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"Musical trends come and go, but for
more than fifty years, Beach Music has been as steady as
the Atlantic Ocean's flow to its southeastern beachfronts,"
My career has been a long exciting journey with all roads
leading to the musical oasis called Beach Music. In the
spring of 1966 in Raleigh, North Carolina, as lead singer
of the Showmen, I performed before my first Beach Music
audience. Thinking Beach Music was music by artist like
The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean, we nervously performed
a variety of rhythm and blues classics. Surprisingly, each
song was met with the audience's approval. As we ended the
show with our regional hit "39-21-46" and our
nationally charted hit song, "It Will Stand,"
the audience responded by applauding us back for an encore.
Because we didn't know any other songs to perform, we sang
two more verses of "It Will Stand" and spontaneously,
began to adlib the chorus of Bruce Channel's song "Hey
Baby." As we sang "Hey Baby," we waved our
hands in the air and to our surprise, everyone in the audience
responded by doing the same. When we concluded the show
with a bow, the audience showed their appreciation by rewarding
us with another thunderous round of applause. That spring
night, I understood, appreciated and became a part of the
Beach Music phenomenon.
In 1968, 1 moved to Detroit, Michigan to further my career
with Invictus Records. As a member of The Chairmen of the
Board, I experienced and enjoyed international success as
a songwriter and an artist. My success in such a short period
of time magnified the business dealings with my recording
and management companies. Soon, business disagreements deteriorated
our musical relationship and eventually terminated our successful
venture. In 1974, 1 left Invictus.
In 1978, 1 returned to the Carolina's with The Chairmen
of the Board. For the first time in eight years, I enjoyed
performing music without the depression of the music business.
I found an independent music industry that was still free
of monopoly, politics and categorization. I felt the energy
of an industry propelled by its loyal supporters.
In 1979, 1, along with the late Mike Branch, formed Surfside
Records. Our objective was to record new music to revitalize
the identity of a thriving music market that was slowly
being recognized as and too dependent on old recordings.
In 1981, two years after forming Surfside Records, I was
contacted by Motown Records, leading to discussions with
then CEO Mr. Berry Gordy Jr. The meetings at his home in
California were personable and candid. His offer could have
proven to be financially lucrative for me but would have
meant moving to California and abandoning Surfside Records
and the musical utopia that I had found to be a safe haven.
I respectfully declined Motown offer and for years, I wondered
if I had made the right decision.
Nineteen years later, I have absolutely no regrets. Those
years have been filled with excitement and personal fulfillment
that exceeds any monetary gains that I could have attained.
I'd like to sincerely thank all Beach Music lovers and
supporters for affording me the opportunity to create and
perform, without compromise, the music that we treasure.
I am humbly appreciative and honored to be a part of the
Carolina Beach Music phenomenon.
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