Kit Carson Smith was a young fashion designer and frustrated musician 36 years ago when he went over to the dark side and took stewardship of Angelina’s Pizzeria. “It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been fun – I’ve served more drunk slices than most people can imagine. Just when you think you’ve heard and seen it all, in walks the next customer!”

My name is Kit Carson Smith, owner of Angelina’s. Many people know me as “The Pizza Man” or the “Earl of Pizza.” I’m from a small town in southeast Georgia and moved to Key West in 1986 after I graduated from Troy University. When I founded Angelina’s in 1988, my goal was to have a fantastic place to work every day where I could listen to rock ‘n roll, play pinball and have fun with my friends. And, oh yeah, eat a lot of delicious pizza! I’ve been knocking that goal out of the ballpark ever since! I think I’m the luckiest guy in the world – every night I get to hang out here on Duval Street in beautiful Key West listening to awesome live music, eating pizza with all my friends and meeting some of the craziest and nicest people on the planet!

A year ago, with the invaluable assistance of “TV Tim,” I started a YouTube channel called ‘Sit With Kit” and it’s really taken off. There are so many unique and interesting characters on our island and I want to hear all their stories. So, each week, in front of Angelina’s under the “Reserved Parking for Sit With Kit” sign, I sit down with the rock stars, heroes and gods of Duval Street to learn more about them and how they contribute to the Key West way of life and listen to wild tales about their outlandish adventures. No two stories are the same and I never know what’s going to happen!

The following conversation is an excerpt from a podcast episode featuring musician Jeff Harris. Jeff gifted me the “Reserved Parking for Sit With Kit” sign that’s proudly posted on the front porch of Angelina’s and he wrote and sings the now famous “Sit With Kit” intro song for the podcast.

Jeff Harris: I have Amish taste.

Sit With Kit: So, is that where you grewup? In Pennsylvania?

JH: Yes, western Central Pennsylvania, in the mountains.

SWK: How did you get into playing guitar?

JH: My family had a guitar, not a piano, and I’m glad they did because pianos are heavy.

SWK: How long have you lived in Key West?

JH: 19 years.

SWK: What’s your claim to fame?

JH: I’ve played “Wagon Wheel” more times than anyone on this entire island.

SWK: What’s the one thing that people should know about you and that I should know by now?

JH: I am addicted to peanut butter. Specifically, Jiffy creamy peanut butter.

SWK: I see a bunch of peanut butter in your future.

JH: I don’t know about random people giving me peanut butter. Can you trust random peanut butter? It still has to have the seal on, just for safety reasons.

SWK: How many songs have you written?

JH: Hundreds of songs that I’ve written over the years.

SWK: Any commercial success? Have you had someone other than you record one of your songs?

JH: Actually, there is, there’s a song that I wrote called the “Dingdong Song”. A rockabilly band from Sweden recorded the song and they travel all over the world. They’re called ”Billy and the Kids” and they play it on their album.

SWK: Have you ever had a celebrity come in and try to take over your stage?

JH: Oh, yeah.

SWK: Do they epically fail?

JH: No, no. They just usually walk off the stage and leave with their entourage, leaving me on stage like poo in a punch bowl, but that’s the way it goes.

SWK: What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen while on stage that you can tell us. It doesn’t have to be PG.

JH: Read my book.

SWK: So there’s a book?

JH: I do have one. It’s called “So, You Think This Looks Easy – Tales from A Troubadour.”

JH: The craziest thing was once on a cruise ship with a bunch of Hells angels and a group of European guys dressed as superheroes got into a fight. I can say I saw Superman get his ass kicked!

SWK: What’s the craziest or oddest place you’ve ever done a gig?

JH: I’ve played lots of crazy places, but probably Copenhagen. Like I said, you’ve got to read my book, there’s tons of stories of life as a troubadour.

SWK: Jeff if you were a pizza what kind would you be…?”