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.
On March 13, 2023 the National Shag Championships announced the 2023 results on their Facebook page and we've included that list for you below. Congratulations to the winners!
On Sunday, March 5, 2023 the Band of Oz among so many friends and fans throughout the industry shared the sad news of the passing of Scott Fine. The bands post reads: "It’s with a heavy heart and through tears that I post about one of our Band of Oz Family. Scott Fine passed today, as we get more information we will keep everyone informed. Prayers for Cody, his mom and the rest of the Family. What a great voice, entertainer and Friend. In case you didn’t know, he loved every single one of you!"
We send our thoughts and prayers to Scott's family as well as his Band of Oz family. From all of the memories, comments and posts made throughout social media you can see just how much Scott meant to so many within the beach music community. Below you will find funeral information as well as the band's original post.
Scott's Obituary: Daniel Scott Fine, 40, of Little River, SC passed away at his residence on Sunday, March 5, 2023. A native of Alamance County, he was the husband of Cody Fine, who survives of Little River, SC and the son of the late Paul Daniel Fine and Christine Fine, who survives of Graham, NC. He was a musician and entertainer. He was well known in the beach music industry, playing with The Classics, The Attractions, The Band of Oz, and The Young Guns. He loved cooking and catering for others. He loved time spent with his friends.
A graveside service will be conducted at Cedar Cliff United Methodist Church Cemetery, Graham, NC on Monday, March 13, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. by Rev. Jimmy Wooten. Immediately following the graveside service, the family will receive friends in the Club House of The Challenge Golf Course, 1179 Challenge Drive, Graham, NC. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorial Processing Center, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216.Rich & Thompson Funeral Home and Crematory in Graham is assisting the family.
The Band of Oz has welcomed three new members to their lineup. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 the band posted: "Help us welcome these seasoned and incredible musicians to the Band of Oz family! Doug Winstead, Tim Clark and Jody Bundy. We are having so much fun and the energy is contagious. You gotta check our calendar at www.bandofoz.com and come see for yourself!"
We've watched several videos of the band that include the new members and we're looking forward to catching a live show soon. We've included the band's original post below along with a post from Tim and Doug from their pages about their new venture.
On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, the Holiday Band announced a new member to their lineup. Their release reads: "THE HOLIDAY BAND welcomes STEVE EDMUNDS to the group!! Steve is a soulful singer and a multi instrumentalist. He will be playing keyboards and singing lead and backing vocals. Steve has been a member of the beach music community for quite some time. He has played with The Castaways and Hip Pocket. He recently had a beach music hit with Gary Lowder with a duet release of the Hall And Oates song Kiss On My List. Steve is also a producer and songwriter. The Holiday Band is excited to join forces with Steve and continue to play the music we love."
Conratulations to Steve and the band and we hope to see you on the road very soon!
Downtown Laurinburg, North Carolina has released their 2023 Laurinburg After 5 band lineup. The series will begin on April 28th and end September 14th. You will find the band lineup below along with the poster from their original post on their Facebook page.
The Bessemer City 2023 Sounds of Summer Concert Series lineup has been announced. The season will kick off on Saturday, April 22, 2023 and run through Saturday, September 23, 2023. All events will be held at Centennial Park located at 114 W Virginia Ave in Bessemer City, North Carolina. Please find the lineup below and on our beach music calendar located on our website and mobile app. Please note that all events are subject to change without notice.
Saturday, April 22, 2023 – Cat5 Band
Friday, May 12, 2023 – East Coast Party Band (Down Home Festival)
Saturday, May 13, 2023 – Dirty Grass Soul (Down Home Festival)
Fireworks Show
Saturday, May 27, 2023 – Gary Lowder/Smokin’ Hot
Friday, June 16, 2023 – ACE Party Band (Juneteenth Festival)
Friday, June 30, 2023 – Too Much Sylvia (Fourth of July Celebration)
Fireworks Show
Saturday, July 22, 2023 – Jim Quick and Coastline Band
Saturday, August 26, 2023 – The Extraordinaires
Saturday, September 23, 2023 – On The Border (Brew & Que Festival)
