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
 

 
 

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
 

 

 

My Summer Romance (2015 edition)

Four stories of seasonal love, with music provided by JOHNNY RIVERS, GARY LEWIS & THE PLAYBOYS, PERCY FAITH and words of love by SHAKESPEARE
by David McGee
 

 
 

Surf in Verse (2015 Edition)

Poets extol surfing's physical and metaphysical joys. 'Illustrated' with surf classics by JACK NITZSCHE, THE MARKETTS, THE TORQUAYS, THE NEW DIMENSIONS & THE SHADOWS
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
 

 
 

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
 

 

 

When Jack London Rekindled Surfing in Hawaii

JACK LONDON REKINDLES SURFING IN HAWAII: A brief history of surfing in Hawaii from Captain Cook to Duke Kahanmoku, and how author JACK LONDON ignited the modern surfing era in the islands.
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
 

 

 

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
 

 
 

American Graffiti @ 40: ‘…a final farewell to childhood dreams before reality steps in’

Saluting AMERICAN GRAFFITI on its 40th anniversary, we offer a view from the younger generation in the form of Australian THOMAS CALDWELL's smart take on the 1973 classic coming of age story.
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
 

 
 

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