Title: An Insider’s History of the Swingin’ Medallions
Author: Carroll Bledsoe
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-9845-3699-0
Pages: 116
Genre: Autobiography/History/Pop Culture
Reviewed by: CC Thomas

Read Book Review

When mentioning “beach music,” most would be able to name at least one band that rose to prominence during the 1960’s. While the Swingin’ Medallions would likely not top a name-recognition list, they have endured through the ages and can still belt out their fun and soulful tunes today. This book, An Insider History of the Swingin’ Medallions, is told by original band member Carroll Bledsoe and chronicles the band’s beginning and brief mega-stardom. Along the trip down memory lane, readers will better understand this unique genre of American music as the book explains how the band evolved and emerged to become a nationwide cult classic.

The Swingin’ Medallions is best known for their Billboard Top 100’s “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love” and was known during its heyday as the band with “big horn sound and high-energy choreography.” A short trip to the Internet will confirm both the sound and energetic dance moves. Some readers might have been lucky enough to have seen the band in a live concert performance, or may remember their signature hit.

The inspirational beginning explains how the band started out small, almost as an after- school activity, for eight young men who called themselves the Four Notes. They started out playing at local colleges, and new members moved in and out. Little did they dream that this hobby would soon become a 60’s sensation in the genre of “beach music,” a style popularized by the Beach Boys. While the Beach Boys might have epitomized the golden-haired California surfers, the Swingin’ Medallions reigned over another area of the country and became known as the “party band of the South.” While the name might not be as popular as others during that era, this band was one of the originals. They got their start in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and were inspired by other bands during that name, notably the Drifters and the Coasters, bands that were popularized for their songs sparking the shag dance.

What makes this book a cut above a traditional pop culture tell-all is the care and attention given by the author. As a founding band member, the author included such personal information that the reader has a real personal connection. In addition to the fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbits, readers will also get to hear about other big-name musicians in their heyday, see vintage photographs, and read actual newspaper articles about that time in history. This personal touch creates a living history and makes the book seem like looking at a scrapbook of a friend, rather than a dry historical biographical reading.

While most of the band members have changed, the group can still be heard singing today more than 50 years later, playing some of the same sized venues they did as they were first performing. They later released other singles and a national album, but did not regain their earliest teen-mania fame. For those who grew up during this time, the book will be a fun glimpse back. For all others, its still a great read, one full of fascinating trivia and a fun look back in music history evolution.