There are people who know a lot more about Beach Music than I do, so I’m not going to get into a conversation with anyone, anytime, about the definition of Beach Music! Some people will fight you to the death if you disagree, even a little bit, with what they think. I guess it’s because Beach Music — however you define it — creates such a fierce loyalty among its fans. I don’t want to talk too much (maybe only a little) about the origins of Beach Music, either. Again, there are those who know more than I do about that. I just know that I like it.
I’m talking about Carolina Beach Music. Popular, primarily, with people who live in North Carolina and South Carolina, or, at least, spent time here. Especially at our beaches. Not Beach Boys or Jan & Dean. That’s great, but it’s California stuff. Not ours. Wrong coast.
Here’s how I see it: back in the day, it was often referred to as “race music.” In other words, music by African-American artists. White radio stations wouldn’t play it. White parents didn’t want it played in their homes. But the kids found out about it, and wanted to hear more of it. So, the old fogeys just couldn’t hold them back. It was music that had a beat, spoke from the heart, and made you feel good. When I was a young boy, growing up in a small town, I kept a small transistor radio under my pillow, for late-night and early-morning listening. One radio station I would often listen to was WLAC out of Nashville, Tennessee. A guy by the name of John R would play a lot of the music I wanted to hear. If you ever listened, you might remember him as the “Money talks and nobody walks” guy. Anyway, he played music by phenomenal Black artists that I couldn’t really get on the radio anyplace else on the dial at the time. Ridiculous. Sorry, I digress again.
I guess I wasn’t the only one. Eventually, a lot of other young people started getting into that music, too. And when they went to the beaches of North and South Carolina, they started hearing that kind of music there, in spite of all the efforts society made to keep white kids and Black kids separated. A lot of white kids started to venture into African-American clubs, because they were desperate to hear the music. I’m telling you… and I’ve said this so many times before… music is such a powerful force! It can bring people together like nothing else can!
As the music became more popular in the mainstream, some owners of white establishments started hiring Black musicians to perform, but what most of those artists had to go through was awful. While they were on stage, they were appreciated and adored, but when the show was over and they went outside the venue, the message they got was “Hey, we love your music, but you can’t stay in our hotels.” And “Play that song again, please, but you can’t eat in our restaurants.” So many bands went through this. Sometimes it was scary, just driving through certain towns. I was good friends with Doug Clark of Hot Nuts fame, who used to travel up and down the East Coast, and he told me some horrible stories I’ll never ever forget. Sorry, I’m getting off track again.
I love a lot of those older acts, like Billy Ward & the Dominos, the Clovers, Sticks McGee, Clyde McPhatter, Jimmy Ricks & the Ravens, Laverne Baker, and so many others.
I know Beach Music when I hear it. It’s just that simple. All those legendary performers of North and South Carolina Beach Music would include the Drifters, the Tams, Billy Stewart, Clifford Curry, Major Lance, Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs. Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions, Jerry Butler, Sam Cooke, Barbara Lewis, the Tymes, the Platters. They weren’t necessarily from here, but they were loved here. So many acts. So little time. The Radiants, Willie Tee, the Intruders, the O’Jays. The Showmen and Chairmen of the Board, both of whom featured the distinctive voice of General Norman Johnson. I couldn’t possibly list them all.
In my mind, most of the early Motown music fits right in there, also. The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Mary Wells, Jr. Walker & the All-Stars, the Marvelettes, and Martha & the Vandellas. And as far as I’m concerned, STAX artists like Sam & Dave, Booker T & the MG’s, and some Otis Redding, too. And Eddie Floyd.
Soul artists such as Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, James Brown, too. Al Green, Lou Rawls, Percy Sledge, Chuck Jackson, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Garnet Mims, James Carr, and even Dionne Warwick fit, too. To me, it’s R&B and Soul music, anyway.
Of course, white performers came along like the Embers, Band of Oz, the Catalinas, Bill Deal & the Rhondells, Swingin’ Medallions, and so many more. The Embers, after all, recorded what has become an anthem.
That’s Jackie Gore on lead vocals with “I Love Beach Music.” These days, the very talented Craig Woolard fronts the Embers. (Now there’s a band with some staying power!) If you visit the Beach Music exhibit now on display for a limited time only at the N.C. Museum of History in downtown Raleigh, there’s a video with Craig talking about the genre, along with a variety of educational pictures and various memorabilia. I would strongly suggest you go if you get the chance. My daughter, Cameron and I were there recently.
There is the subject of the Shag, which happens to be the official dance of both Carolinas. Some people say you have to be able to shag to it for it to be Beach Music, but I disagree. I’m not much of a shagger, but I love the music!
There are lots of great bands out there these days keeping this wonderful music going! Some of the old acts are still doing it, too. I would be here all day if I tried to list them all, but I hope they’ll keep sharing Beach Music to the younger generation, as well. A lot of fans are literally afraid that Beach Music will eventually die when those who play it and so many of us who love hearing it pass away. Personally, I think it will live forever. It’s too good not to! But don’t take my word for it. Take it from the late, great General Johnson!
