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TROPICAL CONTAGION
When Jeff was six years old, his mom and dad came back from the Virgin Islands with two albums. One of the albums was Calypso by Harry Belafonte. Jeff loved the sounds of Belafonte, but was more fascinated by the vibe of the other album which was all steel drum music. He had always loved the idea of tropical-vibed music, but never felt or considered himself to be a tropically-vibed person. Jeff grew up reading Treasure Island and eventually became familiar with Jimmy Buffett during his high school years. It was all of these tropical influences that helped him embrace the tropical lifestyle and vibe that he loves the most about himself today. Tammy's tropical vibe was inspired by her father, a sailor, who was always on the water and always had Jimmy Buffett playing on the radio. Tammy was not truly a big Buffett fan, and she did not know the words to his songs until she met Jeff. Their children, however, knew the words to Jimmy Buffett's songs by age four. 
Tammy's father
Of the two, Tammy has met Jimmy Buffett in person. Jeff has not. They both, however, have met the entire Jimmy Buffet band...the Coral Reefers.
Tammy was shaking Jimmy Buffett's hand in this photo
CHANGES IN SANDBOX - From Mid-West to Key West
In 1996, Jeff and Tammy moved into their current home because they wanted to be closer to Lake Michigan. Their home lies in a typical suburban neighborhood which, back then, had the typical backyard - a huge deck attached to the back of their home complete with a faux palm tree (not so common) and a sand box, a swing set and a trampoline just off to the right of the deck. Their backyard was the perfect place for their two young kids and all of the other kids in the neighborhood. By middle school (2007), their kids and all of their friends were getting too old for the sand box and swing set. They wanted to be on the trampoline or at the beach nearby on the shores of Lake Michigan. It was decided that it was time for the swing set to go, but not the sand box. Tammy wanted to build a shed for her garden tools, the lawn mower, and the snow blower and it made sense to build it in the sand box toward the back end. The plan was to put a fire ring in the sand right in front of it. As the construction of Tammy's shed was coming along, Jeff, with a beer in hand, looked over and said, "you know, it wouldn't be that much more difficult if we just extended the top of it, we could attach a bar to it and put some more sand out." So, with no sketch and no blueprint, the concept of a half shed, and half tiki bar was born and built completely on the fly. |
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FORGETTING KEY WEST
As much as Jeff and Tammy love Key West and Sanibel Island, they have no desire to live anywhere else that is not a short drive to Lake Michigan. Building a tiki bar in their backyard was Jeff and Tammy's way of bringing the island vibes of Key West to their home in Michigan so that they could Live Tropical Where They Live year-round. The construction of the shed / tiki bar was coming along nicely. Together, Jeff, Tammy, Greg (Jeff's brother), and Gay (Jeff's father) had more than enough experience to make it happen. Gay, alone, had built over 200 to 300 homes in his lifetime. When it came time to building the trusses, Gay started becoming frustrated because he could not calculate the angle cuts. Jeff and Greg found that to be somewhat weird since dad had calculated those angle cuts thousands of times before. Nevertheless, they simply brushed it off. Struggling to calculate angle cuts for trusses was one thing, but when dad could not remember how to wire a light switch, it was obvious that something was wrong. Jeff and Greg had decided that It was time to get dad checked out by the doctor and the news was not good. Dad was in the beginning stages of Dementia. |
BACKYARD TIKI BAR
FUN FACT The colors of the the tiki bar were selected to resemble the tropical colors of Key West:
Light Blue - The Sky Coral - Coral Reef Turquoise - Tropical Waters 
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TO BE OR NOT TO BE TROPICAL
The shed / tiki bar had become a popular place for family and friends to gather for good conversation, an adult beverage, and watching sports on the big screen. Most of all, it had become everyone's slice of Key West. Although Gay was not so much the tropical vibe kind-of-guy, it had become his favorite place to sit with the people that he loved. He just loved people, and he really loved his grandchildren. His favorite stool at the bar was the one closest to where he could see them playing in the yard. Nine years had gone by since Gay's Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2007. With his health on the decline, he began splitting up his time living at Jeff and Tammy's house and Jeff's sister's house one week at a time. Greg would often take him on the weekends.
When he was at Jeff and Tammy's, Gay would sit out at the bar with them. He had fun there because it was such a cool place to hang out. When sitting there with Tammy, Gay would look at her, point to the bar top that they had built together, and say, "we did this." He would always look at the bar walls to see if there was something new added and would pitch new ideas of what they could add or tweak. 
50 FIRST GAMES
Dad was such a huge Tiger's fan. When it was his week at Jeff and Tammy's home, he and Jeff would watch the games together out at the tiki bar. They did this all summer long. As the spring and summer months moved along into July, Gay was beginning to forget things. That is when Jeff began recording all of the Tiger's games as they were watching them. During the winter months, the tiki bar was converted into a sports bar. Jeff had constructed an addition that attached to the tiki bar complete with windows, a heater, and all of the favorite sport memorabilia of his favorite teams and those of his neighbors. This allowed Jeff and his dad to watch sports at the tiki bar during winter months.
It was during the winter months of 2016 that Gay's memory had declined significantly. He would often say to Jeff, "Hey Jeff. Are the Tiger's on?" Jeff would say, "Yeah dad. They are on tonight and I've got a pretty good feeling about it." That's when Jeff would play one of the Tiger's games that he recorded the previous summer for him and dad to watch. Even though it was snowing and clearly not baseball season, dad was not able to make the connection because he had no memory.
Jeff, being the good son that he was, watched old games because his dad wanted to watch the Tigers play. He would get up every morning and have Rasin Bran and a cup of coffee with his dad while enjoying the same conversations or stories from the day before. 
Tammy and Gay would always drink Vernors or root beer floats together at the tiki bar. They would wait together for his grandkids to come home because he loved them so much and didn't want to be anywhere other than where the grandkids were.
Gay did not want to be cooped up inside. He didn't want to sit in the comfy chairs on the deck. He always wanted to be at the tiki bar with everyone. Gay enjoyed every minute out there at the tiki bar up until he had passed away later that year in 2017. For ten years, that slice of Key West had become a place where he could spend his remaining days surrounded by the ones that he loved. Maybe Gay was not tropical at heart, but he was glued to that tiki bar. It was where everyone was happiest and he was happiest being there with all of them. "It's all about being with people...That's what it's all about. That's why we built it [tiki bar]. We built it to have fun and share with people." - Jeff
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LIVE TROPICAL WHERE YOU LIVE
When Jeff and Tammy are in the house, it feels like being home to them. When they are out in the backyard, it feels like they are in Key West. Being the people persons that they are, they are rarely out there alone. "We are very much people persons," says Jeff. When Jeff and Tammy are out at the tiki bar with their family and friends, they are so much happier because life out there feels good. It is hard for them to explain, but when they are out at the tiki bar everything just feels different. Jimmy Buffett music is always playing and something fun is always going on. 
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When there is a party at the tiki bar, nobody has to wait for an invitation. Everyone is invited. When it is five o'clock on a Saturday and everyone in the neighborhood is finished with their yardwork, Jeff blows the Conch Shell and they all come over through the gate in the back of their yard (see photo below).
Their home is in a very "hangin' out" kind of neighborhood. After an evening in Key West, they all head back through the gate and over to the neighbors house for a late night bonfire.
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FROM TIKI BARS TO GUITARSGANGSTERS PARADISE
At the age of eight years old, Jeff and his older brother, Greg (by seven years) were at the White River Campground and rocked out their very first public performance together to the tune of Chubby Checker's Twist. Greg was on the guitar and Jeff, standing on top of a picnic table, was on vocals. Jeff was paid in quarters which he spent playing pinball. The boys eventually moved onto Bluegrass and started a band with Greg's friend, Jim. Jeff wore black skinny jeans with white python cowboy boots and a Brooks & Dunn Flame t-shirt. Greg wore plain jeans and a plaid shirt. They mostly performed in front of hunters up in Iron's Michigan at their uncle's cedar shack cabin which had inspired their first official band name, The Cedar Shack Gang. 
The Cedar Shack Gang Logo
FROM COWBOY BOOTS TO FLIP FLOPS
Jeff and Greg were having so much fun performing Bluegrass together but eventually, they decided to move on to Jimmy Buffett. Jeff played the 12-string guitar and Greg played the six string. They booked their first official performance at the Shoreline Spectacular over Labor Day weekend. Three days prior to their performance, the booking person for the event asked them for the name of their band. Being that they did not have a name and was suddenly in need of one, Jeff looked over at his CD rack and noticed the Bellamy Brothers album named, Son's of the Beach. It was right then and there that they would be further known as the Son's of Beaches Band. The Son's of Beaches band took on a third band member, Jay (congos and managed bookings) and they began playing beer tents and other events at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. They also played Summer Celebration in Muskegon. After a shake up in the band, the boys went their different ways. The band had become more of a party band that Jeff and Greg were not interested in being part of. Greg quit playing. Jeff went solo with his steel drum and started playing at Jack's in Spring Lake on a regular basis. One month into his solo career, Jeff asked Greg to bring his guitar down and play a couple of songs with him and as Jeff had expected, Greg was immediately hooked. What was only intended to be a couple of songs a night eventually turned into Greg playing the entire performance. Jeff and Greg continued to play regularly together and eventually changed their band name to Two Dudes in Flip Flops because they no longer wanted to be associated as a party band. They have been playing for several seasons since and have become so popular that they have over 70 bookings for the 2025 summer season. 
Being tropical for the Dudes has been rewarding when it comes to playing music. There is nothing more fun than being on stage which never feels like work. If it ever does, says Jeff, they will quit, but there is no sign of that in the future with these dudes.
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TWO DUDES
FUN FACT Song written about a performance by Two Dudes in Flip Flops performed at a hotel beach party.
See if you can find them in the video "Hotel Beach Party" Johnny Russler & the Beach Bum Band |
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BRINGING THE VIBES OF KEY WEST TO THE MIDWEST
Connecting with people is what Two Dudes in Flip Flops are all about. Their performances are highly interactive and when they raise a glass and bellow out the, "Son's of Beaches...Son's of Beaches...Arrrg, Arrrg, Arrrg," cheer in a pirate voice, everybody better participate because anything less is considered mutiny and mutiny is not tolerated.
The Dudes have a huge following and the best part of bringing the Key West vibe into their daily lives is that they are living the way that they were meant to live. Being able to bring the tropical vibe into the lives of other tropically wired people brings them joy.
Two Dudes in Flip Flops Trop Rockin' at the Bear Lake Tavern in North Muskegon, Michigan.
IF YOU KNOW KENNY CHESNEY PLEASE HAVE HIM READ THIS!!!
Jeff often tells the story, at his shows, about how his Steel Pan was built by Alan Coil who also built Kenny Chesney's Steel Pan. Since Alan knows Kenny, then Alan could call him on the phone and convince him to invite Jeff up on stage at one of his shows to play the Steel Pan during the song, "When the Sun Goes Down." While Jeff claims that he made up this story, he admits to having messaged Kenny a bunch of times. Kenny - if you are reading this, Jeff rocks the Steel Pan and he is a big fan. Can you hook a brother up? |
THE FIRST OFFICIAL UNSALTED PARROT
With a list of over 50 potential names that failed the branding test and several domain name purchases that were abandoned, the Unsalted Parrot brand name passed the test and was established February 23, 2024. The brand was created based on the claim that people in the Midwest Live Tropical Where They Live. Once the name of the brand was set, it just needed proof. As Sole Proparrotor, I set out to find the necessary proof. A very close friend of mine (Erica) had mentioned that a friend of hers (Jeff) had a really cool tiki bar in his backyard. So, out of the blue, I contacted Jeff and asked him if I could come over to his home and take pictures of his tiki bar for my new brand. Jeff was quick to say yes even though I would not tell him anything about the brand other than I wanted to put his tiki bar on the back of a t-shirt. The day of the photo shoot had arrived. Jeff, Tammy, and their neighbor, Steve, were in the backyard waiting to watch with curiosity. I did not know this at the time, but Jeff had explained to Steve before my arrival that "this guy (me) wants to come over and take pictures of the bar because he wants to do a brand or something with it." In the time that I was there, I had snapped 52 pictures from various angles of the tiki bar and then left with very little explanation other than saying, "I will be in touch." I also did not know at the time, but after I had left, the conversation between Jeff and Steve had turned to skepticism. "A picture of the tiki bar on a t-shirt? Hmmmm? Was this a joke?" It was no joke. June 28, 2024, was set for the launch of our new brand. Not only was it the launch date, but Two Dudes in Flip Flops were scheduled to play the Kirby House in Grand Haven and it was also Jimmy Buffett night at the Grand Haven Musical Fountain. It was the perfect day for the launch. While Jeff and Greg were playing at the Kirby, I showed up with our first Unsalted Parrot® shirt with Jeff and Tammy's tiki bar on it. Again, Jeff knew nothing of the brand other than his tiki bar would be on a t-shirt. In front of the packed upper deck of the Kirby House, we unveiled the shirt and Jeff was immediately amazed at how cool his tiki bar looked on the shirt. When Steve eventually saw the final product, he was like, "this is awesome! Who would have ever thought?"
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Coast Guard Festival 2024
Two Dudes opened up for the Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band, "Parrots of the Caribbean" BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER
The Unsalted Parrot® Brand was not developed to create a culture. It was created for a culture. This culture consists of people who have similar characteristics or interests and who often spend time with each other. The Unsalted Parrot Band brings together like-minded tropical people who do not live by the salty waters, who do not visit the tropics as often as they would like, yet go to extremes to Live Tropical Where They Live. For Jeff and Tammy, living tropical where they live and connecting with others of the like makes them feel more at ease. They love hanging out with people who think and feel the way that they do. "It takes away the initial uncertainty about each other...you feel like you already know each other because we already live the same lifestyle," says Jeff. "The people who dig this kind of stuff are always genuine and they always have a beer for you." Living the tropical lifestyle where they live has made life better for the two of them. They are more carefree and have learned to slow down and enjoy life. They try to find the best in everything. They are always positive and look for the best things in people. JEFF & TAMMY'S ADVICE FOR LIVING TROPICAL WHERE YOU LIVE
For those who are tropically wired but only experience such a life when in the tropics once a year when on vacation, why not live tropical year-round? There is no time like the present. Think about how happier you are when you are on vacation in the tropics and live like that all of the time. Their tiki bar is their little slice of Key West. Find your slice and Live Tropical Where You Live! 
IF DAD WERE LOOKING DOWN RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD HE BE THINKING?
Dad just loved to watch Jeff and Greg play music and he would be proud that they are still doing it... 
Gay Grossenbacher
February 11, 1935 — October 25, 2017 |
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BACKYARD TIKI BAR T-SHIRT IN THE CARIBBEAN
The following pictures are of Jeff and Tammy's friends wearing the Backyard Tiki Bar T-shirt in the Caribbean. ABOUT JEFF & TAMMY
Jeff - Third grade teacher, 10 years - Assistant Principal, Elementary School, 5 years- - Director of Technology, Fruitport Schools, 18 years - Current: Visiting Professor, Grand Valley State University, Professional Development - Current: Two Dudes in Flip Flops, Steel Pan, Vocals Tammy - Medical Professional / Office Management - Current: Retired - Current: Official Two Dudes in Flip Flops #1 Groupie Family Daughter - Brooklyn (34) engaged Son - Andrew (27) engaged Manatee named Aqua (adopted); Relationship status unconfirmed Community Involvement
- Tammy served with the Jaycees in community services - Jeff & Tammy started the Parrot Head Movement - Shoreline Parrot Head Club - Two Dudes in Flip Flops: Walk to End Alzheimer's Since the passing of their father, Jeff & Greg have donated all of the tips for a grand total of over $100,000 since 2017 (as of July 2025). 
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Thank you to Jeff & Tammy Grossenbacher for being the first Official Unsalted Parrots! Without any explanation, you entrusted me to come into your home and take pictures of your awesome tiki bar. You have both become the most amazing brand ambassadors. I owe you both so much for helping make the Unsalted Parrot brand a success.
Most of all, thank you for sharing a taste of your last few drops of Jumbie. I know how much you both cherish the remaining worldly stock of what may never again be produced. That is further proof of how tropically wired people are the coolest ever! I wish that there was a way that I could find you more bottles because that was the most amazing taste that I have ever had. 
To Jeff and Greg - you guys TROP ROCK! You have so many fans because of the fun and joy that you bring to everyone. Your stories, both true and the one's that are made up, make us feel like we are living those stories. It is your passion for the music that you play that makes others passionate about Living Tropical Where They Live.
Stay Salted on the Inside! Dave Evanoski - Founder and Sole Proparrotor
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