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Mike Little is a member of the Electric City Shag Club in Anderson,
South Carolina. He is also a member of the Association of Beach & Shag Club
DJ’s and the National Association of Rhythm & Blues Deejays. He hosted
for 3-1/2 years The Saturday Morning Beach Party on WANS, 1280 AM in Anderson, which was rated by Arbitron as the highest
rated AM show listened to and number three overall for that time slot. In 2004,
he was awarded the Rufus Oates Award by the National Association of Rhythm & Blues Dee Jays for his writing contributions. He now serves on the Board of Directors of the NARBDJ.
Have You Heard Archives:
Have You Heard…
…I’m baaaaack! After being down computer-wise for several weeks or longer, I’m back. And mucho music
has come across my hands over the last several months.
As the years pass, my memory don’t think good any more. So, I may not be completely correct when I say this, but
you will have to go back a number of years to find a compilation released that carries the number of hits and hits-to-be as
KHP’s new release, Let’s Dance Again…I Can’t Get Enough. Produced by Keith Houston and Julian
B. Fowler, the project concept was developed by Little Peddler, Inc. The album carries 13 songs, one of which is high in the
charts and five other hot and heavies that are bubbling under. The interesting thing you will note on this album is that the
bulk of the featured artists are national and international, with five or six coming from “Beach Music” artists.
Ike Turner’s I Don’t Want Nobody headlines the array of songs, already being Number One on the beachmusic45
chart and in the Top 10 on Fessa Hook’s Beach Music Top 40 chart. Ike Turner, who passed away in December of 2007, has
been giving us music since the 1950’s, beginning with his works with his Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm, but is
best known for his works with wife Tina Turner in the 1960’s. You may have heard or heard of Richmond Virginia-based
Kurt Crandall’s Dissatisfied, which is a part of the compilation. After a year playing regularly in DC with Jesse
James Brown, former bass player for Bo Diddley, he relocated to Macon, Georgia playing harmonica with the Macon Blues All-Stars,
which included several alumni from Otis Redding’s band. After three years, Kurt left Macon and moved to Chicago. Another
recently charted song that found a position on Let’s Dance Again… is DieDra’s Hip Swing’in
Blues, a Keith Ruff production out of Mississippi. Born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, DieDra has been singing since
she can remember. After ten years with a production company in New York, the five-foot “Blues Diva” recorded her
long-awaited album, Overcoming Hurdles. Zachary Harmon, born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, has returned to his
roots after several decades of expressing an unbiased love for music. After moving to Los Angeles in 1980, pursuing a career
in music, working as a studio musician, composing songs for a movie score and performing these songs, Zach began to pursue
his lifelong dream of recording Blues. Now residing in Canada, his addition of this beachmusic45 chart entry, The Older
Woman, makes this release even more appealing. Austin, Texas-based Mingo Fishtrap’s Without Question is also
a great addition to the LDA project. The group was formed in the mid-90’s at the University of Texas’ prestigious
College of Music. Newport, Vermont native, Mike Goudreau, who now resides in Quebec, Canada, has recently released his tenth
album, Blues Et Cetera. One of his songs from the release, Why’d I Drink So Much, made its way into the
array of songs featured on Let’s Dance Again…. As a singer and a songwriter, Goudreau has signed well over
250 songs with music libraries worldwide over the past 17 years. Saffire..The Uppity Blues Women will be making an encore
appearance at the upcoming SOS Fall Migration. And it is at an appropriate time, as the group’s song, Too Much Butt
(For One Pair Of Jeans) is making a lot of ways on the Beach Music scene, even gracing Fessa John Hook’s Top 40
chart in the Top 10 position. This Alligator Records’ release is also a part of the selection of songs for the album.
Formed in Virginia, the core members of the group include pianist Ann Robison, Safari’s newest member, mandolins Andra
Faye McIntosh and Gaye Adegbalota. Rabson worked as a computer programmer and Adegbalota was an award-winning teacher before
they gave up their day jobs to play Blues full-time for a living. Also joining the array of artists for the project is Sea-Cruz
with a cover of Smokey Robinson’s I Can’t Get Enough. Dino and Molly share the leads for this Blues jewel.
Steve Bassett, who spent a number of years keyboarding with Delbert McClinton and is an entertainer of his own accord, joins
Janet Martin to provide a duet of If I Could Build My Whole World Around You. One of the songs, Your Love Looks
Good On Me, from The Castaways’ recent release, Give It Up, created quite a stir with the deejays across
the Southeast. This duet from The Castaways’ Karen Clayton and The Fantastic Shakers’ Bo Schronce has been remixed
to make the number more shag-friendly. Let’s Dance Again… also features I’ll Want A Real Love.
Gary Lowder does a great job on this Gary Murdock-penned song. Tim Hildebrandt describes himself first and foremost a
songwriter. Originally from Woodstock, New York, Tim has been living in North Carolina for over 40 years. After years of song
writing and production in Nashville and North Carolina, Tim scaled down to a small studio called Frog Holla Studio in Polkton,
North Carolina, the hometown of his wife, Deb. From there he released the song, South Of The Border, on Beachmusic45's
sampler, DJ Throwdown. The song is now getting ample playtime on various Beach Music radio show in the Southeast. It
was inevitable that the song would find it’s way to a mass-market recording. And that it did, on Let’s Dance
Again…. A number of years ago, my friend, John McElrath of The Swinging Medallions, presented me with a copy of
a CD he anticipated releasing in short order. It was several years later before the Medallions released some of the material.
One of the songs that became popular in our region was the remake of James Brown’s How Do You Stop. The song
has now been recorded by The Swinging Medallions to become a part of this new compilation. Now that the song is more readily
available, look for this masterpiece to rise in the months to come. Let’s Dance Again…I Can’t Get Enough
is destined to become a classic.
“Mr. Distinctively Beach”, Paul Craver, has now released
his fourth solo album, Emperor, on the KHP label. The title, of course, relates to his recent super-hit, Emperor
Of My Baby’s Heart from the Ripete/KHP compilation release, Keep On Shaggin. The song topped the charts and
still remains a favorite for dancegoers. Also found on Paul’s new release is his current hit, Girl I Love You,
which was originally released on the KHP compilation, Getting’ Ready For Showtime, as well as (I’m Just
A) Fool For You, which appeared on the KHP/NARBDJ release, Coast To Coast…Let’s Dance. His latest single,
Blue Moon, which recently entered the charts and is rising, is also part of Emperor. There are a number of new
songs on the album that are sure to catch everyone’s attention, including Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee, the Jimmy James
& The Vagabonds’ Hey Girl, the Charlie Rich classic, River Stay Away From My Door and I’ll
Be There, the song that was originally recorded by Bobby Darin. You will also find an up-tempo number, Feeling Happy,
a Big Joe Turner original, as well as One Hundred Pounds Of Clay. The latter is a blend between the Gene McDaniels’
charted song and the version that was recorded by Bobby Womack. Check out Love Won’t Wait. Originally done by
Bobby Caldwell, you will like Paul’s rendition. He joins Marlisa in a Jerry Butler/Betty Everett duet, Let It Be
Me. There is also a bonus track on the album, I Could Be Your Everything, which was originally recorded in 1984
when Paul was with ShagTime. You did know he was with ShagTime with Willis Blume. Paul also sang lead on ShagTime’s
biggest hit, Mr. Beach. Prior to that he was Cannonball, the group that recorded the single, You Keep Telling Me
Yes. After ShagTime, he moved on to partner with Tony Davis, reviving the Kruze Band. It was then that Shoo Do Foo
was recorded as a single, which later appeared on the Ripete compilation, Shag Yer Blooz Away, Volume 2 and the
Quickhouse Productions release, Salt Air. Returning to ShagTime, Paul stood as the group’s leader, when The Men
Of Distinction was formed, with his singing lead on The Men’s hits, such as It Won’t Be This Way Always, Brand
New Me, Don’t Be Afraid and others. He later began performing solo, yet keeping his position with The Men. During
this period, he won several Carolina Beach Music Awards for his music, including his 2002 induction into the organization’s
Beach Music Hall Of Fame. In 2008, Paul retired from The Men of Distinction, continuing to perform and record solo. In 2007,
he received the CBMA award for Smoothie of the Year, Emperor Of My Baby’s Heart. Paul also recently began deejaying,
subsequently becoming a member of the Association of Beach & Shag Club DJ’s. Between his singing performances and
his deejay stints, he stays busy with his successful Craver Tile business. He has to be getting a lot of help and support
from his lovely wife, Gail, who was his high school sweetheart. Paul Craver is truly the “Emperor of Beach Music”,
and his new release, Emperor proves. Paul is distinctively “Mr. Distinctively Beach”.
Memphis-based
Ecko Records has released Luther Lackey’s Jody’s Got My Problems! The title track is THE song and should be received favorably
well from the dancegoers. The song is a spin-off from Johnnie Taylor’s
late sixties hit, Jody’s Got My Girl And Gone. In the marines,
a “Jody” is a generalized term meaning any man who stays home while everyone else goes to war. He gets to enjoy all the things that the Marines are missing, specifically the Marine’s girlfriend
back at home. “Jody” dates back to black soldiers during World War
II. They took a character from old Blues songs named Joe The Grinder or Joe
D. Grinder, who would steal the ladies of inmates and soldiers. The name
was clipped to “Jody”. Luther Lackey was born in Clarksdale
and began his musical career, singing gospel. Over his seven to eight years in
the industry, he eventually transcended into Rhythm & Blues. Check out Jody’s
Got My Problems!
Have you heard Big Time Party Band’s release, Footprints
In The Sand. Long time friends Johnny Wilson and John Arthurs, when they were finishing up several reunion shows with
their previous band, Bits & Pieces, formed the band in 2003. Johnny and John split the lead vocals. Within two years,
Big Time Party Band had developed a good reputation within the Beach Music community. The band later went into the studio.
As a result from the five songs they recorded, Drink Up was picked up Ripete Records and KHP Records and released on
their joint venture of I Could Dance All Night, Vol. 2. After several personnel changes including the founders (Johnny
developed throat cancer and John left to join The Castaways), Johnny enlisted his daughter, Tiff Wheeler to join the band.
Tiff gave a modest rendition of Wade In The Water for beachmusic45’s, Sounds Of September 2007. However,
it was when Tiff wrote the song, Do Ya Like and Big Time Party Band arranged and recorded the song that people really
began to take notice. The number became a part of Ripete/KHP’s release of This Is It…Carolina’s Calling
Me. Ripete Records picked three of BTPB’s gospel recordings for their project, Swoop Down Jesus, Volume 2,
including Wade In The Water, as well as Sweet Low, Sweet Chariot and Have A Little Talk With Jesus, which
received a standing ovation when Tiff and Big Time Party Band performed it live at the Ripete/KHP Release Party & Showcase
at SOS. Have A Little Talk With Jesus, as well as Drink Up and Do Ya Like, can be found on Footprints
In The Sand. You will also find on the album an admiral rendition of The Tams’ It’s Alright (You’re
Just In Love). It is a shame that Gary Bass had released the song earlier and made for himself a hit from the song. However,
take a list to Oh, What A Feeling. This number has what it takes. Footprints In The Sand is on the shelf of
your favorite Beach Music outlet.
Pennsylvania-based Bonedog Records has released David Avery’s
Feel Good For Awhile. The album features several notables backing Avery, including Leon Daniels, Gwen Davis, Mike Sweeney and
Bonedog’s Head Bone Daddy, Jeffrey Ingersoll. David Avery handles the guitar
for most of the tracks. The key song on this release is Baggage. This smoothie needs a little pitch control on the positive side. You will find the intro familiar, as well as the rhythm content, yet this is a new song written by
Mike Sweeney. You will also want to check out the ballad, Borrow Til Morning. If there were a chart in our industry for ballads or slow songs, this number would
easily fit into the Top 10. The song is done in the old style of the seventies
and very much reminds me of the songs recorded by The Manhattans, The Main Ingredient or other groups of that nature. This particular song will make you Feel Good For Awhile.
Have you heard The Mixed Emotions’ new CD, On That Carolina Sand?
Check it out! This nine-piece band, based in the Piedmont area
of North Carolina, does an admiral job covering KC & The Sunshine Band’s Boogie Shoes, but the song you
will want to pay attention to is Your Heart, an original written by band member John Reed, Jr. You will also want to check out Ocean Drive Boogie. The song is another original, penned by the band’s guitarist, Fred Phillips, who also provides lead
and background vocals for the group. Some time ago, I received a single from
The Mixed Emotions, Sand Castle. It is a beautiful ballad and really brings back memories of the times I spent at the
beach during my younger years. This one is also included on the album. On That Carolina Sand is the band’s
second release. From their debut album, I Need
A Walk On The Beach, came two hits that were charted and heavily played
on 94.9 The Surf. The title track was charted in 2007, and A Beautiful Summer
stayed on the Surf’s chart for over a year and was elected into the station’s Hall of Fame.
There is a new label in town. Have you heard about it? Tobacco Road
Records is a project concept that includes sales, marketing, promotions, artist management, recording and digital downloads.
The players of this new company are Julian B. Fowler of Little Peddler, Inc., Keith Houston of KHP Records, who will handle
the recording and Jay Jenkins, who will handle the radio promotions. Joining the team will be independent artists who have
not signed or presently not signed with a label. The artists are mostly Carolina artists and include The Holiday Band, Gary
Brown, Levi Crawford, Coming Up Brass, David Marlett & The Night Riders, The Rick Strickland Band, The Imitations, Becky
Fox Baldwin, Jerry Shooter & Goldrush, The Hot Dog Daddy-O’s, Steve Owens, formerly lead vocalist of The Johnny
Dollar Band and The Castaways, The Boardwalk Band, Blackwater, Marlisa, Phil nda Blanks, Johnny Cobb, Cagle, Lee & Bowles,
The Flashbacks, Gary Murchison, Chocolate Thunder, Calabash Flash Ludwick and Tony Baker & The Souls. Tobacco Road’s
first release will be This Is It Too…Carolina Soul Connections, which is scheduled for release in July or the
first of August.
Looking ahead, have you heard that The Band Of Oz is in the
final stages of their new release, title yet to be named? Also, Rhonda McDaniel is working on her new Blues project, as are
The Fabulous Jelly Rolls and The Hot Dog Daddy-O’s.
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