"Ronnie Lowe and the Dominoes got their start in the early '60s playing what Ronnie called "gut-bucket" 12-bar blues in landmark spots in the black community, such as the Roseland Ballroom and the Robert James Hotel.

In 1962, the band broke the unofficial color barrier on the beaches, becoming the first racially mixed band to perform for an integrated audience when the Dominoes were hired as the house band at the Peppermint Lounge on Maderia Beach, Fla.

The band got it's name from local deejay "Tiger Tom" Hankerson of black radio station WTMP "He said our music was like dominoes: white in spots, but mostly black," Mr. Lowe said in 1993.

The group was formed when Mr. Lowe met Sterling "Five fingers" Magee, who played at the Manhattan Casino on 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg, where Ronnie spent much of his spare time. They rounded up a few friends, including Mr. Lowe's brother, Nick, who played drums.

Through his band, Mr. Lowe befriended Beat generation writer Jack Kerouac, who occasionally sat in with the group on ukulele and harmonica. Their friendship lasted until Kerouac's death in 1969.

Over the course of four decades some notable musicians passed through the band, including Jim Stafford and Dicky Betts of the Allman Brothers Band, who joined in the summer of 1969.

Mr. Lowe also played a part in local politics and was outspoken on civil rights and race relations.

"In the African-American community, Ron was a known commodity and could walk in any arena and gain acceptance," said Watson L. Haynes, whose City Council campaigns Mr. Lowe managed in 1978 and 1988.

In 1982, Mr. Lowe made an unsuccessful bid as a Democrat for the District 57 seat in the Florida House of Representatives."

Ronnie is giving the "thumbs up" with brother Nick on the left of Linda LeBlanc-Walker, who passed away June 17th, 2003. Linda also sang for The Impacs when she moved to Tampa Bay in 1960.