You get something called "Trop Rock," the music of the multifaceted musician Tim Casey, a Southwest Florida performer who not only mixes rock with reggae, but also reveals to his audience a little something about himself with every song he sings. His fans don't just applaud his music; they embrace him as a good friend.

Casey has made many friends as a prominent local entertainer over the past 15 years, performing in Naples at The Ritz Carlton and the Naples Beach Club, and on Marco Island at the Hilton, the Radisson and currently at Quinn's on the Beach at the Marco Island Marriott Resort and Golf Club.

Last Sunday evening I caught his act at Quinn's and could plainly see why his audience likes him so much. He's talented, sure, but he's also a really nice guy, and his personality shines through in his music.

"I play a lot of (Jimmy) Buffett and Caribbean music, but my forte is classic rock like Santana and the Allman Brothers.

But I like a lot of different music. So it all depends on what people want to hear," Casey said as he pulled out three Irish tin whistles he plays in some of his songs.

When he saw my surprise, he laughed.

"I also play some Irish music.

I learned to play the tin whistle when I performed at O'Shea's."

Casey plays a little bit of everything in his sets; classic rock, James Taylor, Paul Simon, a couple of Irish jigs and a little reggae thrown in for good measure. When I asked him about his following Casey said, "I've been here for the past 16 years.

The same people come back every season and I've seen their families grow up. It's pretty neat, watching the kids turn into adults."

Casey admits that he loves playing for the children and tries to entertain them as well as their parents. "I play songs that kids know, too, like music from The Lion King."

Jim and Karen O'Donnell, seasonal residents of Marco Island, met Casey at Quinn's many years ago when their daughters, Trish and Kelly, were only 5 and 9 years old.

Both girls loved to sing, and Casey used to invite them up on stage to perform with him.

Now at age 24, Kelly is a singer in Casey's band, Tarpon Tim and the Blind Pass Band, which performs regularly in the Naples area.

"Tim is great with children," Jim O'Donnell said. "That's how we got to know him, coming in here with our daughters."

What makes Casey stand apart from other musicians is his voice. Even though he plays other people's music, he doesn't try to imitate their sound. His voice is clear and youthful; there's a boyish charm in the way he performs.

Considered to be a master of the 12-string guitar, Casey is also proficient on the steel drum, the tin whistle and writes much of his own music.

After many years of performing the songs of other artists, Casey was receiving requests to play music that he wrote himself.

His original One Last Cast is one of his most requested songs with a catchy beat and a chorus that all fisher-people can relate to: "Just one last cast and I know I'll land the big one! I know it's late and the bugs, they're a-buggin' you. But the beer is cold and they're still kickin' in the live well. OK, let's go, but please, one last throw!"

In contrast to that tune is Casey's insightful Hide in the Open, an inspirational song in which Casey sings about dealing with life's difficulties and trying to move forward: "I'm gonna hide out, hide out, out in the open, to feel the sunshine and soft breezes over me. Let them take away my disparities, and help me move myself."

Tim Casey performs at Quinn's every Sunday evening from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

To listen to some of his recordings or to find out more about the Blind Pass Band, visit Casey's Web site at: www.timcaseyscorner.com.