June 22-30

Southern Soul, OD Resort Bring
Live Entertainment to North Myrtle Beach

  The Southern Soul Network and its sponsors continue its Summer Entertainment Series next week at OD Golf and Beach Resort. 
   Having gained an impressive amount of popularity in its first month of existance, the series is headed full-throttle into July.
   The Summer Enterainment Series features a variety of events for Carolina Beach Music enthusiasts to attend, from deejays spinning hits on the Resort's deck as well as in its Beach Club, to live performances at the Spanish Galleon.
   Visitors are in for a special treat this weekend when CBMA vocalist Paul Craver takes over the deejay booth, first on Friday - 3:30-7:30pm on the deck - then on Saturday from 8 to 11pm in the lounge. Ange Rissoff and Rickey Godfrey will also be onhand Friday for live vocal performances beginning at 8:30pm.
   If you're in the area, be sure to drop in on all three of these artists for entertainment that's one-of-a-kind.
   And tell them we sent you.

May 18-24 

'Coast to Coast' Packed With Hits

  KHP Music has had a lot of us on the edge of our seats in anticipation of the latest Let's Dance volume from the National Association of Rhythm & Blues DeeJays.
  Now that Coast to Coast is finally in stores, Carolina Beach Music fans are taking it home and hitting the dancefloor in droves. To date, the CD is KHP's fastest-selling compilation for its time period in two years.
  There's a long list of attributes to the success of this project, a main one being that it's jam-packed with vocal and musical talent. While each of its 14 tracks without a doubt have great dance potential, every artist involved with this CD deserves a proverbial pat on the back for his/her talent. I'm amazed each time I listen to the collection because I pick up on a vocal trick or musical note I've not noticed in the past.
  Rhonda McDaniel's version of "Falling" is delivered with her usual style and inspires listeners to pick up a copy of her recently-released solo CD. Ditto for Pat Carpenter's "Every Night and Every Day" track as well as Bubba D's "If You Can't Shag.". 
  Gary Brown fans get a double dose of his musical flair here as he lends two of his projects to the roster this time out. Mike Taylor and Holiday Band bring a fine rendition of "Rock and Roll" to the mix. Paul Craver's "Fool for You" is so impressive it's got its own article over in the DistinctivelyBeach News Archives section.
  Bottom line: my hat's off to the National Association of Rhythm & Blues DeeJays for giving us yet another well-chosen group of songs in its Let's Dance series, and also to all of you artists who make Coast to Coast the gem that it is.
  We couldn't dance without you.
  Order Coast to Coast: Let's Dance, KHP Music #1060, here.

 
Track List
1. Hey Mister Dee Jay (Spin A Tune for Me)
Lonnie Givens
2. Let's Dance
Gary Brown
3. Walkin' Up the Steps of Faith
Band of Oz
4.Falling
Rhonda McDaniel
5. Every Night & Every Day
Pat Carpenter
6. (I'm Just A) Fool for You
Paul Craver
7. Mama's Drinking Liquor
King Tyrone & the Graveyard Ramblers
8. Tear the House Down
Best Daddy's
9. Hold Me in Your Arms
Gary Lowder
10. Rock and Roll
Holiiday Band
11. In My Dreams
Gary Brown
12. If You Can't Shag
Rev. Bubba D'Liverance & the Cornhole Prophets
13. There Goes My Baby
Kenny Vance & the Planetones
14. I'm Going Hone
James Soleberg

Spooktacular Cruise Sets Sail in October

  Five days in the western Caribbean with some of Carolina Beach Music's best entertainers...what better way to bring the 2008 summer beach season to a close?
  Sharon Euliss and All About Cruises will host this year's edition of the Spooktacular Beach Music Cruise October 20-25. The tour sails the western Caribbean with stops in Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico.
  The Holiday Band welcomes a host of guests this year to provide live entertainment nightly from the award-winning Paul Craver, Pam Russell, Rhonda McDaniel and Lia Long.
  There'll also be a Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party, costume contest and plenty of shagging plus other activities to keep Carolina Beach Musi enthusiasts busy.
Take it from DistinctivelyBeach: this isn't a cruise to miss, so get the details here  and get packing.  

May 11-17

KHP Delivers with 'Thinking About You'

  Over the coming weeks, On the Record will look at some of the latest CD projects from KHP Music and Ripete Records.
  First up in the spotlight is Thinking About You, KHP's tribute to the 2008 edition of SOS. The compilation features 14 tracks, with a good mixture of new original tunes plus some cover projects of classics as well.
  Several of the tracks have already entered 94.9 The Surf's Weekly Top 40 Beach & Boogie Countdown, and fans will most likely see that the remaining tracks get there soon.  
  Movers and shakers to watch specifically on this collection include "Shadow Shaggin", a Tommy Black original; the Robinson-Moore penned "Ooo Baby Baby" performed by Summerdaze; Rick Strickland's "Nice While It Lasted"; John Fogerty's "Green River," delivered well by Shaggie Maggie; Albert Rogers' rendition of Paul Carrack's "Satisfy My Soul"; the ever-popular "Outta Control" by Doug Winstead; and "Such a Beautiful Girl", a great Carolina shag mix by Wallstreet.
  The complete project will have listeners 'thinking about" SOS 2008 for years to come. 
  Order KHP's Thinking About You, #1063, here.

Track List
1. Shadow Shaggin' (Tommy Black & the Blooz)
2. Love Thang (Tim Clark Band)
3. Thinking About You (Fantastic Shakers)
4. I've Got Nothing to Lose (The Magnificents)
5. Ooh Baby Baby (Summerdaze)
6. Put Your Records On (Mark Roberts & Breeze)
7. Works Both Ways (The Extraordinaires)
8. Nice While It Lasted (Rick Strickland)
9. Such a Beautiful Girl (Wallstreet)
10. Satisfy My Soul (Albert Rogers)
11. Outta Control (Doug Winstead)
12. Green River (Shaggie Maggie)
13. Everybody Needs Love (Goldrush with Jerry Shooter)
14. I Got a Feelin', Rockin' & Reelin' (Wallstreet)

February 17-23

Shaggie Maggie Releases New Cover
of Old Favorite

   Pam Russell and the rest of the Shaggie Maggie crew have been busy in the studio lately, and radio listeners are in for a real treat in the coming weeks. The group just put the finishing touches on its new single, “Green River,” due out this Thursday on the Smokin’ 45 DJ Throwdown Sampler.
   “Green River” has been a favorite of Shaggie Maggie fans for some time. In fact, the group’s spin on the arrangement of the song makes it one of the most-requested numbers at live Shaggie Maggie performances.
   Russell and her fellow band members are as excited over recording “Green River” as listeners are over hearing it plsyed on radio.
   “We recorded the song in a great shag tempo and played it in our `Shaggie Maggie’ style,” she said.  

Cammy Shots Posted

  The DinstinctivelyBeach Photo Page this week features the second of three collections of photos taken during Cammy Weekend 2007. 
   Book 2 covers the final day of the event, including scenes from Band Fair at OD Resort and snapshots leading up to the Weekend's main event.
   Book 3, scheduled for publication Feb. 24, features the 2007 CBMA People's Awards Show at Alabama Theatre and the Hayes Jewelers VIP Post-Awards Wrap-Up Party at the Spanish Galleon and OD Beach Club..
   The photos, courtesy of Janet Carpenter and other members of the CBMA's founding family are being published on this website on sequential order. Book 3 will round out the five-day event that was held in November 2007.
   Book 1 was published on the DistinctivelyBeach site last week, and includes snapshots from the Weekend's Kick-Off Party at 2001 Nightclub, the CBMA Barbecue Benefit, the Industry Awards Show, live performances from OD Beach Club and the Spanish Galleon, plus other outtakes from OD Resort.  

February 10-16

New Position Right Where Wheeler
Wants to Be

  It wasn't a typical beginning to a work-week for Tiff Wheeler, but - all things considered - the timing was perfect. 
  With her original "Do Ya' Like" single recently released and already climbing Carolina Beach Music charts, Wheeler's strutting her stuff offstage, too. Her career took an extended path last Monday when she became marketing and promotions director for Time Out Sporsbar in Chapel Hill, NC.
   "I'm scared to death...excited...and nervous," Wheeler said on Sunday night as she anticipated her first day on the job.
   Turns out she needn't have worried. Club owner Eddie Williams needed someone to bring beach music into Time Out's Holiday Inn location across from Eastgate Shopping Center, and Wheeler had all the credentials in her corner. Her first-hand knowledge of the music industry came early in life as a musician's daughter. Now she performs both in a solo capacity and with dad Johnny Wilson in his BigTime Party Band as well.
   But the credentials that really sealed the deal for Wheeler were her love and dedication to Carolina Beach Music's live entertainment scene. And then there's her spunk.
   During several visits and vocal performances at Time Out, Wheeler noticed that while the quality of Williams' "setup" was high, audience turnout was low. After playing the club on New Year's, she said, "I went back and asked him if I could help him out...see if we could draw business in." If successful, the process would put the club's financial status in the black and give beach music a boost in North Carolina's Triangle area.
   Williams took Wheeler up on her offer; and Wheeler got down to business. By the end of the month, she "was lucky enough to get Coastline in [to play]" to between 200 and 250 patrons. The performance drew the largest crowd in the club's history. Needless to say, the offer of a full-time job - "one I could not refuse," she said - followed for Wheeler.
   "I'm booking the bands, doing the radio spots, newspaper ads" and all the other duties that go with marketing and promotions, she said. But her fans can rest easy; Wheeler won't be giving up her spot onstage anytime soon. She and Willliams have agreed the new position will leave plenty of room for her music and family life. Wheeler is elated with the arrangement.
   "I've never met a business man like [Williams]," she said.

Cammy Shots Posted

   New on the DinstinctivelyBeach Photo Page this week is one of its two collections of photos taken during Cammy Weekend 2007.
   The photos, courtesy of Janet Carpenter and other members of the CBMA's founding family, cover all five days of the event. This week's album includes snapshots from the Weekend's Kick-Off Party at 2001 Nightclub, the CBMA Barbecue Benefit, the Industry Awards Show, live performances from OD Beach Club and the Spanish Galleon, plus other outtakes from OD Resort.
   The second photo collection will be published in the next edition of DistinctivelyBeach. It covers the final day of the event, including scenes from the 2007 CBMA People's Awards Show and the Hayes Jewelers VIP Post-Awards Wrap-Up Party.

February 3-9

Time to Regroup: What Now?

  The nuts and bolts of this column begin in paragraph three, right after I get paragraph two off my chest.
   Screw progress.
   Okay, so now that our one show club is history, what's ahead for the future of live entertainment around Ocean Drive?
   The question needs to be addressed - and addressed quickly - by the Carolina Beach Music community specifcally and North Myrtle Beach in general. As a group, we need to be committed 100% to providing a performance venue here for the music that put "here" on the map in the first place.
   I did some research this week, talked with some people on the beach music scene. The common denominator in every conversation was that, as of now, North Myrtle Beach doesn't have a club large enough to accommodate the beach and variety bands that keep Carolina Beach Music alive. I had hoped to report at the time of thi us printing that we might find a saving grace in the new beach club proposed for 2nd Avenue North.
   On Friday, though, when I called to request some preliminary details about the facility, I didn't get much encouragement. In fact, the representative told me flat-out that "the facility to house the club might not even be built."
   Now if smaller clubs with DJ's spinning recorded material is your scene, we have a good crop. But have you ever been in one of these places when a band was trying to perform? The last night I ventured out to a live event at a Main Street club, it was not a pretty sight. The temperature of the facility had risen to the point of being unhealthy. The audience - past maximum capacity and with nowhere else to go in the building - had the band practically hemmed against a wall.
   The situation was unsettling to me that night, as it had been in the past. But now that these clubs are the best venues Ocean Drive has to offer for live performances, it's downright embarrassing to me. We can't expect these places to double as show clubs any more than we can expect award-winning artists - regardless of how much they love what they do - to perform two- or three-hour sets in them. We just can't. 
   North Myrtle Beach can - and must - deal with the issue if our economy hopes to continue benefitting from CBMA Weekend, SOS Spring Safari/Fall Migration and the many other boosts it receives from Carolina Beach Music and its artists.
   What's going to happen to area tourism when vacationers realize they have to drive as far as Columbia, Charleston or wherever for the entertainment they've waited all year to see? Three SOS members told me this week they're really not interested in attending a 10-day function in a city without a live venue that caters to the music. 
   Let's face it. If a respectable show club offering beach and variety performances can survive anywhere, it's Ocean Drive.
   Band after band drew audiences to the building that housed Dynamite's at Dock Holidays over the last three years - especially through the spring, summer and fall seasons. I was there; I watched it happen. So here's a thought. I haven't come up with the "where's" or "how's" this week, but the basic idea is this:
   Open another venue here - informal show-club atmosphere with bandstand, dancefloor, social area, etc. To pay the bills and bands, set up a fee schedule similar to the one used for CBMA Weekend. Offer passes by the night, week, month or season. Give CBMA and SOS members the choice of purchasing a lifetime pass as a perk, perhaps. Each pass grants its owner access, or maybe reduced cover charges, to live entertainment events but, of course, food or drink charges are separate. 
   So there's my suggestion, sketchy as it sounds. But as I said earlier this week, we need all the ideas we can get. If there's anybody out there interested to keeping live entertainment audible and visible in Ocean Drive, then by all means let's put our heads together and figure this thing out.
   To anyone offended by my earlier remark concerning progress as it pertains to events of the past week, I apologize. A lot of people say the share my frustration; you may be one who doesn't. Either way, we need to work together now to move forward for the betterment of this music that defines us. As far as I'm concerned the Carolina Beach Music and its artists deserve our loyalty in return for what they give to us and our area.
   Let's get the show on the road - and give live entertainment a new home in Ocean Drive.
   Are you with me?

Ellis, Toney Jr. Having A Ball
Over At Mary's Place

  (Read the review here.)

January 27- February 2

KHP Sets Tone for Summer
with This Is it!

  (Read the review here.)

 Winstead Announces Leave of Absence

   Musician/vocalist Doug Winstead announced on Saturday that he will take a leave of absence from his position in the Cocoloco Party Band.
    In a letter to members of the Carolina Beach Music Industry, Winstead cited "very serious family medical matters...that require 24/7 total attention" as the reason for his leave.
   A main fixture and leading personality for the group, Winstead is known for a number of recordings, most recently for singles like "Outta Control" and the just-released "Oo-I She's So Fine." Both singles are currently in the top five songs on 94.9 The Surf's Weekly Top 4o Countdown.
   The artist also said in the announcement that "for now [he] will only be appearing when and if necessary and [for] special appearances as time might allow.
  "I wish only the best for the Cocoloco Party Band family as well as the fans and venues we play," he continued.  
   DistinctivelyBeach wishes the Winstead family its best and looks forward to Doug's return to the Carolina Beach Music arena.  

January 20-26 

Band Still Rolling After Four Decades

   It sounds like a tall order; making history while celebrating history all at once.
   But Keith Houston and the Band of Oz are up for the challenge this weekend during their 40th Anniversary Reunion Show. The event runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Dynamite's at Dock Holidays. Details and ticket information for the show, along with the group's discography, follow this story. 
   It's hard to believe four decades have passed since Houston and BOZ began a journey that has brought them to the forefreont of Carolina Beach Music.
   Houston's dad, Ray, sat behind the wheel for the first leg of the trip in the 1960s. Back then his station wagon and the tiny tag-along trailer that toted The Avengers (Houston's original name for the group) along with their band equipment was a common sight around Grifton and its surrounding areas in the eastern part of North Carolina.
   School functions, teen dances and the like became the venues of choice as the band members advanced from junior high into their high school years. The group's guitar/keyboard/vocal mixture of talent was a popular sound, and local club owners could hardly wait fo book the band on their rosters as well.
   Time - pardon the cliche - really does have a way of taking care of things. Houston and company eventually turned 16, passed their drivers tests and continued honing their musical skills. And once they came of age to be hired legally in the clubs where they weren't already performing, their schedules were booked solid.
   Having added a horn section to its ensemble in the late `60s, the Avengers evolved into the Band of Oz in 1970 and released its first single, "Shaggin'", toward the end of that same decade. Penned by Houston and Billy Bazemore, "Shaggin'" paved the way for a second single, "Star of My Life," recorded in 1979. Five full-length projects and a string of singles later, BOZ has earned the reputation of being one of the most respected groups in the industry to play throughout the Southeast.
   The Band, inducted into the CBMA Hall of Fame in 1997, has an impressive list of hits to its credit like "Shama Lama Ding Dong," "Over the Rainbow" and "Red Hot Love.", which is now climbing Carolina Beach Music charts.
   This week, the Band comes to North Myrtle Beach in its own tour bus - not a station wagon, mind you - driven by BOZ drummer David Hicks, for the show that BOZ enthusiasts have been talking aboit for some time.
   The festivities start on Friday evening with a kick-off performance by the eight members that comprise the group today: Houston playing bass; Hicks on drums; Chuck French and Tim Morris, trumpets; Scott Fine on trombone; Jerry West playing guitar; David Franks, keyboards/harmonica; and Daniel Morris on sax. The latter six members also collaborate on vocals.
   BOZ is scheduled to bring a crop of special guests to the stage on Saturday inckuding Clifford Curry, the Saints of Soul and, presumably, other artists who've contributed to the Band over the years. If the itenerary were to include performances by past members of the group alone - individuals like Freddie Tripp, Randy Hignite, Jimmy Smith, Johnny Byrd, Butch Barnes, John Thompson, Billy Bazemore and Bill Deal, to name a few - the party would last into the wee hours of the night.
   Sunday afternoon features the weekend''s main event as BOZ and guests take the stage for the official Reunion Show at 1pm.

Band of Oz Discography Showcases
40 Years of Talent

    Following is a rundown of five complete musical projects released over the four-decade career of the Band of Oz. Any of these CD's may be purchased from Ripete Records.
    Click on any CD below for details.

The Early Years

Keep Keeping It Up
Shaggin'
Ocean Boulevard
When Love Is New
Star Of My Life
Messing With My Mind
Lipstick Traces
Got To Get You Into My Life
Hot Fun In The Summertime
Goodtime Music
Super Summer
Reputation
Southern Belles

One More Step

One More Step (To Take)
Baby Work Out
Snap Your Fingers
Heaven In The Afternoon
What You Gonna Do
Always Be My Girl
Too Hot To Handle
Rescue Me
Thanks A Lot
Over the Rainbow

Let It Roll

Johnny B. Goode
Sittin' on It All the Time
Some Kind of Wonderful
First Impression
Maybe Someday Baby
Is a Bluebird Blue
Baby What You Want Me To Do
Fool For Your Love
In a Letter
Love Sickness
Love Song Medley
Ocean Boulevard (Live)
Shama Lama Ding Dong
Easy Coming Out

Dancing in the Street

Fly Me To The Moon
Dancing In The Street
Countdown To Love
Temptation 'Bout To Get Me
Love-A-Holic
Shing-Yo-Ling
Wall To Wall
My Blue Heaven w/ Mel Carter
My Heart Belongs To You
House Of Blue Lights
Mills Brothers Medley
Smoke From A Distant Fire
Can't You Take A Hint
Four Tops Medley

Over the Rainbow

Baby's Got My Number
I'm Gonna Love You
One Foot Dragging
Lady Soul
I Found A Love
I Love The Nightlife
Red Hot Love
I Saw Her Standing There
Ruby Baby
Your Life To Live
Hooked On A Feeling
Over The Rainbow

Reunion Tickets Available Individually
or through Room Packages

    Don't miss your chance to attend one of Carolina Beach Music's biggest parties of 2008 when the Band of Oz marks its 40th Anniversary with a three-day celebration this week.
   Members of the group - past and present alike - will join BOZ founder Keith Houston beneath the big-top at Dynamite's at Dock Holidays Friday through Sunday. A number of special guests are also scheduled to appear during the course of the event.
   Tickets range from $10/day to $25 for a weekend pass, and accommodation packages are available. Call 843-249-4949 for general information or 910-892-4800 for purchase details. 

 January 13-19

New Releases to Coincide with Mid-Winter Event

     If you're in Ocean Drive later this week for the SOS Mid-Winter, be sure to check out the latest releases in Carolina Beach Music.
   One notable offering on the list is the much-anticipated Cliff Ellis/Oscar Toney Jr. project from Ripete Records. The 11-song CD includes - of course - its title track, "Meet Me at Mary's Place," which incidentally holds the top spot on this month's Ms. DistinctivelyBeach Top 20. The project's first track, "Linda Lu," also shows promise in becoming a classic for the Ellis/Toney duo.
   KHP Music also has a new compilation project hot off the press this week. This is It! willl feature original songs like Tiff Wheeler's"Do Ya Like," a sassy number with a great line dance beat, plus the new Mike Stewart tune, "Carolina's Callin' Me." The project also features a number of beach and shag classics.
   Live entertainment for SOS Mid-Winter begins on Thursday:
    - Jan. 17:
       - Band of Oz, 7pm, Dynamite's at Dock Holidays
       - Craig Woolard Band, 8pm, Fat Harold's
       - Coco Loco Party Band, 9pm, 2001 Nightclub
     - Jan. 18:
        - Coastline, 12 noon, Fat Harold's
        - North Tower, 1pm, Dynamite's at Dock Holidays
        - Craig Woolard Band, 7 pm, Dynamite's at Dock Holidays
        - Sea Cruz, 9:30pm, 2001 Nightclub
      - Jan. 19:
         - Sea Cruz, 12 noon, Fat Harold's
         - The Attractuons, 1pm, Dynamite's at Dock Holidays
         - Magnificents Band, 7pm, Dynamite's at Dock Holidays
         - Legends of Beach, 9pm, 2001
      - Jan. 20:
         - The Fantastic Shakers, 1pm, Dynamite's at Dock Holidays
         - Sea Cruz, 7pm, Dynamite's at Dock Holidays
         - The Fantastic Shakers, 8pm, Fat Harold's.

Houston, Band of Oz Celebrate 40 Years
of Music Jan. 25-27 at Dynamite's

    Don't miss your chance to attend one of Carolina Beach Music's biggest parties of 2008 when the Band of Oz marks its 40th Anniversary with a three-day celebration later this month.
   Members of the group - past and present alike - will join BOZ founder Keith Houston beneath the big-top at Dynamite's at Dock Holidays Jan. 25-27. A number of special guests are also scheduled to appear during the course of the event.
   BOZ starts the festivities Jan. 25 with a 7-11pm performance. The fun continues Jan. 26, same time, as BOZ is joined onstage by Clifford Curry, the Saints of Soul and other surprise guests. A special Reunion Show wraps up the weekend Jan. 27, 1-6pm.
   Tickets range from $10/day to $25 a weekend pass, and accommodation packages are available. Call 843-249-4949 for general information or 910-892-4800 for purchase details.
   Check in with DistinctivelyBeach next Sunday for an in-depth look at the band and its history. 

 January 6-12

Time to Renew CBMA Membership

   If you plan to take advantage of a full year of benefits as a member of the CBMA, it's time to apply for or renew your membership for 2008.
   The CBMA is a widely-recognized organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Carolina Beach Music. Membership is open to anyone with a genuine interest in supporting the musical genre.
  Individuals may submit applications to join the cause on one of two levels: the industry professional level, or the associate level, according to guidelines for joining the organization.
  To learn more about the association and its membership benefits, please visit the DistinctivelyBeach CBMA area.

 December 30-January 5

Last Call for New Year's Events at Area Beach Clubs

   Due to requests from some last-minute travelers, DistinctivelyBeach is printing a rundown of several ongoing entertainment packages offered for the finale of the 2007 holiday season.
   The Poor Souls will be joined onstage at Pirates Cove Lounge, Main Street, by a number of friends Dec. 29-31. Becky Fox Baldwin and the Carousels are among those scheduled to sit in with the Souls at various times during the event. Sammy O'Banion and Mardi Gras will make a special appearance on New Year's Eve.
   Call 843-249-8942 for performance times and ticket information.
   Other packages incude:

     - Dynamite's at Dock Holidays New Year's 2008 Party
        Dec. 27-31, live bands nightly: 
        Thursday, 7pm, Band of Oz 
        Friday, 7pm, North Tower 
        Saturday, 7pm, The Catalinas
        Sunday, 7pm, Craig Woolard Band;
        Monday, 7pm, five-course dinner; 9pm, performance by
          Sea Cruz.
       Tickets, $100/person, include all five nights of entertainment
       plus New Year's Eve dinner, champagne toast and party favors.
       Call (843) 249-4949 for details.

Looking Ahead to 2008

   With corks popped, toasts made and noisemakers quieted, the Carolina Beach Music Industry catches a quick nap later this week before gearing up to deliver another year of entertainment to the Grand Strand.
   The annual SOS Mid-Winter Festivsl brings the Society of Stranders to North Myrtle Beach Jan. 17-20 for four days of parties, shag workshops and live music by entertainers like The Craig Woolard Band, the Attractions and the Magnificents Band at area clubs.
   Dynamite's at Dock Holidays and KHP Music host the 40th Anniversary Band of Oz Reunion Jan. 25-27. Clifford Curry is just one special guest scheduled to perform with past as well as present BOZ members, and the Avista Resort will offer accomodations packages for the weekend.
   Bookmark www.distinctivelybeach.com, as the site will be adding complete details for these events starting with next week's issue. 

December 23-29

Castaways' Add Spirit to Season
with 'Comin' Home for Christmas'

'

   If you're planning a Yuletide celebration this week, you may want to make room for The Castaways. They're "Comin' Home for  Christmas." And they're making no bones about it.
    Karen Clayton and company deliver powerful vocals and expert musicianshiip here. Specifically, Clayton's voice fits the up-tempo beat of the song extremely well, making the number a welcome guest at any Christmas party.
   If your radio has been tuned to beach music stations during the 2007 holiday season, chances are you've heard The Castaways' version of "Comin' Home for Christmas." While not packaged in a CD project, the song is available for download via the group's page on MySpace.
   You may also listen to a sample of the composition here.  

Area Beach Clubs to 'Ring In' 2008
with Variety of Entertainment

   It's not too late to plan a New Year's getaway to North Myrtle Beach. Due to some last-minute requests, DistinctivelyBeach is printing a rundown of several entertainment packages offered for the finale of the 2007 holiday season.
   The Poor Souls will be joined onstage at Pirates Cove Lounge, Main Street, by a number of friends Dec. 29-31. Becky Fox Baldwin and the Carousels are among those scheduled to sit in with the Souls at various times during the event. Sammy O'Banion and Mardi Gras will make a special appearance on New Year's Eve.
   Call 843-249-8942 for performance times and ticket information.
   Other packages incude:

     - Dynamite's at Dock Holidays New Year's 2008 Party
        Dec. 27-31, live bands nightly: 
        Thursday, 7pm, Band of Oz 
        Friday, 7pm, North Tower 
        Saturday, 7pm, The Catalinas
        Sunday, 7pm, Craig Woolard Band;
        Monday, 7pm, five-course dinner; 9pm, performance by
          Sea Cruz.
       Tickets, $100/person, include all five nights of entertainment
       plus New Year's Eve dinner, champagne toast and party favors.
       Call (843) 249-4949 for details.

December 9-22

 OD Pavilion Locals Party Supports
Toys 4 Tots Campaign 

  Next Sunday,several North Myrtle Beach community members will host a party with a purpose.
   And you're invited.
   The group, known in this area as the OD Pavilion Locals, will hold its first annual Christmas Party Dec. 16, 6-10pm, at Dynamite's at Dock Holidays. Complimentary food will be provided between 6 and 7 pm, with drink specials for the duration of the party. Live entertainment is scheduled to be provided by Jim Quick and Coastline.
   While there is no monetary admission fee for this event - which is open to the public - each guest is asked to bring one new, unwrapped toy for donation to the annual Toys 4 Tots campaign.
   OD Pavilion Locals is comprised of area residents who enjoy living on the Grand Strand and lending a hand to others in the community. It is not affiliated with any specific shag club, business or other North Myrtle Beach organization.

K.M.E. Publishing Releases
'Beach Music Guide Volume 2'

   K.M.E Publishing Group has just released Beach Music Guide Vol. 2, the much-anticipated conclusion to 'Fessa John Hook's two-part series of Beach Music facts and trivia.
    The 1000-page reference set covers events in the beach music industry from 1945 to 2006 and includes
      - Yearly Top 40 music charts;
      -  DJ Top 40 charts;
      - Artist biographies;
      - History of musical genres like Beach, Shag, and Bop;
      - Evolution of Beach Music lyrics; and
      - MasterSong Index.
    Volume 1 covers charts from 1945 to 1975 and Artists and Songs alphabetically from the letters A through L; Volume 2 picks up with 1976, bringing readers through the next three decades, and covers artists and songs between M and Z.
    Dubbed by the industry as "beach music's first encyclopedia,"  both volumes are packed with features that generate interesting conversation around living rooms or coffee tables of Carolina Beach Music enthusiasts everywhere. 
   Each book costs $34.95 and may be ordered online individually or as a set at ,www.beachshag.com  

First Issue of Audio Sounds Features Clips from New KHP Christmas CD

   Thursday marks the official debut of Ms. DistinctivelyBeach's Audio Sounds page on the DistinctivelyBeach website.
    The new feature gives visitors a chance to sample clips of the best new releases in Carolina Beach Music, plus details on where and how to purchase featured CD projects.
    The first full-length project covered will be Ocean Drive Christmas Volume 2, a new collection from KHP Music.
   Click the package below to see what's inside! 

Given Stays True to Holiday Tune