This has been a tough week for music fans in the Carolinas.

First Solomon Burke died in the midst of a Euro tour at the airport in Amsterdam on Sunday. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-ap-eu-obit-solomon-burke,0,20971.story

Then last night got word that General Johnson died Wednesday.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NC_OBIT_GENERAL_JOHNSON_NCOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Solomon Burke had a huge string of SOUL hits predating MOTOWN and was often billed as "THE KING OF ROCK AND SOUL." And never gave up music staging comebacks periodically.

General Norman Johnson (his real first name is GENERAL) was unquestionably the "KING OF BEACH MUSIC" but never billed himself as such.

Both were Grammy winners.

General Johnson first was the voice singing lead with the SHOWMEN, which was actually a band formed at his high school and their song "IT WILL STAND" was a major smash in the Carolinas and the unofficial National Anthem of the Beach Music Nation. He was 18 years old when the song hit it big.

Then the CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD in the 70's had a string of hits written by General including "Give Me Just a Little More Time." He wrote songs for other people too including "PATCHES" which won him and singer Clarence Carter each a Grammy. He wrote every hit song the HONEYCONE had including "Want Ads," "Stick Up" and "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show."

Unhappy with how all the record companies had treated them, General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board went independent nearly 3 decades ago walking out on their contract. Due to the lawsuit from the label he could only perform in Europe. Once the lawsuit was settled he moved the band to Charlotte where their office on East Boulevard is still their headquarters. General lived in East Point, Georgia, but from the Charlotte office the group booked, produced and promoted not only their band but other Beach Music artists. It was a Beach Music beehive of activity. The band will go on. But there will always be that void. Besides his well known hits, he wrote one more unofficial anthem for Beach Music, "CAROLINA GIRLS" which has been popular in the Carolinas for nearly 20 years. General Johnson songs are usually bass driven. Besides "Carolina Girls" I like playing his bassline on "Gone Fishing." General Johnson was one of my favorite entertainers of all time. If you check back in 30 years you'll find that "Carolina Girls" will still be a popular song in the Carolinas.

Man, being from Myrtle Beach I am definitely familiar with General Johnson. That really sucks. I know he's got a few people shagging down a different boardwalk.

Carolina Girls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgkO7XGUJyA

As big a fan of soul music I am I never heard of General,although I loved The Chairmen of the Board.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

R.I.P. Solomon Burke & General Johnson.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

That is a good way to put it. Someday we all will be Shagging down a different Boardwalk.

Some people think his lyrics for "GONE FISHING" reflected is disdain for the corporate music business and the reason he went INDY. Few who go INDY ever made as much money, maybe General made more than any artist who ever said, "UP YOURS" to Clive Davis and Holland/Dozier/Holland. He said precisely that to both.

I give you my personal notes to "GONE FISHING" which has the parts I have to sing on in parenthesis.

Gone Fishing (Bass Ques)
(Main Bass Riff: Gb Eb Db Eb Ab Eb Ab Eb Ab Eb)

Everybody wants me to be, what they want me to be
But, I can’t be nobody else but me, yeah
I’m sick and tired of trying to please everyone else
I’m gonna take me some time, steal away and please myself
(Db, B, Eb, Ab flourish on B back to the Gb main riff)

I’m gonna walk away and won’t look back
If anybody asks where I’m at
(Gone fishing,) wasting some time
(Gone fishing,) leave my troubles behind
(Gone fishing,) resting my mind
(E Db flourish on B back to main riff)
If I don’t get away I’m gonna lose my mind

Prices too high, my money is low
My friend who asked me for loan, ain’t my friend no more, yeah
What’s the use in worrying about things you can’t do nothin’ about
(Be happy for luck yeah,) time will work it out
(Db B Eb Db Flourish on B back to main riff)
I’m gonna lock my doors and close my blinds
In my window, I’m gonna leave a sign, (gone fishin’)
Wasting some time, (gone fishin’)
Leave my troubles behind, (gone fishin’)
Resting my mind, if I
(E Db B back to main riff)
(don’t get away I’m gonna lose my mind,) hey hey

(INSTR)


Gone Fishing Page 2

Sing a sing a happy song
(La la la la la la la la la)
(La la la la la la la la)
(La la la la la la la la la)
(La la la la la la la la)
(Db B Eb Db flourish on B back to main riff)
I’m gonna lock my doors and close my blinds
((close my blinds))
In my window, I’m gonna (leave a sign, gone fishin’)
Wasting some time, (gone fishin’)
Leave my troubles behind, (gone fishing)
Rest my mind, (gone fishing)
((Gone fishin’,)) (gone fishin’,) ((gone fishin’ YEAH))

Don’t worry, things are gonna be alright, hmmmm
I said don’t you worry, everything’s gonna be alright
((Gone fishing, La la la la la la la la la))
Everybody sing a happy song
((Gone fishing, La la la la la la la la))
((Gone fishing, La la la la la la la la la))
Don’t worry your life away, tomorrow is another day
((Gone fishing, La la la la la la la la))
Sing a happy song
(Gone fishin’) ((La la la la la la la la la))
La la la la la la
(Gone fishin’,) ((La la la la la la la la))
La la la la la la
(Gone Fishin’) ((La la la la la la la la la))
Leave your troubles behind
(Gone Fishin’) ((La la la la la la la la))

- - - -

Those are not the words of a worried man. Worried men don't write "La, La, La, La, La, La-la ha."

AND boys and girls, everything was indeed VERY alright.

In 1980 I was a student at UNC Chapel Hill when "Carolina Girls" came out. Needless to say we wasted no time in adopting that song for our Carolina Coeds.

All I can say is thanks General Johnson for all the memories God bless your family and cover them with His grace.