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 Angel’s new CD?  When I say “Angel”, I speak of Angel Rissoff and his new release, Nu Soul Stew, on his own label, Angel Music.  There is a lot of good, new music coming from this New York City residence on his new release.  Though Gonna Forget About You appeared on the compilation, Angel’s Nu-Soul Explosion, I feel this is the song to watch.  It did receive a little playtime when first released several years ago, but the song did not receive the attention it deserved.  Maybe this time around.  Rickey Godfrey joins Angel on Never Like This Before.  Look for this one for adequate playtime, also.  You cannot go wrong with a song by these two talented musicians.  You will want to pay close attention to Snows Of July.  It’s a little funky, but you can hear the song in some clubs already.  Over the years, many artists found success with adding Spanish overtones to their music.  The Drifters were most notable for this in their music in our arena.  Angel also brings us these sounds with Geneve.  I feel this number will also receive a lot of attention in the near future.  Also, Boogie Down Bronx is being heard quite frequently in the clubs and on the airwaves.  You need to check this one out, also.  Crispin Cioe joins in on this song and a few others, including an admirable remake of The Tams’ What Kind Of Fool.  Crispin, as you probably know, heads up Cracked Ice, who recently gave us the smash hit, That’s My Story.  As you will remember that Angel Rissoff was the voice with Little Isadore & The Inquisitors.  It was Little Isadore who gave Angel the name, Little Leopold, who held the lead vocals on the hits, Jitterbop and Harlem Hit Parade.  Little Isadore and the rest of The Inquisitors join in for a classic belly-rubber sound with Ed Townsend’s For Your Love.  You will also find favor with another ballad on the release, Tears Of Joy.  It is almost impossible to beat the original Think by The “5” Royales, but Angel comes close.  Don Wise joins in with his phenomenal sax work.  Angel Rissoff’s New Soul Stew!  This one will be simmering in the charts for quite some time to come.

  It was in 1997 that Abbeville, South Carolina native Art “Leo” Adams had the vision of starting a band.   It was shortly after that lead vocalist and bass guitarist Larry “Laser” Ligon and guitarist Nathan “Ray” Sligh joined drummer Leo to form The Carolina Beach Boyz.  With a history of the group being steeped in tradition, this is evidenced on their release, The Best Of Carolina Beach Boyz.  The “Boyz” capture their natural harmony and charisma on the album with their crowd-pleasing numbers Boogie Shoes and their rendition of the everlasting classic, Sixty Minute Man.  However, it is their original recording of On The Island that makes this CD a must. You will like this one, just as you did with Shama Lama Ding Dong the first time you heard it in the movie, Animal House.  Leo Adams’s performing career began by playing in local clubs.  In 1978, he was awarded a government contract to entertain at military bases across the Southeast.  He resurfaced in the mid-2000’s to form The Carolina Beach Boyz.  Since then, he started his own label, WindJammer Records.  The Greenville, South Carolina-based band’s CD, The Best Of Carolina Beach Boyz, can be purchased through their web site, www.carolinabeachboyz.com or any of your favorite Beach Music stores including www.beachmusic45store.com

Chicago guitarist Dave Specter found his way into the Blues scene on the fast track.  He did not even pick up a guitar until he was 18 years old, having been inspired by his harp-blowing brother.  He took lessons from Sunnyland Slim’s former guitarist Steve Freund.  Once he gained some skills, Freund set him up with legendary drummer Sam Lay and Howlin’ Wolf’s guitar player, Hubert Sumlin for a tour.  With six acclaimed albums to his credit on the Delmark label, he now has released Dave Specter: Live In Chicago.  The quality of the album is excellent, and is with virtually no crowd noise.  Therefore it is easy to use this for club play.  As Dave does not do vocals, there is always a fine array of guest artists on his albums.  Live In Chicago carries vocals from notable Chicago guitarist Jimmy “Bar Room Preacher” Johnson, who comes from a musical family.  His younger brother was the late Syl Johnson, while sibling Mack Thompson was Magic Sam’s first-call bassist.  Also in the lineup is New York City native Tad “Mr. Blue-Eyed Soul” Robinson, who has several hits to his own credit in our market.  “Texas Fire” Sharon Lewis, who reclaimed her status as one of Chicago’s premier vocalists after a one-year hiatus from performing, rounds out the list of guests.  The key song on this one is In Too Deep with the vocals handled by Sharon.  I do suggest you listen to the song carefully.  You may want to fade it out beginning around 4:10.  The entire song is 4:59, but you will see what I mean after you listen to it.  Tad Robinson comes on strong with What Love Did To Me.  This is another one on the album that has strong possibilities.  Tad also comes back with another good one, What’s Your Angle?  Most of the songs were recorded at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago, with the last three songs coming from a stint at Rosa’s Blues Lounge.  Dave Specter truly comes alive on Dave Specter: Live In Chicago.

  Davis Coen was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and now hangs his hat in Charleston.  He recently released his fifth album, Blue Lights For Yours And Mine, on the Soundview Productions label out of Memphis.  Along with his natural gritty voice showing influences from a diverse array of music from Tom Waites to blues legends Jimmy Reed and Lightnin’ Hopkins, the album shows Coen maturing as a songwriter.  The key number on the album, in my opinion, is Down In The Alley.  No, this is not a remake of The Clovers’ classic written by Jesse Stone.  This is a traditional jump Blues song.  And you can’t go wrong with Davis Coen’s rendition of it.  At the age of six, Davis took trumpet lessons from an uncle.  He started playing guitar around the age of eleven and was initially inspired by Big Bill Broonzy and Howlin’ Wolf, as well as Jimi Hendrix and Mississippi John Hurt.  For years in his teens, he performed as a solo act with his harmonica and acoustic guitar in the clubs of Connecticut and New York City.  Over the years, he has opened for acts such as Honeyboy Edwards, Koko Taylor, Junior Wells and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.  His wide range of covers in Blue Lights For Yours And Mine include works by Professor Longhair.  Though you will not be playing his rendition of C.C. Rider, it is interesting that there actually was a man named C.C. Rider.  It is said that this was his only song that he would sing regularly in front of people.  Blue Lights For Yours And Mine…it is for you and me…and the dancers we play for.