Second annual Beach Music Hall of Fame Induction ceremony honors songs from 1957

Photo by CJ Schmit

Coastal Carolina University will host the second annual Beach Music Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in CCU's Wheelwright Auditorium.

The seven artists to be honored are Chuck Berry, Earl Bostic, Ray Charles, The Coasters, The Embers, The Inkspots and The Platters, as well as a tribute to the late Etta James.

The 10 songs to be honored are "Fever," recorded by Little Willie John; "Flamingo," recorded by Earl Bostic; "Good Rockin’ Tonight," recorded by Wynonie Harris; "Honky Tonk," recorded by Bill Doggett; "In the Still of the Night," recorded by the Five Satins; "Just a Gigolo," recorded by Louie Prima; "Lawdy Miss Claudy," recorded by Lloyd Price; "Money Honey," recorded by The Drifters; "Rock Around the Clock," recorded by Bill Haley and his Comets; and "Searchin’," recorded by The Coasters.

“It’s important to continue to honor these artists and songs,” said Dino Thompson, chairman of the Beach Music Hall of Fame advisory board. “Beach music is one of our most treasured, enduring American art forms, and the sheer power of the music's emotional appeal brought black and white and rich and poor together. It was called beach music because this forbidden danceable R&B was only played on the jukeboxes of the coastal Carolinas... right here!” This second induction will honor beach music recorded during or before 1957.

Beach music artist Billy Scott and local TV personality Diane DeVaughn Stokes will emcee the event. Scott, a singer and recording artist for more than 40 years, is co-founder of the Beach Music Association International and Cammy Awards. He has been inducted into six Halls of Fame and is the recipient of 16 Cammy awards. Scott continues to tour with his band The Party Prophets. Stokes is a television and radio talk show host, vocalist, actress and popular speaker. She has emceed the National Shag Dance Championships since 1988.

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 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 serves as an interim location on campus to house it.

The Beach Music Hall of Fame advisory board members are Steve Bailey, Hilda Carter, Charles Dalton, Cliff Ellis, Pat Howle, Kay Maddox, Eddie Ray, Dan O'Reilly, Rose Rock, Billy Scott, Don Sloan, Bubber Snow, Charles Stafford, 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. For more information, contact Martha Hunn, director of news and public affairs, at 843-349-2962.

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