Jimmy Duarte, gifted musician, charismatic islander, dies at 70
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
He was a true inspiration to countless young and budding island musicians, serving both as an artistic mentor and an example of the joys of performing. Awarm and generous man beloved by all who knew him, James "Jimmy" Duarte's signature nod and sincere smile will be missed by those mourning his passing. Mr. Duarte died peacefully at home on Saturday morning, May 5, 2007 at the age of 70.

ROB BENCHLEY FILE "When he talked to you he had a way of making you feel special. Jimmy had that special ability to get to your heart," said friend Nick Ferrantella of Jimmy Duarte.

"He loved this town. He was a real Nantucketer through and through," said his wife of 46 years, Jean Duarte, who explained that her husband experienced heart problems in the last few years that had developed from Lyme disease. "He loved music and he loved sports - anything with kids - the kids and music. I have never heard him say he didn't like someone. That's just the way he was. I was lucky I found someone like that."

James A. Duarte was born on Nantucket to James L. Duarte, a Cape Verdean, and Minnie (Correia) Duarte, an island native. His talent blossomed in his youth, and Mr. Duarte began playing the guitar and singing at 14. An accomplished songwriter and versatile musician who mastered styles from blues to rock and jazz, he shared his creativity freely with many teens wanting to hone their abilities and begin their own bands.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VAUGHAN MACHADO At 30 Acres are, from left, David Perry on guitar, John Gebo on drums, Shelby "Biffy" Campbell on bass, and Jimmy Duarte on guitar.

"I could talk about Jim Duarte for a long time," said Vaughan Machado. "He was my first guitar idol. When I was 11 years old and I got my first guitar for Christmas I didn't know how to tune it. My father called him and Jimmy invited me to his house late Christmas morning and helped me tune it. When I went to his house he was playing an electric guitar and it was at that moment I was inspired. I went on to play professionally and it started with that day in his kitchen. As a performer, he was a pioneer here. There is no doubt that he influenced every one of my generation on Nantucket in terms of playing and performing. He was a sweet man and definitely one of the nicest, well-liked men on Nantucket."

Nick Ferrantella was another young musician who admired Mr. Duarte's talent and was fortunate to be invited to play with him as a teenager and in his early 20s. He especially recalls an entire summer he played drums with Mr. Duarte's "Jimmy D and the Acres" group at 30 Acres off Bartlett Road, the island's original rhythm and blues and rock and roll club.

"But Jimmy had a lot of bands," said Ferrantella. "Everybody who was young and local played with one of his combinations at one time or another. Musically, he was special. He was like a song stylist with a Cape Verdean flavor that was unique to himself. He had that smooth, tasty thing going - that warm sort of thing was what made him so unique. And he always had that handsome Muhammed Ali smile. When he talked to you he had a way of making you feel special. Jimmy had that special ability to get to your heart. Like everybody, I'm going to miss him. He had a lot of fans and friends."

Ferrantella and other musicians including Bob VanArsdale, George Gardos and Mr. Duarte's cousin, David Perry, recorded Mr. Duarte's popular song "Darlin'" on a soundtrack named "Last Call" created separately from the video documentary of that name about the island's former Main Street bar The Bosun's Locker. Inside the CD envelope they thanked Mr. Duarte for allowing them to reproduce his work.

"You'd never find a sweeter guy," said Perry, who was just a small child when he first heard Mr. Duarte play. "Jimmy was actually my first guitar hero. A lot of what I first learned and my taste developed from what he was doing. He was one of the first guys I knew who was playing music when it started to become rock and roll, and that's what we wanted to be doing. He was the man for the rock and roll stuff."

Perry, like other young people, was honored to be invited to be in one of Mr. Duarte's bands when Perry was just 14, making the rounds from 30 Acres to the Chicken Box and at private parties and events, and later being part of his other groups. Some of them were the Jimmy Duarte Combo, the 30 Acres Combo, Jimmy D and the Acres and The Islanders.

"He was an influence to many and played with the musicians who were around and up and coming from the late '50s through a couple years ago," said Perry. "I don't think there is anyone around here dabbling or whatever who didn't play with Jimmy at one point."

Dennis Liadis performed with Mr. Duarte in The Islanders for five years.

"Those were probably the best five years I've ever had, music-wise. We really had a good thing going," said Liadis. "He was an unbelievable guitar player - one of the best I've ever seen. There wasn't anything he couldn't play."

Though Mr. Duarte is well-known for his music, he was also a dedicated Nantucket Boys Club football coach for many years and one of the original founders of the Nantucket Little League. In addition, Mr. Duarte was a town employee for more than three decades, first with the police department and then for about 25 years with the Department of Public Works. He began with the DPW as an equipment operator and was general foreman when he retired a half-dozen years ago.

"He was a wonderful man," said DPW administrator Diane Holdgate, who worked with Mr. Duarte for 15 years. "He was like a surrogate father to all the guys here. Everybody loved him."

Mr. Duarte was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Franklin Duarte of Dorcester. He leaves his wife, Jean, son, Nick, daughter-in-law, Jana, granddaughter, Kezia, 10, and grandson, Darian, 5, all of Nantucket. He also leaves sisters Frances Barros of Wareham and Paula Sherwood of Gloucester, brother Paul Duarte of Buzzards Bay, and many cousins.

A wake will be held at the Lewis Funeral Home on Thurs., May 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's Church on Fri., May 11, at 11 a.m. followed by a reception at Faregrounds Restaurant.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Duarte's name may be given to the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club or to the Marla Lamb Fund through Nantucket

Cottage Hospital. I