Loonis McGlohon was born September 29, 1921 in Ayden, North Carolina, died January 26, 2002.

McGlohon was the son of an auto mechanic and a school teacher. As a boy, he was enthralled by the big-band sound. He learned to play piano from the organist at his family’s church.

He graduated from East Carolina University but dropped the only music course he took because he was making low marks. He did, however, improve his piano playing and embarked on a professional career, [...]

Which big-time bandleader and North Carolina native broke all sorts of attendance records, appeared in nearly a dozen movies, and became the top moneymaker in his field, all without learning to play a musical instrument? If you don’t say Kay Kyser, the “Old Perfesser” — that’s right, you’re wrong!

James Kern Kyser was born June 18, 1905, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina Died in Chapel Hill on 24 July 1985.

Kyser entered the University of North Carolina in 1923. At school, he [...]

Charlie Daniels was born in 1936 in Wilmington North Carolina.

Charlie became interested in music and bought his first guitar at age 15. He taught himself how to play by listening to early Elvis Presley music on the radio.

After graduating high school in 1959 he formed a rock band called The Jaguars. While the band was on the road they made the recording of “Jaguar” with producer Bob Johnston. This was the beginning of a longtime association with Johnston who urged [...]

The Chairmen of The Board was formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1969. One year later, Holland, Dozier, Holland’s Invictus Records released The Chairman’s first recording, the million seller’s classic “Give Me Just A Little More Time” which catapulted the group into international stardom. In a three year span four more successful charted releases solidified the group’s rapid success, “Dangling on a String”, “Everything Is Tuesday”, “Pay to the Piper”, and “Chairmen of The Board”. During this period, General Johnson, the [...]

Leaving his native home of Huntington, West Virginia, Billy Scott joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Fort Knox Kentucky, Fort Benjamin Harrison Indiana, then honorably discharged after two years in Fort Gordon, Georgia. While in the Army, Billy sang in various groups on those military bases. In 1965, Billy and his wife Barbara, became the lead singers for the “SCOTTSMEN” and later changed their name to “THE PROPHETS”.

In 1966 and 1967 The Prophets produced their first two nationally [...]

As a music promoter and nightclub owner in Greensboro NC, Griffin had the gift of turning empty buildings and vacant storefronts into hot spots and gold mines. The dozens of clubs he owned over a 30-year span in and around Greensboro are still spoken of in respectful tones. These include: the Castaways, the Boondocks and the Bushes. At some point he in his career booked almost every marquee act on the soul, R&B and beach music circuit and was still [...]

In 1957, RCA opened Studio B in Nashville. Soon after, Don Gibson came in and during an afternoon session recorded “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and “Oh, Lonesome Me.”

Shirley Caesar heard the calling of the Lord when she was taking a typing test in college. By the time she heard that voice, she had already established a strong following as a gospel songstress.

William Oliver Swofford was born February 22, 1945 in North Wilkesboro. He was an honor student at Wilkes Central High School where his athletic ability was equaled only by the quality of his singing voice.

Maurice Williams was born April 26, 1938, in Lancaster, SC. By the time he was six, Williams was performing regularly church. During his high school years, he formed the group ‘The Royal Charms’.

Then in the winter of 1956, while still in school, they traveled to Nashville to cut a record for the Excello label. But, company founder Ernie Young, said at least two other groups were using the name and convinced them to rename the group [...]