Do you love music? I mean REALLY love music? Music has been a part of my life forEVER. I think having a brother 9 years older than me set the tone when I was little and heard the sweet sounds of Ray Charles and Gene Pitney drifting through his bedroom door. I was hooked.
By the time I was 14 I was sneaking off to Williams Lake to hear the sounds of Billy Stewart, Jackie Wilson, the Drifters...and the list goes on. This is where I really cut my teeth and learned to fas' dance.
Later on it was off to the Embers Club, Elliot's Nest, Red's...and any other club that gave me the music and got me on a dance floor.
Got married in high school and as soon as we were on our feet we loaded up our clothes and a Kennedy rocker and moved to Southern Pines. Da Flic was there and we had beaten a path back and forth from Lillington to what was now our favorite club. Now we just had to clean up after school or work and head down to Broad Street for the music and dance we loved. Even heard Chicago there before they got too big to play the smaller clubs.
The list goes on and on...but the sweet spot was always OD...Ocean Drive Beach. I eventually chose OD as my permanent home and here I still "be".
I've been lucky enough to be involved with the music and dance here at the OD Pavilion, Fat Harold's Beach Club and now Duck's.
I never regret following the music and longed for the lifestyle here. It proved to be everything I thought it would be. A beach full of happy people who pulled you into the fold if you loved the music and the dance. There were folks from all walks of life and social standing accepted and who enjoyed the lifestyle and looked after one another. I don't recall anybody asking anyone what they dd for a living. It didn't make any difference if you wore brand new weejuns or ones with holes in the sole. We laughed...we danced...we became family.
Those were the days my friends! Have you ever really paid attention to the words of this song? Check 'em out. Yes, we CAN get back into the way it was.
All it takes is remembering the love we had, and still have, for the music and the dance...and friends who meet with nothing in mind but camaraderie and good times. Let's bring that back. Lets bring the younger ones into our fold and not forget those that are no longer with us who started it all. Let's put aside all of the petty cliquishness that has separated us into smaller groups that can't on their own support what we love.
We're down to two REAL beach clubs in OD. Fat Harold's and Duck's. The OD Pavilion is only open 4 hours a week in the season. Let's bring back the lifestyle we all came here for and band together to save the Main Street clubs that continue to provide us with old and new memories. We don't have to choose one over the other. Follow the music, my friends....and it will lead you home. Let's relax and go where the music takes us. Let's work together!
Keepin' things fresh I've moved over to Duck's Bar & Grill to help welcome shaggers back and provide a new "old" venue for Main Street. We're workin' hard to give you what many have asked for. We'll be consistent and have the music that we've followed for years. Hope you'll pop in and check us out if you haven't already. Tweaking as we go...please give me your feedback. I truly feel that a BIG mistake was made when one of the former owners threw out on Facebook that Duck's didn't need the shaggers. We not only need you, we welcome you with open arms. The new owners, Robin and Dwayne Porter are great folks with a vision to bring back the lifestyle we so loved with a great remake of Little Ducks. Let's do this! Let's pick and choose and follow the music. Let's dig out the path back across Main Street from one club to the other and support what Fat Harold's and Ducks is offering.
We welcome ALL...not just a small group...It takes a village to survive.
I'm always open to questions and suggestions. In the meantime me and Mr. Brady are gonna dance.
Put the music on Miss BayBay!
Thanks for droppin' in....While you're here, won't you leave a comment?
