Summertime

in the South means hot weather, cool beverages, Braves

baseball, and The Swingin' Medallions.

Known in

this region as the premiere party band of the South, the

Swingin' Medallions have been entertaining fans since

1964. They will entertain all of their local fans Friday

night as they kick off the Fourth of July weekend

festivities in Peachtree City.

The

Medallions got together at Lander University in

Greenwood, S.C. Their roots were in early rhythm and

blues, and they played what was called beach music, frat

rock, or shagging music. Their show is high energy and

full of good feeling.

The Swingin

Medallions' first hit was "Double Shot (of my Baby's

Love)." It was a million seller in 1966 and sent the

boys on their way to fame. In 1966 and 1967, the

Medallions had two other songs in the top 40, "She

Drives Me Out of my Mind" and "Hey, Hey,

Baby." Other songs the group recorded were,

"Summer's Not the Same this Year", "I

don't want to lose it for you", "I found a

rainbow", and "Where do you go to get

soul".

The band

has only one original member left, John McElrath. Over

the years, as members have come and gone, the band has

remained an eight-piece outfit, usually with at least a

four-piece horn section. The Medallions are gearing up

for a big summer tour around the South. They will play at

8 p.m. Friday, July 2 at the Frederick Brown Jr.

Amphitheater in Peachtree City and then will tour a lot

of the Carolinas and Florida. They will play with Drivin

N Cryin in Jekyll Island in August.

Lewis

Grizzard wrote about the Swingin' Medallions in a 1993

column 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 19-year-old coed in the other."

The

Swingin' Medallions promise a high energy, good-timey

show to kick off the long weekend. Tickets for the July 2

show are $15 for adults and $12 for children. Call

770-631-0630 for information.

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