The Atlantic Beach Shag Club CSA Shag Contest was held March 22nd and March 23rd 2024 at Memories Beach Club in Atlantic Beach, NC below are the final results!
Amateur Division=- 5 Couples
1. Robby and Caryn Helms
2. Dewayne Rivenbark and Sheila Fulcher
3. Tony Wolter and Barbara Smith
4. Ron and Jen Blackwelder
5. Jack Bond and Tricia Drew
Novice Division- 8 Couples
1. Tim and Ashley Lauer
2. James and Leah Bryant
3. Clay and Cheryl Parker
4. Rick Hahn and Jo Patrick Simokat
5. Paul and Rebecca Blackwelder
6. Mark and Robin Casey
7. Donnie and Kelly Sanders
8. Lou Martino and Dottie
Sr. Pro Division- 5- Couples
1. Gene Pope and Tobitha Stewart
2. Gene and Kathy Benfield
3. Bruce Yates and Barbara Banks
4. Jesse Bradshaw and Pat Folds
5. Archer and Pat Joyce
Pro Division- 5 Couples
1. Joey and Jennifer Sogluizzo
2. Adam Holmes and Erica Russell
3. Carlton Vinson and Brandi Dockery
4. Allan Grider and Pat Folds
5. Marcus and Cameron Thigpen
On Saturday, January 6, 2024 the Part Time Party Time Band announced on their Facebook page the passing of forty plus year member, Garry Gahagen. Garry was the bassist for the band. On their website it says that Garry "enjoyed performing and recording with regional and national acts throughout the Eastern seaboard and internationally."
We extend our condolences to his family as well as his Part Time Party Time Band family.
On Wednesday, January 3, 2024 the Castaways announced the release of their new single, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" featuring Karen Clayton and Bardy Hasting on vocals. Their Facebook post reads: "Happy New Year everyone! We are starting the new year off with a new single release! "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" featuring Karen Clayton and Brady Hasting has been sent out to DJs. Please request. Also, check out Karen's collaboration duet with Mike Taylor of The Holiday Band, "I'm Your Puppet" Looking forward to spreading a lot of love in 2024!!"
Call you favorite DJs and stations to request it and you can also listen and purchase a copy on their website.
The South Carolina Shaggers Hall of Fame have announced their 2024 Inductees. The induction party will be held February 3, 2024 in the backroom at Fat Harold's Beach Club in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For full event details, visit their website.
The 2023 Carolina Beach Music Industry Awards show will be held, Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 3:00PM at the Spanish Galleon in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If you're unable to attend in person you'll be able to listen live online thanks to Riptide Radio. You can listen on their website and we'll also have it streaming here on Flip Flop Live at this link and via the player below. Good luck to all of the nominees!
The beach music community is mourning the loss of the legendary Johnny Barker. If you're a fan of beach music you will certainly recognize his name and the music that he has written and/or performed. So many condolence messages and stories have been shared across the various social media platforms today since the announcement of his passing on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Johnny's family along with the Catalinas family and all of the people who were lucky enough to call him a friend. His contributions to the industry are unmatched and throughout the various posts that we've read today, so many have called him a musical icon, legend, one of a kind, songwriter extrordinaire and so much more.
We will update this post with his obituary once that has been released and we will continue to pray for his family and friends during this difficult time.
The Carolina Beach Music Academy (CBMA) will be announcing the 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees on Friday, April 21, 2023 LIVE on 94.9FM The Surf. Join; The Professor, Harold Ballard, Jim Quick, Jim Morgan, Jay Kinlaw, and CBMA President Peter Carpenter. You can stream the show by clicking the player below and on the Surf website. We look forward to hearing the names as they're announced LIVE from 11:00AM until 1:00PM.
On April 2, 2023 Barbara Swanke shared the following post on the popular Facebook group "Willie C's Beach Music Cafe" - "Sadly WillieC has passed and this Cafe will be taken down.Thank you to all who have expressed condolences. Bill truly enjoyed the music and meeting so many of you with like interests."
We send our condolences to Willie's entire family and we've enjoyed being members of the popular Facebook group where so many shared stories, videos, music and more throughout the group. We've included his obituary below and if you'd like to send your online condolences to the family, please follow the link to the funeral home website.
Obituary
William C. Swanke Jr., age 79, of Little River, South Carolina passed away on Monday, March 6, 2023. Born on September 15, 1943, in Bronx, NY, he was a son of the late William C. Swanke, Sr. and Florence Welch Swanke. He married Barbara on April 24,1984 in New Mexico.
An Assistant VP Director of CIGNA Medicare Systems, William retired following 40+ years of dedicated service in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Following his retirement, he and Barbara moved to North Myrtle Beach, SC.
William was a founding member of United Group Harmony Association "UGHA" in New Jersey and hosted a vocal group radio show, "The Big Beat Show". He was the creator and owner of WillieC's RnB Beach Music Cafe Internet Radio, WillieC was well-known throughout Ocean Drive Beach, and would always be seen at all the SOS hangouts. He was awarded the 2007 CBMA "Michael Branch Award" and the Industry Appreciation Award"; 2008 CBMA "Michael Branch Award" and the "Internet Radio Show of the Year Award", the 2009 CMBA "Michael Branch Award" and was nominated for the 2010 CBMA Internet Radio Show.
Surviving are his wife of 39 years, Barbara Swanke; children, Christine Tucker, Thomas McKeough, and Jeffrey Swanke. He is also survived by grandchildren, Patrick Tucker, Jesse McKeough, Matthew Tucker, Thomas McKeough, and Katelyn McKeough.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Lee Funeral Home and Crematory, 11840 Highway 90, Little River, SC 29566.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leefhandcrematory.com for the Swanke family.
The industry is mourning the loss of Craig Fleming and so many throughout the industry have expressed their condolences by way of social media. We've certainly missed his "Inside the Music" articles on BeachMusic45 and we send our thoughts and prayers to his family. He was such a great guy and wonderful supporter of the beach music industry. You will find his obituary below and if you'd like to send your online condolences to the family, please visit the link to the funeral home website.
Obituary:
Honea Path – Thomas Craig Fleming, 55, beloved husband of Jenifer Bates Fleming, of Griffin Farm Road, went home to be with his Savior on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at AnMed Health Center. Born in Anderson County, he was a son of the late Thomas Charlie and Nancy Sharpe Fleming. As a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, he was active in the Men’s Group. Previously, he served at Bethany World Outreach Center as the pre-worship music minister. He was a 1985 graduate of BHP High School and held an Associate of Arts from Tri-County Technical College. He was manager of CVS Pharmacy of Belton, where he greeted every visitor to the store with a smile.
He loved going to the beach and soaking up the sunshine and was also a member and DJ of the Electric City Shag Club. On many a beach trip, he and Jenifer could be found out on the dance floor “cutting a rug” with the official state dance, the Shag. He also was an avid music fan, and turned that love into a part time passion as a DJ at beach gatherings, weddings, reunions, and special occasions. He also enjoyed watching the Gamecocks play and collected memorabilia from his favorite team.
Surviving are his wife of the home, a sister, Lisa Howell (Russ) of Honea Path, niece, Danielle Allen (Candace) of Williamston, father and mother-in-law, Bill and Jane Bates of Honea Path, brother-in-law Gil Bates (Kelly Jo) of Rockey Top, TN, and brother-in-law Greg Bates (Casey) of Honea Path, and 36 nieces and nephews, and 28 great-nieces and great-nephews.
His celebration of life will be held at 4 P.M. on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rickey Knight, the Rev. Chris Arries, and the Rev. Gil Bates officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 P.M. Tuesday in the social hall of Trinity United Methodist Church prior to the service. Burial will follow the service in the Garden of Memories. The family is at the home.
On March 27, 2023, the Association of Beach and Shag Club DJs (ABSCDJS) shared the following post: " We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing or our fellow DJ Billy Layton. Our sincere condolences go out to his wife Nina Carol and his family as we keep them in our thoughts and prayers."
We send our prayers and condolences to his family and friends and we've included a link below to his online guest book if you'd like to send your condolences to the family.
Obituary:
Billy Ray Layton, age 75, a resident of Washington, NC, died Sunday March 26, 2023, surrounded by friends and family at ECU Medical Center in Greenville, NC. The family will receive friends from 7:00PM until 9:00 PM Thursday March 30, 2023, at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington. Mr. Layton was born in Pitt County on June 16, 1947, to the late Wesley Layton and Frances Merritt Layton. On May 2, 2015, he married Nina Carol Rhodes. Mr. Layton loved being a DJ, listening to beach music, and going fishing. He was a lifelong member of the Eastern North Carolina Shag Club, a member of the Staton House Fire Department for over 20 years, and the DJ Association in Myrtle Beach.
Survivors include his wife, Nina Carol Layton of the home, three children, Richard L. Layton of Greenville, Renea L. McGehee and husband Gary of Biscoe, Tanya L. McGrady of Albemarle, ten grandchildren, Carley J. Williams, Hunter Pierce Layton, Caleb Scott Suggs, Leya Grace Suggs, Joshua David Layton, Hannah Diane Anderson, Jason Anderson, Meghan Anderson, Kayleigh Gaskins, Riley Gaskins, a brother, Glen Layton, two step sons, Jon Ramsey and Larkin of Kinston, Jason Ramsey and wife Rachel of Raleigh, and six step grandchildren, Jaylin, Payton, Caleb, Isla, Owen, and Cole. He is preceded in death by a grandchild, Weston Orr, a step granddaughter, Jessica Ramsey, and a brother, Wesley Layton. Condolences may be addressed to the family online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Layton family.
