North Carolina’s musical heritage holds a rich history

Today’s music listeners have an overwhelming number of choices. There is a seemingly endless number of songs performed by thousands of artists in hundreds of musical styles.

But two distinct genres have maintained dedicated fan bases in the Tar Heel state: bluegrass and beach music.

Each has a unique sound that contains a blend of other musical styles. Bluegrass has roots in country, Irish and Scottish folk music, and beach music is heavily influenced by rhythm and blues of the late 1940s and 1950s.

During the 1940s, beach music originated in Carolina coastal towns. Teenagers flocked to the coast to listen to bands such as The Temptations and The Four Tops, and a new sound was born.

Joey Warren, a beach music disc jockey for the past nine years who performs under the name “The Little Man of Beach Music,” says beach music transcends a sound. He describes it as a “lifestyle” that incorporates the music, the shag—beach music’s trademark dance—and a laid-back, friendly attitude.
“Beach music is so diverse, it’s difficult to describe the sound,” Warren says. “Typical beach music is very soulful and has about 115 beats per minute, the shag tempo. The music is fun. It’s a music that has such a wide range of styles. I refer back to the lifestyle: it’s very laid back and it’s a very tight group of people.”

A typical beach music band consists of drums, bass, lead guitar, keyboards, horns and a vocalist. Popular bands include Chairmen of the Board, the Band of Oz, Tommy Black and Blooz, General Johnson, The Fantastic Shakers and The Embers.

Warren says the popularity of beach music is growing. While it probably won’t regain the popularity it had in the mid-1900s, the Internet and up-and-coming beach music bands have helped spread the music. Once people see it, they’re hooked, he notes.

Warren is one of the converts. He says he saw a beach music show and was so impressed he decided to make a living by traveling and playing the music. Recently, he performed at the Triangle Beach Music Festival in Garner.

“It just grabbed my attention,” he says. “I love this. I’m excited for where beach music is going and where it is now. I think all the DJs and bands do a lot for the exposure of the music.”

From the Beach to Bluegrass
Bluegrass also originated in the mid-1940s. Bill Monroe, a mandolin player, is widely considered the father of bluegrass music. The music takes its name from his band, The Grass Boys.
Bluegrass is almost always performed acoustically, according to Ron Petty, former president of Banjo in the Hollow, a state nonprofit dedicated to preserving bluegrass music and helping bluegrass musicians network.

A typical bluegrass band consists of a guitar, mandolin, banjo, an upright bass and a fiddle, he says. Drums are never used.

“Vocals are absolutely crucial,” Petty says.

“This is what makes a really good bluegrass group.”

The lyrical content of bluegrass is similar to country music, which is heavy on storytelling. But bluegrass also offers upbeat songs about love and country, as well as remakes of old gospel hymns. Most bluegrass bands perform a smattering of styles.

“You might be more in the mood that day for ripping fast, upbeat songs—you want to hear a lot of hot licks,” Petty explains. “Or you might be in the mood for more ballady songs, but most times you want a mix, and at most shows, that’s what you’ll see.”

Petty says the popularity of bluegrass has suffered because the market is saturated with other types of music. After an 18-year run, Banjo in the Hollow is currently on hiatus until it can raise more money.
“People have so many choices about things they can do, it’s hard,” Petty notes. “You want to bring in young people, but there are so many things to do that we experienced a drop in membership. We are in a cycle where people have other things to do than coming to a picking session and playing.”

Petty encourages interested musicians to try bluegrass. Most bluegrass musicians practice together in groups called “picking sessions.” The sessions allow everyone, regardless of ability, to contribute a few notes to the piece.

“It’s something you can get as involved in as you want to,” Petty says. “People tend to help each other out.”

Wilbur Britt, president of the Lumber River Regional Bluegrass Association in Lumberton, has been playing bluegrass music since 1972. He says he enjoys the “pure” sound and harmonies.

“There are some sad songs, but usually it’s pretty hard-driving, foot-stomping music,” Britt says. “You’ve got to see it live to appreciate it.”