Just Who Is James Hunter?

This is what I asked Tommy when he told me that Jason and Holly were coming to Atlanta, and wanted us to meet them and others at this guy's concert. (This was a birthday surprise for Holly.) Now I know that the shagettes and shaggers are just bent over laughing, but remember I live with Tommy and he doesn't play white music. When he hears me play a Steve Tyrell or a Rod Stewart CD, he leaves the room and on some occasions, leaves the house!

So last night we went. He was appearing at a nasty joint called Smith's Olde Bar. This is a fire trap ready to explode. My apologies to the owners, but the Atlanta Fire Department really needs to make a visit. The show was upstairs (wooden) which added to my fears. At one point, Steve, who came with this wife, Donna, from Raleigh, pointed out the AC units over our heads with unknown inches of filth on the filters. Good thing it wasn't warm weather or those units would be blowin' asbestos and vermin all over the room. It reminded me of those old college bars (the UL at Marshall) where you couldn't distinguish if the odor you were smelling was beer, cigarettes, fried food... I could go on, you know. It had that scent that we have all experienced. I think there was a little scent of dope in the air as we entered the room. Kind of a unique welcome, don't you think? But this wasn't what I was going to write about. Enough background, I think you get the point. Besides Butch said many times how he liked the place. Poor thing.

We arrived early, around 6 p.m. James was going to come on around 10, so we had lots of time to get ready. There were people from North Carolina and South Carolina, and, of course, many locals. Four guys came who rented an RV for the trip from Charlotte. I swear if I didn't know better, one of them was Milton N.'s son. We all know that Milton has never claimed to have a child, but this kid makes you think. They were sloshed, so I don't know if that vehicle is still parked at the curb, or if they made it back to Charlotte. The names that come to mind who were in attendance are: Jason, Holly, Mary, Clyde, Butch, Steve, Donna, George, Jeff, Dana, Scott (Milton's child), Tommy and myself. There were others from the world of shag, but I didn't get their names.

At eight o'clock, the red light came on and we went upstairs. Thirty minutes later, a small band entertained (?) us for an hour and then around ten, James and his band came on. I really like his music. Tommy thinks all of the songs sound the same. James is a friendly, outgoing guy. It's kind of hard to understand what he's saying when he speaks to the audience because he has such a heavy British accent, but when he sings the accent disappears and in some songs he sounds like the old black artists from back in the day. The audience seemed to know all of his songs and James was impressed that so many sang along with him. The band was great, especially the two guys who played saxophones.

If you too, don't know who James Hunter is and would like to hear a bit, go to: http://eventful.com/performers/James Hunter, and then go to the videos. I liked the one titled, "Walk Away."

Here's something that you need to know. James can be bought. Steve wrote a song title on a ten dollar bill and Butch handed it to him. Three songs later, he was performing Steve's requested song. Now that I think about it, maybe Tommy would take requests if the pavilion people would write their requested song on a twenty dollar bill. That's the ticket! Hope you had a Happy Birthday, Holly! It was fun.

S.O.S., Saturday afternoon

Every spring and fall, Tom and I go to O.D. (North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) for S.O.S. This year was special for Tom because it was his twenty-fifth anniversary of deejaying for this event. Pam, H.Lee, Maria, and Steven were "the planning committee" for this occasion and we have so much to thank them for. Basically, this was Tom's day and this blog is all about him. I'm importing 18 images that include our friends and especially, "the folks between the posts." These are the loyal followers of not only Tom, but of his music.


On Saturday afternoon when he deejays, he always passes out "backstage passes" with the tour's name on it. In several of the shots you will see people with the passes around their necks. This year's tour was, "Playing What You Need to Hear, Not What You Want To Hear." He doesn't take requests or do special dances, i.e. birthday or anniversaries. Like the backstage passes say, he plays what folks need to hear and he doesn't think they need to hear The Electric Slide. He plays three afternoons from 3 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.


At around 6:00, the manager of the pavilion, H.Lee, told him to stop the music and come to the dance floor. THAT NEVER HAPPENS. He joined "the folks between the posts," not knowing what was about to occur. The spokesman for the ceremony was Milton, the second in command of "the folks between the posts." That's just the way it is.

I have no idea of what he was saying because I was several feet away. There was no way they could have gotten these people to get quiet. Remember they have been in a party mode for several hours, if you know what I mean. It looks like Milton must have said something funny judging by Kim's (the guy with the white tee shirt, who by the way, drove four hours Saturday morning to be there for the presentation) expression. In the picture above, behind Milton's left shoulder, is Billie and to her left is Linda Gray, Charles' sister-in-law. Directly behind them is Joe, a newcomber to the tribe.

In the picture below, Milton is reading the inscription on a plaque that "the folks between the posts" gave him. H. Lee is standing next to him, holding the plaque. The words on the plaque were, "Thanks for 25 years of boogie woogie music." Wonder what Tom's thinking?

Next, H.Lee made his presentation in which he and his wife, Pam, presented him with one of his anniversary tee shirts framed with two photographs.

This presentation was followed by Tom trying his best to hold back the tears. He was so surprised and humbled by the whole ceremony.


This shot is of Charles, the leader of the tribe, giving some kind words to Tom. Through the years they have become close friends. Charles has been such a support to Tom and always knows the right thing to say.


Again, Tom and Charles.

Pictured below are Linda Carol on the left and Cathy Jane on the right. I have no clue who the woman is in the center. Both women are the the Hall of Fame, and are such southern ladies. I guess you could tell that they're from the south by their names, Linda Carol and Cathy Jane. Cathy Jane's sister is Linda Gray. It goes on and on.

Steven (a.k.a. Stevie) and Maria were "the planning committee." Maria hung banners and balloons and I have no idea of what Steven did. I guess he did what Maria told him to.

We share a condo with Freck and Sylvia each S.O.S. Both Freck and Sylvia are in the Hall of Fame. Great dancers, wonderful friends.

This is Phyllis and her friend Skip. Phyllis, another Hall of Famer, has been a supporter for years. Skip, although a local, is a newcomer to the group. I have to say that Phyllis has the MOST SOUTHERN accent that I have ever heard. She can put at least two syllables in the words "help" or "at". Really, it's a gift.

Maria and Sylvia just lookin' good. They shamed me into wearing lipstick.


Tom and Rosie. What a doll. Sweet to the bone.

Freck, Sylvia's husband, took this shot. Not bad. That's me in my new orange sweater.

Hanging around the outside of the pavilion were these two. On the left is Steve and on the right is Butch. Both are deejays at Duck's. Ain't they somethin'?

Pam and H. Lee joined Tom in the deejay booth for one final shot. One big happy family. Can't wait until spring.

SOS, Society of Stranders, Friday afternoon

In my last post I mentioned that we were at the beach because of SOS. I found an article at http://www.tripsmarter.com%20and/that does a good job explaining this phenomenon that we attend twice a year.

S.O.S. Fall MigrationMyrtle Beach, SC -
The Society of Stranders calls its thousands of active members to return to North Myrtle Beach in mid-September for one last big party before winter sets in. Days and nights are filled with activities, shagging and sightseeing. Clubs around the Ocean Drive section pitch in to make sure that every evening resounds with nonstop beach music.
If you've never been Shag Dancing, you've missed out on an American original... this dance craze started in Myrtle Beach over 50 years ago, and it's still going strong. Shaggers slip into their special Shaggin' shoes all year long, but the highlight of every calendar is the S.O.S. Fall Migration - a "pilgrimage" to the birthplace of Shag, Myrtle Beach.

What is "Shag" you ask? It's a phenomenal dance craze that started here, in Myrtle Beach, in the 40 and 50's. Local teens invented the dance step that is most suited to Rhythm & Blues music. But "Shag" is much more than a style of swing dancing, it is a way of life for people from Virginia Beach to Florida!

"Serious shaggers are in a lifestyle, which goes way beyond the dance, it's a camaraderie thing," Phil Sawyer, President Emeritus of S.O.S says. "I've been involved for over fifty years, serious for twenty-five, and I see it all the time... serious bonding between shaggers, they bond and stay bonded... shagging is far more than a dance, it's a lifestyle."
If you don't think these folks take this seriously, think again. "We've had churches call wanting to know when S.O.S is having our Fall Migration, so they don't schedule revivals during that time! And we've had people call about weddings for the same reason," according to S.O.S.'s Mr. Sawyer.

Shag is a 6-count, basic pattern dance with East Coast Swing. There is a rearrangement of the footwork that makes it look and feel unique. All the action occurs below the waist, though instructors tend to teach a very standard basic pattern..
True seasoned "Shaggers" take pride in adopting their own versions of the dance, each being distinctive and smooth. Using the balls of their feet and small steps, "Shaggers" manage to perform this very "cool" style of dance to individual perfection!

Now that you know about S.O.S., here are some pictures of the O.D. Pavilion and our friends who were there while Tom was playing. This was the crowd outside on Friday afternoon. Who works?

And this was inside. That's Sam, the good-looking one with the sunglasses on his head.

Here's the deejay, my Tom, having a big time.

I couldn't get shots of all of our friends, only a few. This is Norfleet and Brenda.

This is young Geoff doing some fancy footwork.

And this is my stepson, George, and his partner, Crystal. He likes to dress-up for these occasions.

I took several breaks while Tom was playing and went on the beach to take a few shots. Look what I found. They were everywhere!

I did get some good beach shots, but I'll wait for another time to post them.

At last 7 P.M. came and we went. This is a shot of the group going to a condo to dine on "Frogmore Stew," or some call it "Low Country Boil." Thanks, Skip.

Just another day at the beach.