We have great news to pass along about North Tower member Johnny  Hopkins. On Saturday, April 3, 2021 Larry Dean shared the following: "To all of our North Tower friends and Johnny Hopkins friends I’m happy to report that Johnny returned home from the hospital today.I’m glad to see that big smile.Keep Johnny in your prayers as he continues his recovery. In the immortal words of Chuck Berry “Go Johnny go go go”

We'll continue to keep Johnny in our prayers here at Flip Flop Live as will so many others. Such great news on Easter weekend!

The Feature Attraction Band's newest original release can be heard right here, March 31, 2021 at 7:00PM and on our YouTube channel.

The new single was written by FAB front man Gregg Browder and was recorded in 2020 at Cape Fear Studio in Wilmington, North Carolina by JK Loftin. The song will be available on all of your favorite music streaming platforms in the next week to two weeks and the band advised the song will be distributed starting tonight to your favorite DJs so be sure to call and request the new single. We'd like to thank FAB for asking us to release the video and song for them and we wish you guys nothing but the best.

Dustin Ahkuoi and his father, Issy AhKuoi will appear on a PBS children's program called "Classroom Connection" where they will sing several songs together. Of course we all know Dustin from the Band of Oz but we also enjoy the Facebook live videos of him and Issy performing various songs many times from their home or backyard. The PBS special will air, Monday, March 22, 2021 and Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 9:00AM on UNC-TV and it can be streamed from their website.

Dustin's original post reads:
Tomorrow and Tuesday at 9AM Issy AhKuoi and I will be on a PBS Children’s program called Classroom Connection playing several songs together. Thanks to David Huppert and the UNC-TV crew for inviting us to be a part of this!  Dad and I will be singing a couple Samoan songs, a family original and a couple covers.
Catch us live at 9AM on Monday/Tuesday 3/22 and 3/23 or set your DVR! I believe you can also stream it live on the PBS website.

In a Facebook post on March 17, 2021, the Holiday Band announced the addition of their newest member, Vic Wheeler. Their post read: "Please welcome Vic Wheeler to The Holiday Band!!! After attending Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, Vic began his music career playing gigs on the west coast. After retuning to the east coast, Vic and his wife Kathy worked out of Orlando Fla and toured the southeast for many years. After returning to North Carolina, Vic has played with several well known regional bands including The Breeze Band and The Entertainers. Vic is a talented guitarist and singer and The Holiday Band is excited to have him be a part of our family!"

We look forward to attending an upcoming show and meeting Vic.

The updated 2021 SOS and ACSC workshop dates were shared by Vickie Gilreath Harrison on the Society of Stranders Facebook group on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Those dates include:

June 19, 2021 through June 26, 2021
SOS Spring Safari Rescheduled
(No ACSC Meeting)

Summer Workshop Cancelled

Sept. 16, 2021 through Sept. 26, 2021
SOS Fall Migration

A message from ACSC Chairmen Robin Morley was also shared by the Northern Virginia Shag Club on their Facebook page along with a note from the ACSC Secretary Becky Berry that we've included below.

Jim Quick announced he will be doing something special on his YouTube channel tomorrow (Thursday, March 11,  2021). The specific time was not announced but Jim asks that you head over to his YouTube channel and subscribe. We've included his original video below if you'd like to watch! During his Facebook live he also mentions the new "Swamp Soul" syndicated radio show launching this year, his podcast, a new cookbook and a possible reality TV show. Check it out below!

During the Beach Waves Radio Kickoff party held March 6, 2021 at R&R Brewing in Mount Olive, North Carolina they announced the addition of a new DJ to their network. Help them welcome DJ Willie T for his debut show on Sunday, April 4, 2021 at 8:00PM. Every Sunday you'll be able to join him "On the Boat Dock with Willie T" from 8-10PM and listen on their mobile app and their website. We'd like to officially welcome Willie to the Beach Waves family and we're looking forward to enjoying your show. You have a great group of guys to work with on Beach Waves!

About Willie:
"Growing up in the Sandhills of NC I got my first taste of Beach Music listening to The Chairmen of The Board, The Embers, Band of Oz and many others. I got my first start in radio in 1979 in Laurinburg, NC at WLNC where I met the late great Dale Van Horn and ended up touring with his group, Ocean Drive Band, for a year or so before the band broke up. After working various jobs I felt I needed a real career and joined and spent 22 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, retiring in 2007 as a Chief Warrant Officer. That brought me to the Northern Virginia area where in 2011 I started DJ'ing again in the Beach Music scene. In 2013 I was voted into the Association of Beach and Shag Club Deejays (ABSCDJ) and have been DJ'ing ever since for the Battlefield Boogie Club in Fredericksburg, VA and Northern Virginia Shag Club in Fairfax, VA. I am so proud to be a member of Beach Waves Radio and look forward to seeing you every Sunday night from 8-10PM "On The Boat Dock with Willie T"!

Offical Facebook Post from Beach Waves

Cat5 just announced they will be releasing new music around April 1, 2021. We're looking forward to hearing it and we'll be sure to keep you posted on any updates the band announces. Be sure to visit their website and head over to the Facebook and other social media accounts and be sure to follow or like their page. You can read the band's announcement below:

The band's original post: 
All the tracks including Vocals have been recorded for our Upcoming #Cat5live studio release. Be expecting New Music from Cat5 around the 1st of April and no this is no April fools joke. Tracks where recorded at Vision Sound Studios which is run by two of the best in the industry. Spook Joyner and John Joyner. The Song was written by Hit Songwriter Buddy Owens who has written songs recorded by Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert among others. We will be giving out more information as the time gets closer. But the icing on the cake is this, The song, "The Beach and the Boulevard" was the last recorded song by Hugh 'Tuff' Blanton right before he passed away. So this song is very special to all the members of the band and Tuff loved this song the very first time I played it for him. And we hope you do too. Be watching for the updates on #socialmedia as we prepare for for the launch of The Beach and the Boulevard.

The Marsha Morgan Band has relased a new single "Buzz Me Baby" and it was released earlier this evneing LIVE on RipTide Radio with Ray Scott's deck party at Deckerz. Go ahead and call or message your favorite DJs and stations and request it and don't forget to head over to the band's Facebook page and be sure to like and follow them.

Beach Music 45 launched a redesigned website on Monday, March 1, 2021. If you're not familiar with their platform their description says it best, "The Smokin' 45 chart is one of the most respected compilations in the beach music industry. DJs who play beach music for radio and internet audiences as well as DJs who play the music in clubs and other venues contribute their top 20 songs each month. The DJ charts are used to compile the monthly top 45 songs in beach music. Pat Patterson continues the chart compilation after Craig Fleming's many years of dedication to beachmusic45.com" Be sure to head over and check out the website and check back for the regular updates. Visit their website!

Their current list of contributing DJs are:

• Brian Brewer
• Curtiss Treece
• Eldridge Meeler
• Eric Bowman
• Gailes Stuckey
• Greg Howell
• Gerry Scott
• Jerry English
• Jim Skinner
• Johnny Draper
• Larry Calhoun
• Michael Sherrill
• Mike Brooks
• Mitch Harb
• Randy Kinsolving
• Steve Lusk
• Wayne Bennett

If you're a DJ and you play Beach Music on the radio, internet, in a club or event and you'd be interested in becoming a contributing DJ, you can email them here.