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Beach Buzz June 2016

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Cindy Floyd with Sammy O'Banion

   

 The Hottest:  We had an article on one of our legendary Beach music

artists, Sammy O'Banion, in our April edition. Since that point in time, his latest song Don't Walk On By has ascended to the #1 position on the Smokin' Top 45 AND on the Cashbox Beach Music Top 40.  I had a chance to see Sammy perform a few Sunday's ago at Queens Landing in Mooresville, NC on Lake Norman, where he serves as the Entertainment Director. We were there to attend the Benefit for Cindy Floyd, who is in the midst of yet another bout with cancer.

 

 In addition to Sammy, several of our fine Beach artists came to assist the cause. There were great performances by Night Move Band, Caesar, Summerdaze Band, the Floyd Brothers (and Cindy), Da Throwback Band, Gene Pharr, Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs and more.  The successful event was well attended and was able to raise several thousand dollars. It is still possible to make a donation, go to the following website for further details:

https://www.gofundme.com/singforcindycompilation

 

 

Other Top Tunes: The Cashbox Top 40 gives the nod to two Forevermore Productions, The Godfather of Beach Music's Jackie Gore with I'm So Happy and the Godfather's daughter, the Original Carolina Girl Terri Gore's Real Emotion. Terri's song is an enhanced remix/reproduction of the same tune that was on her very successful It Don't Get Better Than This release, the 2000 Carolina Beach Music Solo Album of the Year.  Terri also received the Top Female Artist Award that year.

 

Two artists from Charlotte are also scoring high on the Cashbox Chart - Roger Smith with Love Is and Run For Cover by Sonja Grier. Additional local artists that have had sustained success on the chart include: I Got A Feeling - Summerdaze Band, Carolina Fine - Big Time Party Band, Why Aren't You Falling Too - Tony Torre, Dr. Radio - Dustin York w/ Hip Pocket, On The Way Out - Jim Quick & Nicol Andrews, True Love -

Carolina Soul Band. Look for continued upward movement from: Tender Moment - Rev. Bubba D. Liverance & the Cornhole Prophets, We're Still Together - Roy Roberts & Sherry Norris, and Your Heart's In Good Hands - Band of Oz. 

 

New album production may be at an all time low so far in 2016 in Beach music. Rumors (and fact) are that several are in the works by both individual artists as well as compilations from our major label folks. Look for KHP, Patman & Robin and Forevermore to release new music very soon!

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The Night Move Band Performs at the Lowell NC Freedom Festival on 5/28

     

   

The fire is hot and the irons are in the fire!! This is the time of year for the Beach music bands to make hay with bookings, a vital part of that being all the outdoor concert series. There are too many to keep up with, small towns and large cities alike throughout Beach music country. The following is just a small cross section of regularly scheduled (and special events) afternoons and evenings mostly under the stars locations featuring live Beach music. We have denoted a can't miss concert date for each one! I am loading up the van and heading out to see how many I can attend over the next three plus months or so!!

 

Don't miss:

 

Stuart, Va  - Hot Fun in The Summertime Festival

June 10th & 11th - Night Move Band (both days)

 

Yorktown, VA - Shagging on the Riverwalk on Thursdays

 July 21st - Wallstreet

 

Roanoke, VA  - Party in Elmwood Park on Thursdays

September 1st -   Holiday Band

 

Floyd, VA - Black Dog Beach Music Festival, Chateau Morrisette Winery

August 13th - Fantastic Shakers

 

Hillsville, VA - Summer Concert Series,  One Saturday a month 

August 20th - The Attractions

 

Franklin, VA - We Be Jammin Downtown on Thursdays

 June 16th - Steve Owens & Summertime

 

Petersburg, VA - Old Towne Civic Center Special Events

June 12th - Embers featuring Craig Woolard

 

Bedford, VA - Beach Bash at Smith Mountain Lake

June 18th - Carolina Breakers

 

Raleigh, NC -  North Hills MidTown Music Series on Thursdays

 June 30th - The Tams

 

Oxford, NC - Alive After Five  3 Thursdays in 2016

September 15th - Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot

 

Clinton, NC  - Alive After Five Thursdays Monthly

August 18th - Jim Quick & Coastline

 

Lumberton, NC - Downtown Alive After Five on Thursdays

June 9th - Band Punch

 

Rockingham, NC - Plaza Jam first Thursday of the month

August 4th - Summerdaze Band

 

Laurinburg, NC After Five Fridays Monthly

 June 17th -  Hip Pocket

 

Graham, NC - Alive After Five on Thursdays

 July 28th - Blackwater R&B Band

 

Wilson,  NC - Downtown Alive Wednesdays

 June 15th  - North Tower

 

Rocky Mount, NC - Downtown Live Thursdays

 June 23rd - The Castaways

 

Morehead City, NC - Summer Concert Series on Saturdays

July 2nd - Central Park Band

 

Pilot Mountain, NC - Hot Nights Hot Cars First Saturday of each Month

September 3rd -  The Entertainers

 

Mt. Airy, NC  - Blackmon Theatre Multiple Times Per Week thru Sept

June 24th - The Magnificents

 

North Wilkesboro, NC Concerts On The Deck 3rd Saturday of Month   September 17th - Mark Roberts Band

 

Charlotte, NC - Romere Bearden Park Wednesdays

July 13th -  Band of Oz

 

Bessemer City, NC - Community Concert Series Saturdays Monthly

June 25th - Ken Knox & Company

 

Lincolnton, NC - Alive After Five  Last Thursday of the Month

June 30th - The Catalinas

 

Fort Mill SC - Baxter Village - Saturdays

June 11 - Too Much Sylvia

 

Florence, SC  After Five Downtown

August 26th - Tim Clark Band

 

Greer, SC - Tunes in The Park Fridays

July 8th  - Shag Doctorz

 

Greenwood, SC - Uptown Live

September 1st - Swingin' Medallions

 

Bennettsville, SC - Revive After Five One Thursday a Month

June 23rd - Carolina Soul Band

 

Little River, SC - La Belle Amie Vineyards Special Events

August 6th - Tommy Black Band

 

 

Well, it looks like there may be a couple of times that I need to be in two places on the same day! Luckily I have access to a helicopter and a competent pilot!! The total sites stated above is not close to a complete list of what I believe to be out there in terms of outdoor events that feature Beach artists. Bear in mind almost all if not all of this list is inland - we did not include the reoccurring concert series at the various Brunswick County NC and  North Myrtle Beach locations. Lets look at those schedules for the remainder of the summer with regard to Beach music bands:

 

Oak Island Concert Series

June 24 The Imitations  

July 1 The Holiday Band  

Aug 5 Tim Clark Band  

Aug 12 Blackwater Rhythm & Blues  

Aug 19 Carolina Soul Band  

                       

Ocean Isle Beach Concert Series

June 10 The Imitations

June 17 Tommy Black Band

June 24 Embers feat. Craig Woolard

July 1 The Entertainers

July 8 The Band of Oz

July 15 Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot

July 22 Too Much Sylvia

July 29 Gene Pharr & Continental Divide

Aug 5 Legacy Motown Revue

Aug 12 Mark Roberts Band

Aug 19 Steve Owens & Summertime

Aug 26 The Attractions

Sept 2 The Holiday Band

Sept 9 Carolina Breakers

 

Holden Beach Concert Series

 June 12 Mark Roberts Band

 June 19 Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot

 June 26 Embers feat. Craig Woolard

 July 3 Steve Owens & Summertime

 July 10 The Entertainers

 July 17 Fantastic Shakers

 July 24 Tim Clark Band

 July 31 The Band of Oz

 Aug 7 Sea Cruz

 Aug 14 The Holiday Band

 Aug 21 Blackwater Rhythm & Blues

 Aug 28 Carolina Breakers

 Sept 4 The Imitations

 

Sunset Beach Concert Series

 June 8 Liquid Pleasure 

June 15 Jim Quick & Coastline

June 29 Blackwater Rhythm & Blues

July 20 Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot

July 27 Big Time Party Band 

Aug 10 Tim Clark Band

Aug 17 Mark Roberts

Aug 24 Band of Oz

Aug 31 The Legacy Motown Revue

 

Shalotte Concert Series

July 7 Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot

July 14 North Tower

July 21 The Catalinas

Aug 4 Jim Quick & Coastline

Aug 11 Tommy Black Band

 

Calabash Concert Series

June 7 Blackwater Rhythm & Blues  

June 21 Band of Oz

June 28 The Fantastic Shakers

July 5 The Tams

July 19 Jim Quick & the Coastline

July 26 The Entertainers  

Aug 2 Marsha Morgan Band  

Aug 16 Midnight Allie  

Aug 23 Eastbound Band

 

 

North Myrtle Beach Music On Main Concert Series

 June 9    Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot

 June 23  Entertainers

 June 30  Legacy Motown Revue

 July 7    Marsha Morgan Band

 July 14  Tim Clark Band

 July 21  Carolina Breakers

Aug 4    Catalinas

Aug 18  Blackwater Rhythm & Blues

Sept 1   Carolina Soul Band

Sept 15  Midnight Allie

Sept 22  Rick Strickland Band

Sept 29  Hip Pocket

Oct 6    Jim Quick & Coastline

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There are some new albums outside of the Beach music genre that are yielding current charting hits including two from individuals originally from 'across the pond'. Native Englishman Paul Carrack has had quite a diverse career in the music industry. His spent nearly 30 years as a vocalist in such bands as Ace, Roxy Music, Squeeze, The Bleeding Heart Band and Mike & The Mechanics. He also put in time as a session musician for several name artists including The Smiths, The Pretenders, Elton John, Ringo Starr,

B.B. King and Simply Red.  Carrack flirted with a solo career for several years while being a troup member until he finally went solo full time in 2004.

He is known for his soulful singing as well as his skillful songwriting.

Beach music fans will recognize Carrack written tunes Nothin' To Lose as recorded by the Magnificents and Satisfy My Soul, recorded by Albert Rogers. Carrack's latest album, Soul Shadows, released in January of this year, includes current charter Sweet Soul Legacy. Another one with real potential as a Beach hit is Keep On Lovin' You.

 

James Hunter is another England native who has been plying his craft as a songwriter and vocalist for roughly 30 years. He played the local pub scene in London for almost a decade before releasing his first album in 1996. The 2006 album release of People Gonna Talk and 2008's The Hard Way got the attention of the Beach music community. The global appeal of the first release earned it a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues album.  Hunter also combines smooth soulful strains with a rhythmic beat that appeals to the dancers. Hunter and his band were the headliners at the 20th Annual DJ Throwdown in North Myrtle Beach in March of 2011. His latest album, Hold On!, released in February, finds Light Of My Life on the Smokin' Top 45 at #20 in May. This Is Where We Came In and Something's Calling also have a quite nice groove to them.

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Long time renowned saxophonist/vocalist Maceo Parker was just recently in the news - he received a Heritage Award here in his home state of North Carolina. A native of Kinston, NC, the 73 year old veteran of the road still resides there. Maceo joined James Brown 50 years ago as his sax player and right hand man in his band. James called him out early on in the 1965 recording of  Papa's Got A Brand New Bag by saying ''I just want you to blow Maceo''. He later worked with such notables as George Clinton and Prince. Maceo began a solo career in the 1990's, releasing several albums while continuing to travel with his own band even today. One release he is most proud of is Roots And Grooves, a tribute to the music of Ray Charles, whose work he much admired. Maceo has been called out in other records - including by Tower of Power's then lead singer Brent Carter in that band's 1995 recording of Diggin' On James Brown. Maceo has paid his dues in the industry, several times over and is a North Carolina treasure!

 

 

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It is really hard believe that the legendary Lou Rawls had never been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Growing up in Chicago, he sang with local groups, through which he met and became friends with future stars Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield. Lou's professional debut was in Gospel, later switching over to secular music, going on to a truly remarkable career in Jazz, R&B and Soul that spanned over 50 years. Lou was a fixture on either the Billboard Pop, R&B, Jazz, Disco or Adult Contemporary Charts from 1963 until his passing in 2006. During that time he had 34 singles and 35 albums to make the charts. Lou released more than 60 albums and sold more than 40 million records in his career. He was awarded 3 Grammys - 1967, 1971 and 1977 all for Best Album R&B Male Vocal Performance.

 

Rawls' stature as a performer once prompted Frank Sinatra to say that Lou had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game".  It goes without saying that Lou had many songs that became Beach music hits with his tunes continuing to receive current radio play in our genre. A good example of Lou's success: You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine hit thr #1 spot on the Billboard Adult Contemporary, Disco and R&B Charts in 1976 and was #1 for that year in Beach music as well. His golden voice and distinctive style is an assurance that there was only one and forever will be only one Lou Rawls!!                                 

 

 Artists, DJs, Club owners etc. send me your latest news for potential inclusion in Beach Buzz at nealfur@aol.com.