Jukebox joints

Tap Room at Hotel Congress

People say that as a pet owner, you start to look and even behave like your pet. The same is true for a bartender and his jukebox. Meet Tom Ziegler—aka Tiger—and his old-style Wurlitzer, both institutions at the Tap Room at Hotel Congress.

Favorite attribute of the jukebox?
It runs off 45s. It's not one of those newfangled contraptions, see? It's for old people like me. I've been here for 50 years, you know?...I appreciate this jukebox. It's the No. 1 jukebox in Tucson when it works.

Least favorite attribute?
That it breaks. People put the money in and they want it to work, see?

Favorite artists?
I love, where's my song? [Tiger runs his finger down the list.] Well, my name is Tiger and they've got "Tiger by the Tail," but that's not my favorite song. I've got a couple of them. "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, that's one of my favorites. The other is "You Don't Owe Me" by Leslie Gore. That's back in the '40s and '50s. I love her. "3 O'clock Blues" by BB King, I love that, too.

Least favorite artist?
I don't know, if there's any rap on there I don't like it.

Other notable artists (according to us): Johnny Cash, The Doors, [local] Al Perry, Black Flag, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, Hank Williams, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Linda Ronstadt, Patsy Cline, The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top