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The Carolina Beach Music Award nominations for 2012, announced on Friday September 21st,
certainly had some new names in specific categories. One of the big surprises was to see a youthful newcomer with bubbling
effervescence receive nominations for Female Vocalist as well as Entertainer of the Year. I'm talking about Allie Privette,
who replaced Molly Askins in Sea Cruz just last fall. It is also nice to see the recognition that comes with the not so usual
nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year such as Steve Craig and Steve Owens and
Female Vocalist nominees Lesa Hudson and Cindy Floyd. Not taking anything away from the other nominees, they are all great
entertainers, but I'm just sayin', nothing wrong with some new faces in the mix, that is a big factor in maintaining vitality
in the industry .......
Categories that traditionally have the most year to year change in the nominations are those that
are about the music itself. Song of the Year and Group Album of the Year for 2012 are good examples of some variation in the
artists associated with the music. Take the Song of the Year nominations for example – Think It Over from
Sea Cruz was released as a single just prior to the August 1st cutoff, in fact, the compilation it is on was not
eligible for nomination since it was not out in time. A unique nomination is Southern Rock band Nantucket's Beach music effort
with You Need A Ride To Raleigh, which was on the charts much of this past year. Jim Quick (without Coastline)
comes back strong to the beach with his resounding rendition of All That Matters To Me. The hottest new band
in Beach music, Steve Owens And Summertime, receives their first song nomination with I'd Give Up Everything For You.
Carolina Breakers lead vocalist Gary Lowder singular talent is recognized as he scores
big with his recent release of Coastin'. One repeat nomination, I Can't Think, from Band of Oz,
has been on one or more of the Beach charts for almost two years and is still a floor filling favorite.
The Group Album of the Year nominees are here again a potential sign that the winds are changing. The nomination of Florence, South Carolina's Dip Ferrell & The Truetones' Along
For The Vibe is a recognition of the outstanding songwriting talent of the Jeffords brothers and the production mastery
of the famed Don Dixon. Hangin Out by The Rick Strickland Band is from a fine group of musicians that has come
a long way in a very short period of time. I'm Just Sayin' from The Castaways – a legendary name in Beach
music with a current band that continues to carry on the strong tradition. New and hot – the self-titled Steve
Owens And Summertime album from a group that has quickly gained a tremendous following in Beach music. Rounding out the nominations is Craig Woolard Band's Main Street People, one
of the strongest releases in the industry over the last two years.
I was listening to the wrap-up of The Crossover radio show this past week
where a discussion of the CBMA nomination announcements was a big part of the conversation. Jim
Quick was saying “ a lot of folks came up to me after the nominations were announced and asked if I wasn't upset.”
I replied with “upset, why would I be upset? I was nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Song of the Year. The
Coastline Band and I have won many CBMA awards over the last seventeen years. I feel truly blessed.” Very well stated Jim!
We here at beachmusic45.com support the ongoing musical efforts of all of the nominees and wish
them all good luck in the voting and much continued success!
New Music............Old Music......New Old Music......!!!
The album releases in the world of Beach music just keep on coming, that's what makes the business go 'round. Here are six recent CDs that are now available.
KHP Music hits us up with two more new releases. The first, Nothin' But A Party, contains a wide variety
of styles within the fourteen grooves. The title track by Sir Jonathan Burton as well as Steppin' With You from
Andre' Lee and Get Drunk Party by Ms. Jody means that the Southern Soul genre is well represented. Just when
we were saying there has been an overall small number of collaborations over the last couple of years, here are three new
ones – the already charting My Love Is Your Love (Forever)
from Jackie Gore and The Original Members, Your Precious Love, a soaring father - daughter duet by Mrs. Taylor
Manning Craig and Doug Manning and Come To A Decision, a well produced mid-tempo back and forth from Gary Lowder
and Terri Gore. I really like the Entertainers slightly slowed down rendition of Don't Stop Now, a song first
recorded by Motown's Originals. Speaking of the Motor City, Ronnie McNeir cuts loose here with a rousing Shag mix of Gypsy
Woman. One of the Tams' latest chart busters, Girl You're Too Young, and a Lulu's Chicken Shack
follow-up from Ron Moody, the smokin' Tore Up From The Floor Up, are on board as well. Another follow-up from
England's Roy Hamilton, Good Loving, may not be able to top his CBMA nominated I'm In Heaven When I'm
With You, but it has a raw edge that could make it a good dancer. Three smoothies – the killer If I Only
Had Three Wishes by Russell Thompkins Jr., Lucky Me by Tommy Black Band and Foolish Heart
from Summerdaze round out the release.
The second new release from KHP Music, Keep On Gettin' It On, contains fifteen songs of what the CD labeling
proclaims as being '100% Beach Music'. Good stuff for sure. The title track,
from Al Lindsey, was one of the top tunes for 2011 in our Southern Soul Corner playlists.
Reverend Bubba D. Liverance's jammin' You Used to Shake It For Me was the sleeper track from his recent
Recession Sessions EP. Veteran Myrtle Beach based singer Marsha Morgan has two tunes here – an absolute
killer righteous duet rendition of Private Number with Gary Lowder and a nice boogie version of You Can
Have My Husband with her band. Curley White's funky upbeat Walkin' The Dog jumps off and Hey Baby
by Roy Roberts has already garnered quite a bit of internet radio play. Another very strong duet, We're On To
Something from Castaways lead singer Karen Clayton and Fabulous Daddy-O's mainstay Pat Christie has recently hit the
charts. Paul Craver turns out the country side of life on Your Man. Ditto on country for Hip Pocket on Good
To Be Me. The recently reincarnated Breeze Band contributes a cool version
of My Heart. I'm liking the venerable Gary Brown's smooth and soulful lyrics on Sticky Situation. The Carolina Breakers take things slow and way down low with I've Been Lovin'
You. Additional new cuts from Rickie Fox, Kathy Lynn and Sweet T round out the release.
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Bring The Beat In is the third and most recent release from Patman
and Robin Records. Current University of South Carolina student Rachel Tripp leads it off on yet another of her vibrant tunes
with Love On Top. The Night Move Band's Smooth
Stepping Papa is a red hot boogie song that currently fills up the dance floor. Several 2012 CBMA nominees have one
or more songs on the CD - Fantastic Shakers (Somebody's
Taken Your Place and One Love True
Love), Gary Lowder (Never),
Craig Woolard Band (featuring Craig Michael on Farewell My Summer Love), Dip Ferrell
& The Truetones (Bad Situation),
Steve Craig and The Out of Towners (If I Were
You) as well as Nantucket (Big Beach
Party). South Carolina's soulful Wanda Johnson checks in with Its So Nice to Have Someone, a cut from one of her earlier albums. Veteran Texas bluesman Tutu Jones gives
up a jumping rump shaker on Gain Your Love.
A Southern Soul tune I pushed and pushed last year ...LOL...is on the release – LeeRoy's Should Have Called smokes (cue it up DJs!). Shana Blake, who sings with the Truetones, has a solid solo effort here on
Valerie. The hot track off of the latest
works from the right Reverend Bubba D. Liverance, Sweet
Potato Pie, is on the compilation
as well. Sixteen tracks in all for your listening and dancing pleasure!
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Carolina Shag III continues the series brought to us by Judy Collins'
Sisbro Records label. There is always a good variety of radio and dance songs on these compilations. A new Craig Woolard Band
tune, Woo, is breaking out all over
and Big Time Party Band's Cherry Groove
is up for a CBMA award for Best Songwriter. Southern Soul cuts included – Donnie Ray's hotter than hot hit song I'm Goin' Back, OB Buchana's Booty Mover and a line dance explosion with Ms. Jody's Thang. Strong new tracks from Greenville, South Carolina's Chocolate
Thunder (Run Run Run) and the very
talented Andy King (RC Cola) are included
here as well. When I saw the name Ginger Thompson I'm thinking ''isn't she the one who had a hit song called Paper Tiger years ago?'' No, that was actually Sue Thompson... LOL..,
Ginger Thompson has her own band based out of the Triangle area of North Carolina. I'm digging her rendition here of Fool In Love. Twelve tunes
in all, both new and old, featured on the release.
David Wade's Shanty Records label gives up something
really unique with Diner Days, nineteen rare tracks of music quite similar to that you might have heard Fall
SOS mid-afternoon at OD Pavilion or late night at Pirates Cove. Several of these go way on back in the day, originally issued
on 78 RPM vinyl. Some familiar names – Roy Brown, Little Esther, Bobby Day, Johnny Nash,
Fontella Bass, Johnny Ace and some not so well known – Jimmy Beasley, Ann Cole, Lovelace Watkins, Dee Edwards,
Rudy Green. All good just the same, music for listening and dancing pleasure for sure.
Hot tracks are all over the new CD from Atlanta, Georgia's mighty Tams. REDD HOT Young Foolish and Happy
has three new tunes that have already seen strong chart action – Endless Love which features Sherry Norris
(a CBMA nomination for Best Collaboration), their rendition of Girl You're Too Young and the latest to hit the
charts, Love My Girl. The CD includes new versions of old classics Be Young Be Foolish Be Happy,
With This Ring and Untie Me as well as the group's take on Picture Of You, Big
Time Lover and Turn The Radio On. Nine tunes in all from one of Beach music's all time greatest who
are still carrying on the tradition!
A Classic: Younger Beach music fans that were able to see the legendary
Jerry Butler's SOS Fun Monday performance may remember him more for his previous CAMMY Awards appearances of several
years back or for his hit Beach tune Coolin' Out. Those of us old enough to be around during the dawning age of Soul
music, however, remember him as one of the important pioneers of the genre. With a career that began in the late '50's in
Chicago when Jerry and boyhood friend Curtis Mayfield formed the Impressions, he soon left the group to embark on what became
a huge success as a solo singer.
After going solo,
Jerry scored several charting hits over the next ten years, including the #1 R&B single, He Will Break Your Heart, in
1960. Signature Butler tunes such as Find Another
Girl, I Dig You Baby, I Stand Accused, Make It Easy On Yourself, Let It Be Me and Mr. Dream Merchant were a big part of the nation's Soul movement of the 'mid-'60's. What may have been Jerry's
crowning moment came about in 1968 with the release of an album on Mercury Records that became monumental in the world of
Pop and Soul. The Ice Man Cometh also marked the first album production effort from the now legendary team of Kenny
Gamble and Leon Huff. Five of the eleven tracks on the album made the Billboard Top 100 both Pop and R&B charts over a
two year period. Both Hey Western Union Man
and Only The Strong Survive hit #1 on the R&B chart. Never Give You Up made it to #4, Are You Happy got to #9 and Lost topped out at #15. It was a piece of vinyl that I literally wore out on the turntable!
Jerry Butler certainly
has stood the test of time, a class act with a total of twenty four albums and sixty singles hitting the charts over a singing
career that now spans over fifty five years. With one of the most distinguished voices ever, he is regarded as a true music
icon.
Artists, DJ’s, Club owners etc. send me your latest news for potential inclusion in Beach Buzz at nealfur@aol.com.
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