The mission of the Beach Music Association International is
to broaden Beach Music's appeal to a wider audience by organizing
various elements of Beach Music into an entity called The Beach
Music Association (BMAI).
Representatives of these elements are team players who believe
that together they can better promote Beach Music's growth and
share in that growth. The entity's goals are:
Latest News & Events
March 4, 2011
CCU announces Beach Music Hall of Fame inductees, songs
Coastal Carolina University will host the Beach Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Eight legendary beach music artists and 10 songs will be inducted at the ceremony, scheduled for 6 p.m., Sunday, May 15, in CCU’s Wheelwright Auditorium.
Dino Thompson, chairman of the Beach Music Hall of Fame advisory board, announced the names of the first lineup of artists and songs to be honored by the new institution. The artists are Hank Ballard and The Midnighters, Ruth Brown, The Clovers, Fats Domino, The Drifters, Louie Jordan, Amos Milburn, and Big Joe Turner.
Songs to be honored include "Sixty Minute Man," recorded by The Dominoes; "Shake, Rattle and Roll," recorded by Big Joe Turner; "Ain’t That a Shame," recorded by Fats Domino; "The Great Pretender," recorded by The Platters; "Green Eyes," recorded by the Ravens; "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean," recorded by Ruth Brown; "Nip Sip," recorded by The Clovers; "One Mint Julep," recorded by the Clovers; "White Christmas," recorded by The Drifters; and "Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee," recorded by Sticks McGee.
"We’re honoring the genius of what these artists created and the cherished memories that are stirred each time we hear their songs," said Thompson. "Whether you listen to rap, rock or R&B, the music rests on the shoulders of these forgotten giants who transitioned those sounds from the church to blues to beach music."
This first induction will focus on the pioneers of beach music who released songs prior to 1955. Special recognition will also be given to the late General Norman Johnson, lead vocalist of Chairman of the Board, and the late Solomon Burke, considered the founding father of soul music. CCU faculty member Dan O’Reilly and Pop 101 musicians will also perform a medley of beach music songs originally made famous by Hall of Fame inductees.
CCU students Candace Hamilton and Hunter Frye performed South Carolina’s state dance, the "shag," at the media event today. The dance is performed almost exclusively to the sounds of Carolina beach music.
The plan to establish the Beach Music Hall of Fame on CCU’s campus was formalized in May 2009 when the South Carolina General Assembly passed a concurrent resolution designating Coastal Carolina University as "the home of the Beach Music Hall of Fame."
"When Coastal Carolina University was designated as the home of the Beach Music Hall of Fame, we gained a unique recognition that further links the university with the community," said CCU President David DeCenzo. "We are proud to join the group that has championed the music and culture that distinguishes the Grand Strand and Horry County from any other place in any other state."
DeCenzo established a Beach Music Hall of Fame advisory board to formulate a procedure for naming inductees to the Hall of Fame. CCU’s Wheelwright Auditorium will serve as an interim location on campus to house it. University officials foresee the eventual installation of an interactive museum that will showcase beach music history and honor the inductees.
The Beach Music Hall of Fame advisory board members include Steve Bailey, Jason Cagle, Hilda Carter, Charles Dalton, Cliff Ellis, Selene Graham, Pat Howle, Kay Maddox, Eddie Ray, Dan O’Reilly, Rose Rock, Billy Scott, Don Sloan, Bubber Snow, Charles Stafford, Barry Thigpen, Dino Thompson, Jack Thompson, Harry Turner and Bob Wood.
The University’s affiliation with beach music was spearheaded by Harry Turner, president of the Beach Music Association International. An author and radio personality, Turner has taught noncredit courses on beach music through the University’s adult learning program for many years. The Carolina Beach Music Association is also supporting the Hall of Fame project at CCU.
Tickets to the Beach Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are $20, available through the Wheelwright Box Office from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 843-349-2502.
For more information, contact Martha Hunn at 843-349-2962.
Beach Music Association International congratulates the Beach Music Hall of Fame on its announcement of the first induction
ceremony May 15 at Wheelright Auditorium on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. We are very supportive of the
organization's and Coastal Carolina University's efforts to honor those who have made beach music what it is today.
Pictured in the photo above are several board members and Coastal Carolina University staff who have worked to make the
Beach Music Hall of Fame a reality.
Coastal Carolina University launches Beach Music Hall of Fame
Coastal Carolina University will be the location for the future International Beach Music Hall of Fame, according to an announcement today at a media conference on campus. Legendary beach music artists Maurice Williams and Billy Scott performed at the event today to lend their support to the project and provide an authentic sampling of this distinctive musical art form.
The plan to establish a dedicated site on campus recognizing the importance of "beach music," the genre of rhythm and blues music long associated with the culture and lifestyle of the Grand Strand, was formalized in May 2009 when the South Carolina General Assembly passed a concurrent resolution designating Coastal Carolina University as "the home of the Beach Music Hall of Fame."
"Coastal Carolina University is the natural place for this new endeavor, and we are excited about the prospect of it," said David A. DeCenzo, president of the University. "Beach music is an integral part of our local heritage. In addition to a Hall of Fame honoring its great artists, the University will focus scholarly attention on the cultural, sociological and musical aspects of the phenomenon."
The University has formed a steering committee, led by Department of Music Chairman Don Sloan, to direct the organization of the Hall of Fame. An advisory board will be established to formulate a procedure for naming inductees to the Hall of Fame and choose an interim location on campus to house it. Officials foresee the eventual installation of an interactive museum that will showcase beach music history and honor the inductees.
The University’s affiliation with beach music was spearheaded by Harry Turner, president of the Beach Music Association International. An author and radio personality, Turner has taught noncredit courses on beach music through the University’s adult learning program for many years. The Carolina Beach Music Association is also supporting the Hall of Fame project at CCU.
"I can’t imagine the Grand Strand without beach music," said Billy Alford, chairman of Coastal Carolina University’s Board of Trustees. "This is a perfect way to foster an appreciation for the cultural distinctiveness of our area."
Maurice Williams, with Freddy Mangum of Williams’ band The Zodiacs, sang his classic 1953 hit, "Stay." Billy Scott sang "I Got the Fever," the gold record that he and his band, The Prophets, first recorded in 1968. University officials also noted the passing of local radio personality Billy Smith, known for his dedication to beach music as the host of "The Billy Smith Beach Party."
Chauncey, the University mascot, gave a demonstration of the state dance of South Carolina, the "shag," which is performed almost exclusively to the sounds of Carolina beach music. His dance partner at the media conference was Autumn Jones, a four-time National Shag Dance champion. Chauncey was instructed in shag dancing by Barry Thigpen, chairman of the National Shag Dance Championships.
Other Beach Music artists were also in attendance to show their support for the Hall of Fame project.
For more information contact Martha Hunn at 843-349-2962.
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Beach music greats move to Coastal Carolina University
Coastal welcomes Beach Music Hall of Fame
By Lorena Anderson -
landerson@thesunnews.com
Coastal Carolina University can now add one more feather to its chanticleer cap - the school announced Thursday it will be home to the developing International Beach Music Hall of Fame.
"There's a special love for this kind of music here," said Harry Turner of the Beach Music International Association. "It's the official popular music of South Carolina."
Now all the university needs is an official home for the hall.
Billy Scott sings at Coastal Carolina University on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009. Coastal officials announced the school will be the home of the future International Beach Music Hall of Fame, interactive museum and a showcase of beach music history. Photo by Janet Blackmon Morgan / jblackmon@thesunnews.com
The idea came about after Turner's group began teaching a history of music seminar that included beach music. CCU board member Billy Alford and President David DeCenzo saw it, and they all began scheming to bring the hall of fame to the university closest to the city most associated with beach music - Myrtle Beach.
Thursday's announcement drew beach music performers such as Maurice Williams who, along with his group The Zodiacs, had hits like "Little Darlin'" and "Stay," which has been re-recorded many times by artists such as Jackson Browne and Cyndi Lauper.
Little River resident Paul Craver, who with his group The Men of Distinction recorded the beach songs "Mr. Beach" and "Emperor of My Baby's Heart," also showed up for the announcement and to support the effort.
"I think the recognition is wonderful," Craver said.
Beach music is a combination of rhythm and blues, the blues, the Motown sound, good-time rock 'n' roll and doo-wop, Turner said.
Why it became so popular here might have something to do with Carolinians' desire to dance and have fun, he said.
"I think music chooses the people," Craver said.
Whatever the case, people of the Grand Strand have fond memories of beach music, and CCU officials hope students present and future will develop an appreciation, too, as they learn about South Carolina's musical legacy.
DeCenzo told the audience at Thursday's announcement that the school hopes to begin fundraising for a performing arts center, and the hall of fame would have an official home.
In the meantime, music department Chairman Don Sloane said the campus will find an interim home as it assembles an advisory board to make decisions about such details as how inductees will be admitted.
They hope to have a museum, a hall for inductions and more, perhaps including an interactive exhibit. But none of those details has been finalized.
Thursday's event was sort of a mini-concert, with Billy Scott performing "I've Got the Fever," and Williams and Freddy Mangum performing "Stay," a song many people remember from the film "Dirty Dancing."
"Beach music has been an integral part of the Carolinas," Turner said. "Along with the sun and beach, it has been considered one of our greatest gifts to the world."
Contact LORENA ANDERSON at 444-1722.
BMAI Executive Board Members
| Chairman |
Billy Scott |
| President |
Harry Turner |
| 1st Vice President |
Hilda Merritt Carter |
| Treasurer |
Larry Pope |
| Executive Secretary |
Elaine Galloway |
| Sgt. At Arms |
Michael Roberts |
BMAI Board Members
| Donald Ceasar |
Deacon Dawson |
| Jon Konkel |
Elaine F. Marshall |
| Rose Rock |
Bill Rixon |
| Paige Sawyer |
Bill Swanke |
| Eugene Tompkins |
Sherry Suttles |
| Jason Cagle |
Nick Theodore |
Beach Music Association International
PO BOX 3614
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH SC 29582
Email: bmai@eclicks.net
