The Swingin' Medallions

Page 1 of 3       SWINGIN’ MEDALLIONS It sounds like you’re in the middle of a frat party.    With a cheap organ and a lot of hootin’ and hollerin’, this South Carolina band is responsible for one of the biggest party records of all time. And believe it or not, the one-hit-wonder group still swings on stage today.  Grab a beer, it’s the story of the Swingin’ Medallions and their 1966 smash hit “Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love).”   In 1961, 8 high school boys in Greenwood, South Carolina got together to play music.  But besides the requisite guitar, drums, and organ, this group added some depth: brass and sax.  Calling themselves “The Medallions,” (not to be confused with the late 50s/early 60s doo-wop group of the same name), they developed an early R&B flavor.   As college approached in 1963, lead singer/keyboardist John McElrath and drummer Joe Morris revamped the group.  Keeping only one other original Medallion member (trumpeter Carroll Bledsoe), they enlisted guitarist Cubby Culbertson and 2 saxophonists Brent Fortson and Steve Caldwell.  The group’s name was changed to the Swinging Medallions.  And they started to receive some notoriety playing colleges, clubs, and parties—further and further down the Southern coast. 1963 was also the year that a song named “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love” was released by Louisiana’s Dick Holler & the Holidays.  It was certainly a more subdued version of the song we now know and love—with no Vox organ or background screaming or yelling.  The song had been co-written by one of the group’s members (Don Smith) along with future entrepreneur Cyril Vetter.  The record went nowhere--though Dick Holler himself went on to song-writing success with hits: “Abraham, Martin and John” and “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron.” (Quite a combination!)   The Double Shot Line-Up Medallions guitarist Culbertson heard the song and brought it to the attention of the group.  It was soon part of their repertoire.  But instead of copying the calm “Holler” version, they did their own “Hoot & Holler” version.  And with the addition of McElrath’s raucous organ, the song became one of the highlights of their act— lending itself well to the clubs and frat parties in which they were now performing.  The group had changed “Double Shot” into a party record. 1964 brought about more personnel changes.   Perrin Gleaton replaced Culbertson on guitar—also in trying to generate more excitement, one more trumpet (Rick Godwin) and sax (Fred Pugh) were added.  However, the following year, all 3 new members left the group to form their own band, Soul Inc.  But undaunted, leader McElrath brought in Jim Doares (guitar), Charlie Webber (trumpet), and Jimmy Perkins (sax & bass).  The line-up that eventually played on “Double Shot” was now in place. While performing in Panama City, Florida, the group was heard by a young DJ from Birmingham, Alabama—Dave Roddy of WSGN.  Roddy knew he had found something special.  He decided to book them in his home city, making them a sensation in a series of Monday concerts he called 'Medallion Mondays.'  The Birmingham teenagers loved their energy, their look, their choreography, their music, and especially their crazy party song  “Double Shot.”   << Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >>