Jim Quick

Jim Quick

Until a few weeks ago, being a 20-year-old college student, my music exposure tends not to drift beyond the phenomena that are Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. I had never even heard of Carolina Beach Music and figured it was something my parents would dance to when they go to bars. Then I stumbled across Shag City USA and little did I know how big Carolina Beach Music is and that they even have their own local phenomenon: a crazy, hilarious entertainer named Jim Quick.

After listening to songs from his newest album titled Down South and watching his performances on YouTube, I quickly realized how big of an entertainer he is. He’s got an over-the-top stage presence, moving along to every beat, and getting people of all ages out of their seats. This experienced musician has been doing music since before I knew how to walk. Touring along the southeast, Quick has performed over 300 live shows a year for the past 19 years. His hard work and dedication has paid off for doing what he loves by being named Entertainer of the Year ten times by the Carolina Beach Music Academy. He even has his own following of fans called the “Coastline Crazies”.

Starting as an intern for Zeus Media, I found Quick’s radio show that he does for ShagCityUSA.com called The Crossover with Jim Quick. The show is every Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. EST and includes music from all over, such as blues, jazz, folk, soul, and anything from the southeast. It’s interactive with fans as well, with a live chat, games, and taking song requests. The Crossover with Jim Quick is currently syndicated on radio stations throughout the southeast such as 94.5 THE SURF, 920 AM WPCM, WCNC 1300 AM, and WCNL 770 AM.

So, now that I know Carolina Beach Music is a thing (you know it’s big when it has its own Wikipedia page) and exists beyond The Drifter’s iconic song Under the Boardwalk, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry might have to move over on my iTunes playlist so that I can add some Jim Quick.

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