When Birmingham native, Walt (Fletch) Fletcher graduated FSU on a swim scholarship, he couldn't bear to be far from the water. So he slung his guitar over his shoulder and began playing every beach club he could up and down the Gulf Coast. Barefoot and Blonde he quickly became a local legend for his participation in two popular bands - Captain and the Kidd and Finz. For ten years he performed in the house band at Spinnaker Beach Club and traveled to Keystone, Vail and Copper Mountain, Colorado in the winter months. After years of this seasonal routine he decided to change things up a bit. He and another musician partnered up in the ownership of their own Beach club and they named it Key West Grill. Because the club was owned by musicians it became a favorite haunt for every local musician as well as the many bands that traveled through the area. It seemed to be a renaissance period for the Panama City Beach Live music scene and the nightly jams were a tremendous success.
During these same years in the same town Florida born, Amy Graham, began to pursue a career in music as the only female DJ in the Panama City Club scene. Spinning vinyl into the wee hours didn't quite rock her world so she turned the tables on the turn-tables and followed her dreams of becoming a singer.
In her search for the real deal, she began to sing with Fletch during the nightly jams at the Key West Grill. Each time Amy took the stage the audience responded favorably and the tip jar filed up quite a bit too! Fletch fell in love first with the girl and then to her voice. He saw the potential for a successful music group and the duo, Gilligan Loves MaryAnn, was formed.
Following the beaten path playing shows from Sandestin to St. George Island the couple decided to explore and stretch as performers. Fletch sold his part of the Grill and they loaded up the van to see the world (well, the part contained in the U.S.; the van wouldn't float.) The duo began to perform everywhere from coffeehouses to country clubs and college campuses. Embraced by the college market for their fresh and original style they were named the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities "Best Band" in 1998, 2002 and 2003 and were voted Best of 2002/2003 in the music and arts category by Campus Activities Magazine.
While touring, a favorite stop has always been Birmingham, Alabama; where Fletch grew up. One night after a show at Otey's in the Magic City the two ran into Anthony Crawford, a high school buddy of Fletch's.
After catching up and telling old stories they all thought it would be a blast to collaborate on an original project which led Fletch and Amy on the most exciting adventure yet. They came to Nashville and recorded their debut CD on Uncle Am Records under the name Sterling Fletcher. While promoting their CD, "Full Circle", which charted in the top 100 on the Americana Radio Chart; Fletch and Amy were delighted to have the opportunity to share the stage with such notable Americana music heroes as Buddy & Julie Miller, Gillian Welch and Steve Earle.
Fletch and Amy's cover duo, Gilligan Loves MaryAnn continues to perform for private parties, corporate events, country clubs and the occasional beach club.
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