A Most Happy Fella Indeed

From TheBluegrassSpecial.com archives: an exclusive profile of JERRY KELLER, whose 1959 smash, 'HERE COMES SUMMER,' is a seasonal classic. That's not all he did.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Surf in Verse, 2019 Edition

Our HERE COMES SUMMER celebration continues with the perennially popular SURF IN VERSE feature. Five surfing-inspired poems written by surfers (three of them females) are enhanced by classic surf music courtesy THE BEL AIRS and...
by David McGee
 

 

 
 

Summer Song

An offbeat playlist for season's end featuring THE DAKOTAS, THE DEL VIKINGS, THE CRESTS, THE PHAROS and THE SPOTNIKS. Surf's Up!
by David McGee
 

 
 

The One True Gidget

From TheBluegrassSpecial.com archives, an exclusive interview with the real GIDGET, KATHY KOHNER, whose father turned his daughter's surfing exploits into a '50s cultural phenomenon in a series of best selling novels.
by David McGee
 

 

 

In Trim: Bruce Brown’s Endless Epic

Writing for Longboard magazine in 2005, PAUL HOLMES captured the entire epic saga of the making of BRUCE BROWN's THE ENDLESS SUMMER.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Surf in Verse

Five choice poems by surfers about the spiritual experience of riding the waves, being at one with nature. Surf music interludes by DICK DALE, JAN AND DEAN, THE FOUR SEASONS, TAKESHI TERAUCHI & THE BUNNYS.
by David McGee
 

 

 

My Summer Romance

Our annual MY SUMMER ROMANCE feature spotlights four true first-person tales of love capturing unassuming hearts during the summer months (and sometimes beyond) in Hawaii.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Where the Gremmies and the Ho-Dads Never Go

WHERE THE GREMMIES AND THE HO-DADS NEVER GO: Riding a wave of surf music obscurities by THE PHAROS, THE DAKOTAS, THE SURF LORDS, THE FATHOMS, HAWAII SAMURAI and more.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Surf in Verse: Summer’s Last Ride

One last ride on the big waves, in verse, with a soundtrack featuring THE ASTRONAUTS, THE BEACH BOYS, THE G-MEN, THE CHANTAYS and vintage surfing footage by DR. DON JAMES. Plus the earliest known surfing poem, from 1911.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Surf in Verse, 2021 Edition

Return to one of our most popular summer features, SURF IN VERSE, four evocative poems about the surf experience. This year's edition includes the oldest known surfing poem, THE SONG OF THE SURF, circa 1867, by ADAM LINDSAY GORDON
by David McGee
 

 

 

Walt Disney, Surf Cartoon Pioneer

In 1937 WALT DISNEY produced the first animated surfing cartoon, HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald and, in an influential star turn, GOOFY.
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘Dad, I Think We Got One’ : Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart Craft A Seasonal Classic

EDDIE COCHRAN's manager and co-writer JERRY CAPEHART remembers the day he and Eddie, in search of a hit, wrote a certified seasonal classic, 'Summertime Blues'
by David McGee