – If it weren't for George Generoso and his little rock and blues club on Hillview Avenue, who knows how many bands in the Sarasota/Bradenton area would not have gotten off the ground over the past two decades. The 5 O' Clock Club is a local institution. Next Sunday, ownership of the property will change hands, though not before its longtime owner goes out with a bang.

The 5 O’Clock Club first opened its doors as a blues venue all the way back in 1955. Generoso took over in 1996 and has carved out a niche as a small, intimate venue for emerging local acts in many genres. It has remained a mystery as to how he managed to successfully work the margins, booking top local talent and charging little to no cover, while offering reasonably-priced drinks that weren't subsidized by a kitchen menu.

Acts like B-Movie, Men from Mars and local reggae favorites Democracy became staple performers under Generoso, while the bar's iconic cachet drew legendary musicians like Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts and AC/DC front-man Brian Johnson. The two stars even took to the club's stage together once during a benefit show.

The recently-departed Gregg Allman even sat in on jams, as did long-time ABA collaborator Thom Doucette. Former Allman Brothers and Great Southern guitarist Dan Toler has been on the stage, and regional stars like Greg Billings and Twinkle often performed at the 5 'O as well. The Police's Andy Summers even brought his jazz fusion project to the club. Generosso went on to help break some of the gulf coast's biggest bands of the past decade including Come Back Alice, Ari and the Alibis, Jah Movement and Kettle of Fish.

In 2000, Al Fuller began hosting weekly pro jams that would continue up until present day, drawing the best local musicians as well as the most talented ones who passed through town. In recent years, Berry Duane Oakley–son of Allman Brothers Band bassist Berry Oakley–became a regular performer, and the stage often played host to a loose collection of jam specialists that has included Chicago blues man Rj Howson, guitarist Pedro Arevolo and keyboard virtuoso Mike Kach (both of Betts' Great Southern) and guitarist Thorson Moore.

Generoso was also the original host of Giving Hunger the Blues, an all-day benefit festival that grew from a small indoor event to a Hillview Street party, to its current incarnation as a sprawling multi-stage event on the grounds of Van Wezel. Over the years, it has raised more than a million dollars to help feed the hungry in our community.

Now in his sixties, Generoso had been talking about getting out of the business for some time. In June, it was announced that the property was under contract for sale. Details of the new owners' plans have been minimal, but the real estate agent who brokered the transaction has said that they intend to continue hosting live music. What shape that will take remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Generoso will be honored by several close-out shows heading into a Sunday sendoff that is likely to be long-remembered. On Wednesday, Come Back Alice will headline their last show at the venue. On Saturday night, local Grateful Dead cover band Ship of Fools will present Fare Thee Well to George Generoso.

On Sunday, the club's iconic marquee will light up one last time under Generoso's watch, as a veritable who's who of local music talent will put on a 12-hour farewell show from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Guests include Ari and The Alibis, Jah Movement, Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio, the Florida Blues Brothers, Mumbo Jumbo, Rj Howson and friends, former Gregg Allman Band bassist Burt Engelsman, Come Back Alice, Kettle of Fish and many, many more. The 5 O' Clock Club is located at 1930 Hillview Street in Sarasota.