- The Swingin' Medallions
The Swingin' Medallions are an American
beach music group from Greenwood,South Carolina . They were first formed under the name Pieces of Eight in the late 1950s, and changed the name to The Swingin' Medallions in 1965 after signing withSmash Records . [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gpfuxqe5ldfe~T1 Biography] , Allmusic.com] Their first single, "I Wanna Be Your Guy", did not chart, but the second, "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)", written and originally recorded byDick Holler & the Holidays, reached #17 in the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 in 1966, [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gpfuxqe5ldfe~T51 Billboard Singles] , Allmusic.com] and propelled their full-lengthalbum to #88 on theBillboard 200 . [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gpfuxqe5ldfe~T5 Billboard] , Allmusic.com] The follow-up single "She Drives Me Out of My Mind", hit #71, but the fourth single, "Hey Baby", did not chart. The band continued to be popular in theAmerican South , and the band (with a shifting cast) continues to do reunion shows into the 2000s.In the mid 60's they frequently played at the Oporto Armory in Birmingham, Alabama. In Birmingham most all of their songs got much radio play on WSGN (AM 610) and WVOK (AM 690), including, "I Found A Rainbow", "M.T.Y.L.T.T", "You Gotta Have Faith" as well as the songs mentioned above.The Pieces of Eight also played in the same time frame in Birmingham with songs "Come Back Girl" and "Lonely Drifter".Both groups had outstanding horn sections.Original Members
*John McElrath - keyboards
*Jim Doares -guitar
*Carroll Bledsoe -trumpet
*Charles Webber - trumpet
*Brent Forston -saxophone ,flute
*Steven Caldwell - saxophone
*James Perkins -bass guitar
*Joe Morris -drum sReferences
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