Carolina Beach Music
RSSPosts: 1Most people agree that the Ocean Drive section of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is where the Carolina beach music/shag phenomenon had its greatest impact among vacationing teenagers and college students around the late 1940’s.
Carolina Beach Music
Most people agree that the Ocean Drive section of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is where the Carolina beach music/shag phenomenon had its greatest impact among vacationing teenagers and college students around the late 1940’s. Carolina beach music and a style of swing dance known as the “shag”, are commonly referred to by beach music lovers go hand in hand.
Deriving from a form of various rock/R&B/pop music of the 1950s and 1960s, Carolina beach music took off in its popularity.
Even though toward the end of the 1960s more and more such clubs with similar jukebox selections and live band performances opened in other locations than the beach resorts, the term “Beach Music” which began to emerge in the mid-1960s, keyed off of the memorable experiences of dancing the shag to this music at venues by the sea.
Today Carolina beach music is alive and well! Beach music lovers gather at various beach clubs to listen and shag to their favorite beach music tunes.
According to Wikipedia, the novel Beach Music by South Carolina author Pat Conroy takes its title from this regional genre of music. The novel’s protagonist, Jack McCall, seeks to get his daughter more in touch with her Southern roots. He does this by introducing her to the shag and to classic beach music. He describes The Drifters’ immortal song, “Save the Last Dance for Me” in this way: “This is your Mama’s and my favorite song. We fell in love dancing to it.” and “Carolina beach music,” her uncle Dupree tells her, “is the holiest sound on earth.”
Some of the more popular North Myrtle Beach clubs known for their love of Carolina beach music and shagging are: Ducks, Fat Harold’s, and Pirate’s Cove. The OD Shag Club and SOS websites are fantastic resources for all your beach music and shag dance happenings in North Myrtle Beach.
Download Carolina Beach Music
Download your favorite Carolina Beach Music!
Prefer iTunes?
Here’s a little Beach Music Anthology – General Johnson & The Chairmen of the Board to get you started. Enjoy!