‘Beach Ball’ in Tifton features the Swingin’ Medallions

TIFTON — One of Tifton’s premier social events of the season — a “Beach Ball” with the 1960s Top 40 band the Swingin’ Medallions — is coming Sept. 20 to the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

Sponsored by the Tifton-Tift County Public Library Foundation, the event includes a catered, black-tie optional, gourmet dinner before the performance, or tickets may be purchased for the show only.

The Swingin’ Medallions, a high-energy band based in Greenwood, S.C., are known for their million-seller hit in 1966, “Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love),” and their Top 40 hits in 1966 and ‘69: “She Drives Me Out of My Mind,” and “Hey, Hey Baby.”

Tickets are $75 each for the dinner and show, and are $30 each for the show only. Dinner/show tickets must be purchased early. Show only tickets will be available up to show time. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.

A dance floor will be available for those who wish to dance to the music of what the late Atlanta columnist Lewis Grizzard once called “the party band of the South.”

Tickets may be purchased at the Tifton-Tift County Public Library, at Ameris Bank, and are available from any member of the Library Foundation board of directors, chaired by Dr. Hal Henderson. Information is available at 229-386-2237.

Founded in 1962 by John McElrath, the band now includes his two sons, Shawn and Shane, and also features Jake Bartley, son of original Medallion Hack Bartley. Jimmy Perkins, an original member of the group, is also currently touring with the Medallions.

In September 2009, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band invited the Medallions on stage in Greenville, S.C., to join a rendition of “Double Shot,” which Springsteen called “the greatest fraternity rock song of all time.”

The Tifton event is a fundraiser for the Tifton-Tift County Public Library Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization that supports the local library. The foundation has awarded nearly $50,000 to the county library for such initiatives as children’s programming, summer reading programs, books and other materials.

The foundation also has sponsored community events with renowned authors, including New York Times best-selling writer Mary Kay Andrews; Vince Dooley, legendary UGA coach and author of several books; and Carmen Agra Deedy, an internationally known, award-winning author of children’s literature.

“This year the library needs your support more than ever,” said Hal Henderson, foundation chairman. “A library is a vital standard-bearer for the quality of life in any community. We want to make certain that our library continues to play that important role in Tift County.”

Members of the Foundation board include Henderson; Frank Sayles Jr., vice chairman; Tommy Bargeron, treasurer; Vickie Horst, secretary; Syd Blackmarr, Caroline Day, Clara Gray, Angie Hunt, Jim Lavery, Frankie Mathis, Ashley Mock, Penny Peters, Brian Ray, Tallulah Rogers, Rosemary Short, David Sone, Pat Stephens, Loraine Sullivan, Nancy Trawick, Bette Turner, Joe Turner and Louise Woodham.