I Love Beach Music

There is nothing like a rainy day to make you think about sunshine. You crave the sunshine. What better way to renew yourself on this cloudy day than with beach music.  The Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffett have made huge contributions to the music we enjoy when basking in the sun sipping a cold beer. But I am talking about Carolina beach music. Think about music that is your personal  favorite. Someone else can measure your love of the music by watching you enjoy it. My mind goes to MG,a college friend who truly loved this music. He hailed from North Carolina and took a group of us to Myrtle Beach for a classic road trip. He loved this music. He lived this music. And he wanted to share his love of beach music. He wanted you to experience it and grow to love it. And we did. Give Me Just A Little More Time was released as the debut single for The Chairmen Of The Board in 1970. General Johnson was the lead singer aka narrator for this song. After college, I lived in South Carolina and had friends who thought that any reference to the Chairman of The Board was about this group, not Frank Sinatra. They too LOVED this music. Let me correct that to present tense. They LOVE this music. The Chairmen Of The Board also sang You've Got Me Dangling On A String and Everything's Tuesday. These are two more must-listen-to beach music hits. The Catalinas recorded Summertime's Calling Me which was a favorite of the college friends. Its lyrics were perfect for acting out with a group of friends on the dance floor or the shore post-beverages. The Platters gave us With This Ring. The Embers gave us I Love Beach Music. The Showmen recorded Shaggin' The Night Away. Carolina folk can shag like nobody's business. They own it. They walk and then they shag. They run later. I can think of several couples who looked their happiest when dancing the shag. They were in synch. They fit perfectly. Even if you aren't well-versed in beach music,you must have heard Under The Boardwalk and Up On The Roof. Oh yes, the Drifters. Then your mind immediately goes to The Tams. Sometimes categorized as rhythm and blues and/or soul, their music includes two classic beach music tunes, Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy and I've Been Hurt. Now memories are racing through your mind whether you knew about beach music or not. Okay now name the tune brought to us by The Band Of Oz. If you answered Shama Lama Ding Dong then you are correct. You can feel the sand.  You can smell the suntan lotion. You can see those friends. You can hear them laughing. You can see them dancing. You were laughing and dancing and singing too. There are many more beach music tunes waiting for your ears. Crank up the stereo, or computer, or ipod or smart phone and you too will love beach music! The ocean will surround you in seconds and your day will be sunnier. Go create a beach music playlist today. Then regardless of your age, you can be young, foolish and happy.