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.

 The National Association of Rhythm & Blues Deejays has teamed with KHP Music to release Coast To Coast...The Music Lives On.  Dedicated to past president of NARBDJ, the late Tom Polzin, who spearheaded the Association's previous album, the new release will feature music that will appeal to dancers from all parts of our great nation.  From West Coast Swing to East Coast Swing.  From Bop to Shag.  From Jitterbug to Fast Dance.  This one has it all.  Renowned Austin, Texas Soul band, Mingo Fishtrap joins the array of artists with Back It On Up.  The release also features Ecko Records recording artist, Donnie Ray, with I'm Gonna Try Again.  At the time of writing this article, the Texarkana, Texas native/Montgomery, Alabama resident has two charted songs on the Carolina Beach Music charts, Who's Rockin' You and I'm Goin' Back.  The album also contains Too Far Gone by David Shelley & Bluestone.  David often was a featured artist in Government Mule's concerts.  From swamp Blues to back porch picking, Lloyd Jones, a native of Portland, Oregon, has forged a 30+ year career as an impassionate singer and fierce guitar player.  Just listen to his take on I'll Be Right Down.    Hailing from Kentucky and his family roots imbedded in Bluegrass, Lamont Gillespie grew up listening to the Blues and Rhythm & Blues on Nashville, Tennessee's WLAC radio.  He and his 100 Proof Blues brings us I Don't Need Another Heartache.  Also featured among the songs, the includes the hot charted song Wild Turkey 101 Proof by long-time California resident Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, as well as new songs from The Fantastic Shakers, Jelly Belly and Sea Cruz,  Think It Over.    The Shakers song is already receiving a respectable amount of play time.  Greensboro, North Carolina Blues artist Roy Robert joins in for the compilation with Hey Baby.  Growing up in a rural Tennessee town, Roy was 18 when he moved to Greensboro, where he once lived with his uncle.  5-time Carolina Beach Music Awards' Female Vocalist of the Year, Rhonda McDaniel takes a role in the new Coast To Coast, with her rendition of B.B. King's Shut Your Mouth.  Other artists include The Martin Davis Band with their hot song, Take My Love, Gary Brown with Family Reunion, The Tim Clark Band with What's Up With That, The Tommy Black with Tommy's newly penned Lucky Me and The Carolina Breakers with Better Luck Next Time.  You will also find music from several newcomers, Barry Herndon & The Party Nuts with Don't Play That Song, Sweet T with Good For What Ails Ya and Super Blues Xplosion with a Robben Ford tune, Tired Of Talkin'.  Sweet T consists of husband and wife, Stephan and Rebecca Latting, plus three members of The Sand Band.  This album is jam-packed with good music. You really need to look for Coast To Coast...The Music Lives On.  It is readily available through your favorite Beach Music outlet, or you can order it online from the National Association of Rhythm & Blues Deejays, randbdeejays.com.  Let the music live on.

  Johnny Rawls' Red Cadillac is still going strong, especially on 94.9 The Surf, where it is on rotation.  The song is the title track from Johnny's first album released on the Catfood Records label.  The El Paso, Texas label has now released their fourth Johnny Rawls album, Soul Survivor.  The title track, Soul Survivor, will probably be the most selected song and should go down in Beach Music history as another hit from this Mississippi native.  However, do not overlook Hand Me Downs.  It, too, could easily find its way into the charts.  When I first heard King Of Hearts, I thought it had been previously recorded, but it had not.  I was thinking of the title track of his previous album, Ace Of Spades.  Good song, though!  You will also want to check out Long Way From Home, Bad Little Girl and Don't Need A Gun To Steal.  Any of these would be good for play.  Johnny Rawls was born in Columbia, Mississippi and raised in Purvis and Gulfport, Mississippi.  He acquired an early interest in music from his grandfather, John Paul Newson, a blind guitarist who played around the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area.  Johnny began playing clarinet and saxophone in the third grade and began playing guitar when he was twelve years of age.  In the mid-seventies he joined O.V. Wright's band becoming his band director.  After Wright's death, Johnny continued on with The O.V. Wright Band for thirteen years following his death, touring with Little Johnny Taylor.  In the 90's, Johnny Rawls began working with L.C. Luckett, recording their first album together in 1994.  His first album with Catood Records charted number one on the Living Blues radio chart.  He was nominated for Best Male Soul Blues Artist and Best Soul Blues Album by the Blues Foundation.  He won the Critics Blues Award for Best Album of the Year by Living Blues Magazine.  Johnny Rawls is a true Soul survivor and his new album, Soul Survivor, should do well for him.

  KHP Records will be release its Fall SOS compilation, Nothing But A Party.  The title track comes from Sir Jonathan Burton.  Also featured will be Roy Hamilton with Good Loving.  This number comes following his huge hit, I'm In Heaven When I'm With You.  Ronnie McNeir, who now sings with The Four Tops, joins in with his take on Gypsy Woman.  You will also find Precious Love by the father-daughter team, Doug Manning and Taylor Manning Craig.  Paul Craver joins in with Your Man, as does Hip Pocket with a new song.  One of the hottest songs on 94.9 The Surf going these days is Drunk Party by Ms. Jody.  This will also be part of Nothing But A Party, which will be available in time for the Fall Migration.

Craig Woolard is working diligently to finish his new project for SOS, The Craig Woolard Band Live.  The album, though recorded from several of the group's appearances, is being digitally cleaned and enhanced.  The release will feature many CWB hits, plus new songs that have previously only been heard in concert.

  Pat Patterson will be releasing Bring The Beat In, a new compilation from Patman And Robin Records.  The album will contain 16 songs, including a new one from Gary Louder, Never.  Lowcountry artist Shrimp City Slim will be a part of the new release with Good, Good Love.  Upcountry recording artist Wanda Johnson will also take part in the compilation with It's So Nice To Have Someone.  Montgomery, Alabama recording artist Alonzo Reid joins in as a part of Bring The Beat In with his hot song Undercover Freak.  Bring The Beat In from Patman And Robin Records will be available for SOS.  Look for it!

  Patman And Robin Records have been busy.  In addition to the Bring The Beat In compilation, the company will also be releasing Unplugged House Party by Dip Ferrell & The Truetones.  The album will have 12 new songs and will also be available for the Fall Migration.

  More to come...