Randy Belk
Shaggin' On The Boulevard
Mondays 2-5 PM
“Randy Belk, originally from Charlotte, North Carolina has been listening to beach music as long as he can remember thanks to his parents and trips in the car over the weekend to visit relatives. Randy got a start in radio with WSOC in Charlotte while he was still in high school and then did some work on WASU at Appalachian State University, his freshman year of college. After one year he transferred to Wingate University where he became the person in charge of all the concerts and dances on campus and was one of the DJs for dances throughout his last two years of college. After graduating college, Randy spent 23 years in full-time ministry working with youth in North and South Carolina And put his DJ dreams to the side. But as fate would have it, thanks to Tim Johnson he had the opportunity to start being on Beach Waves Radio some with Tim on Monday afternoons. That morphed into him taking over the Monday addition of shagging on the Boulevard. When he’s not on the radio, he does his real job of being a real estate broker and the broker in charge for first fruits Realty. He also loves to travel with his lovely wife, Donna, as well as just enjoying the outdoors in general.”
Ben Morris
Highway 17
Mondays 8-11 PM
“I was 7 years old and growing up in East Tennessee when I acquired a couple of Jackie Wilson 45’s. I was taken in by the sounds off those old Brunswick labeled records, and I was hooked on the R&B music sounds. As I grew into my teenage years, R&B/Soul, Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Country were staples in my music tastes. I was also learning to play violin and took some piano. I remember my Mom singing to Far Away Places, Washed Ashore, and other songs that eventually woke me up to Beach Music. I even remember going to see The Platters and General Johnson and The Chairmen Of The Board when I was a teenager in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s at a local summer festival.
As I went to University of Tennessee, there was a soul singer that always had a backing band that I got to see several times as a student during football season around campus, and I was hooked on Beach Music. That was Clifford Curry. Other than saying hello, I never got to know him but loved his music. I ended up looking for more of the groups in the Beach Music genre in the 1990’s and added to my collection. After college, I ended up living in Southeast Georgia as a young man and got to go hear The Embers, Swingin’ Medallions, and Chairmen of The Board, live as they would play local events and engagements in the area at the time. I was hooked again for life. I even attempted to find a young lady and try and shag with the basic steps.
I have continued to enjoy the music, old and new alike. The music makes people feel good and makes you think of the sand, sun, and sea. The old music sparks memories of yesteryear and the new groups make you smile as you see the traditions and sounds carried on to the new generations and incorporating new sounds.
That is my Beach Music story. I love sharing and playing the music for my friends and family and look forward to you joining me on Highway 17.”
Join Ben every Monday night from 8p-11p for his LIVE show, “Highway 17 with Ben Morris”
Townsend Link
Beach Bound & Down
Tuesdays 7-10 PM
“I was 7 years old riding around in my aunt’s hatchback. I got my first taste of Carolina Beach Music that day when I heard Chuck French sing Shama Lama Ding Dong. From that day on it was in my blood. I absolutely wore out that Band of Oz cassette. I vividly remember listening to Charlie Brown playing all the best songs out there! Time passed, I grew up, things changed, but one thing remained the same… my love for Carolina Beach Music. After a run with Blackwater Band and now my current band, The Pink Slips Band, I decided to make a leap of faith into this wild venture of broadcasting and hosting a Carolina Beach Music show. February 18th, 2020 is the date “Beach Bound and Down” was born. It’s been a crazy ride and I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
Get in, buckle up, and hold on, because we are Beach Bound and Down with the best in Carolina Beach Music LIVE every Tuesday from 7p-10p!
Tim Johnson
Shaggin' On The Boulevard
Wednesdays 2-5 PM
“I remember Sunday morning’s listening to a show on TV called Gospel Jubilee before going to church. I enjoyed watching the bands and the singers perform, I thought that was really cool! At an early age I realize how music was a part of my life, my parents always had music on and they loved to dance and have a great time. The music I grew up listening to was Classic Country, Oldies, and Motown! I never knew anything about Beach Music until later in life. As I got older anything with a groove got my attention! Elvis Presley, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Bee Gees, Frankie Valli, Marvin Gaye and so many more. At the age of 10 years old, my life changed in 30 minutes to what I have become today as a DJ! I heard a song that changed everything and a group! That group and a certain Guitarist by the name of Eddie Van Halen ( Van Halen )! That day all I wanted was to be was like Eddie Van Halen! Groups like Journey, AC/DC, 38 Special, Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd and so many more influenced me to get involved in music. 16 years old groups like KC and The Sunshine Band, Rick James, Kool and The Gang, Earth Wind and Fire
and so many more was making a impact on my life as well as Country Music! In High School I was Athletic and played sports but my true love was still music. At the age of 19 I ran into a friend that I grew up with that I haven’t seen in years, that person was John Barkley. John introduced me to the world of a DJ, and the rest, well, is history! I’ve worked in a club in Charlotte called O’ Hara’s at The Holiday Inn. That was the beginning of me becoming a DJ. By working at O’ Hara’s I learned how to be a Professional DJ and how to present myself in front of people by working with a lot of great Bands! Band Of Oz, Fantastic Shakers, The Entertainers, Catalinas, The Embers, Delbert McClinton, General Johnson and The Chairman of the Board, Joe Pope and The Tams and so many more. Ronnie Gittens was the 1st true friend that help me as a DJ in my early years. Earl Dawkins, Dink Perry, Dwight Nichols, John G Franklin, Craig Woolard, Johnny Barker, Mark Black, Chris Smith so many have always supported me and help me threw the years! But the biggest influence in my life was Eddie, and still today, he still is! If you want to get to know me and who I am, just listen to my music! Everything I play is a groove, no matter what type I play. I was introduced to Beach Music threw a friend, who had a hand in what I’ve become today, 32 years later! I’m very grateful to everyone who has help me along the way!”
Join Tim on Monday’s and Wednesday’s for his live show from 2pm – 5pm for Shaggin On The Boulevard on The Afternoon Drive!
Wayne Free
The 'FREE'way
Wednesdays 7-10 PM
“Music is an international language. I’ve always felt that which has drawn me into a career as a music professional. But this came full circle for me while playing in a full band karaoke club named ‘Woodstock’ in Seoul, South Korea. The song: Mustang Sally! The place started jumping and the owner tried to hire us for a month long gig starting the next week!”
An active touring musician for more than 30 years with The Swingin’ Medallions, The Embers and as a singer/songwriter solo artist, Wayne has always had a deep affinity for live performance and a connection to his audience. Now entering into the world of radio, it is his hope to continue this trend on this platform with the same fun and excitement as you may’ve seen onstage.
Wayne has a rather daft motto – ‘There is the right way, the wrong way and the ‘FREE’way!’ This is the driving force behind his show. So hop on the ‘FREE’way and floor it! It’ll be a fun ride!
Join Wayne on “The ‘FREE’way” LIVE every Wednesday night from 7p-10p.
Harold Ballard
Throwback Thursday Thursdays 12-3 PM
“My love for rhythm and blues began at an early age, riding with my dad around Concord and Kannapolis, listening to John Richbourg on WLAC, Nashville, the station recognized for giving first exposure to this music that found its way to the beaches of the Carolinas. I have a desire to take people back to the roots and origins of beach music that inspire our artists today. By sharing these historical aspects, we can appreciate the various genres that played a vital role in its foundation. I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a degree in Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures. My journey has allowed me to work with the legends of radio and the artists who made the music happen.”
Broadcasting background: Radio
WFMO, Fairmont, North Carolina
WJRI, Lenoir, North Carolina
WDSC-FM, Dillon, South Carolina
WXRC, Hickory, North Carolina
WSTP-WRDX-FM, Salisbury, North Carolina
94.9 The Surf, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Television operations and engineering
WPDE-TV, Florence-Myrtle Beach
WTVI, Charlotte
WRAL-TV, Raleigh
PBS-NC, Research Triangle Park
Discovery Television and Technology Center, Sterling, Virginia
WBTV, Charlotte
Founder and administrator of the North Carolina Broadcasting History Project Facebook group.
Class is back in session, 12:00 to 3:00pm, every Thursday, on the new home of your Professor, Beach Waves Radio.
Willie T
On the Boat Dock
Sundays 7-10 PM
“Growing up in the Sandhills of NC I got my first taste of Beach Music listening to The Chairmen of The Board, The Embers, Band of Oz and many others. I got my first start in radio in 1979 in Laurinburg, NC at WLNC where I met the late great Dale Van Horn and ended up touring with his group, Ocean Drive Band, for a year or so before the band broke up. After working various jobs I felt I needed a real career and joined and spent 22 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, retiring in 2007 as a Chief Warrant Officer. That brought me to the Northern Virginia area where in 2011 I started DJ’ing again in the Beach Music scene. In 2013 I was voted into the Association of Beach and Shag Club Deejays (ABSCDJ). I am so proud to be a member of Beach Waves Radio and look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday nights”
Join Willie T every Sunday night from 7-10PM “On The Boat Dock with Willie T”!