SHAGTIME

12/18/2020

Living in Orangeburg I remember Willis Blume and I also remember Shagtime. I briefly had a music review column while working at the Orangeburg newspaper and I was charged with reviewing their release, “Always Wound.” Retrospect is a funny thing because thinking back I attempted to write about and explain something I really had no understanding of. My mistake was I thought Beach Music was suppose to be Soulful and the only true Soul I knew did not sound anything like this. My ignorance haunts me to this day. Beach Music is a music unto itself, vibrant, happy, a joy to listen to and appreciate and to top it off Beach Music was created here in South Carolina spawning the Shag dance...

DIZZY GILLESPIE

10/21/2020

What can you say about Dizzy Gillespie that has not been said before. I can only give you my take and simply put he was an incredible musician of unmatched vision. I’m a blues player myself and Jazz alludes me a bit, I think it’s the timing and the interjected spontaneity – give me 4/4 and Big Joe Turner and I’m out!

Artists like Dizzy Gillespie not only bring amazing talent to the table but they take it up several notches and set new standards worldwide that only a few dare ever reach for. South Carolina should be very proud of the musicians and music we have produced as a state, by proxy we are all a part of something magnificent and truly unique...

EARTHA KITT

07/25/2020

​After months of research and studying Eartha Kitt's incredible life and career I have come away with the greatest of respect and admiration for her and I would have to say in my opinion she is the most accomplished talent this state has yet produced.

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A very special Thank you to Kitt Shapiro for giving me permission to create this page and also to Jonathan Thompson and the generous folks at Freedom Forum for allowing the use of their "Speaking Freely" episode with Eartha Kitt...

THE NEXT MOVE

05/01/2020

​​I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I love to be surprised when I’m putting these showcases together and this one was very special for me. How I missed this band playing out I will never know, they opened for the Producers at a time when I never missed a Producers show so go figure! One thing is for sure, if I had heard them back then they would have been up there alongside the Producers as a favorite band of mine. These guys wrote my kind of power pop, tight harmonies, catchy melodies with hooks, popping rhythm section, and tons of chorus pedal...

CRAVIN' MELON

04/13/2020

​Cravin’ Melon was an exceptional band, that’s about the best way to put it. The musicians were hands down some of the finest this state has produced, the band was a tight – well oiled machine and the evidence is in the “Home Grown Rock series” film footage I have included on this page, (take some time and watch it). The energy and professionalism that reflects in their live performance is a testimony to the dedication of craft and form, the songs are well written and each one carries the unique stamp of Doug Jones wonderful voice adding flavor and texture to their sound...

DANIELLE HOWLE and the TANTRUMS

01/12/2020

​I’ve wanted to build this showcase for a long time but I knew I had to be patient because I understood that it would take a lot of collaboration to do it correctly. Getting to know Danielle opened that door giving me access to a lot of data and personal recounts but John Furr holds the mantle of gatekeeper and I’m very grateful for his time, patience, and wealth of knowledge.

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This band represents one of those rare moments in a timeline where the right musicians with the right talent connect to form something truly unique. When I listen to their body of work...

THE SWINGIN' MEDALLIONS 

12/22/2019

​I really enjoyed researching and putting this showcase together – there is a lot of musical history behind The Swingin’ Medallions that goes far beyond their signature hit song, “Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love)”. Once you dig down into it you discover it’s not just the song but rather a state of mind that they represent. Much like a celebration, The Swingin’ Medallions are going to entertain you, show you a fun time, help you get your groove on and bring a smile to your lips.

A big "Thank You" to Robby Cox for his help and guidance in putting all of this together. I’m proud that this band and that song were born in South Carolina and there is comfort in the fact that the...

THE DIXON BROTHERS

11/12/2019

​I watched the five-night broadcast of Ken Burns "Country Music" and if you have not seen this feature you need to set time aside and watch the entire production. Even if you are not a fan of Country Music you will be entertained and educated both at the same time as I was. I had never heard of the Dixon Brothers but they are reverently mentioned early on in the film as parts of the building blocks of contemporary country music are explored reaching back to their roots based in American Folk and storytelling intertwined with Gospel and Hillbilly.

As I researched deeper into their story I discovered theirs was not a very happy one...