Swingin’ Medallions return to entertain at The Plaza
Published 7:31 am Thursday, July 11, 2013
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The Swingin’ Medallions have been based out of Greenwood, S.C. since the early 1960s. Their musical roots came from listening to the early rhythm and blues acts. The music most often associated with the band is beach music, frat rock, R&B, or shaggin’ music. After a few years of touring colleges from the Carolinas to the Louisiana Bayou, John McElrath took the group to Arthur Smith’s Studio in Charlotte, N.C., to record “Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love).” The song became a million seller in 1966, and has been a party classic for college students for decades. “She Drives Me Out Of My Mind” and “Hey, Hey, Baby” were top 40 hits in 1966 and 1967, but “Double Shot” remains the signature song of the Swingin’ Medallions.
“The Swingin’ Medallions always put on a great show here at The Plaza,” stated Nicole Richard, Director of The Plaza Arts Center. “They are the epitome of a party band as they know how to draw the crowd in!”
The members of the Swingin’ Medallions have changed over the past thirty years, with John McElrath being the leader and only member to be performing today. The personnel of the band has always included around eight members with at least a four piece horn section. The high-energy party style stage performance of the first Medallions has been passed down to the band that performs today. The present Medallions stage show has coined them the name “The Party Band of the South.”
“The Medallions’ concert is always a lot of fun, and we’re so fortunate that we are able to continue to bring out such wonderful talent to our summer outdoor series with the help of Farmers & Merchants Bank and the support from our great community,” commented Nancy Marshall, Chairwoman of the Meet Me at The Plaza Concert Series.
Many of the Medallions attended and graduated from Lander University in Greenwood, S.C. while performing in the southeast. The University of Georgia was also the home of some of the band members.
Lewis Grizzard wrote in a 1993 article that, “Even today, when I hear the Swingin’ Medallions sing “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love, ” it makes me want to stand outside in the hot sun with a milkshake cup full of beer in one hand and a slightly-drenched nineteen-year-old coed in the other.”
Don’t miss the Swingin’ Medallions out on The Plaza Lawn on July 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are only $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Tickets can be purchased at either Farmers & Merchants Bank location, online at www.theplazaartscenter.com, by calling The Plaza Office at 706-923-1655 or by visiting The Plaza office in person Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Bring your own chairs and tables to the show. You are permitted to bring your own picnics as well but GA Butts BBQ will be on site selling $5 barbecue baskets if you don’t feel like lugging your own stuff out.